Playing perennial Oahu Interscholastic Association power Waianae, the Crusaders will showcase their latest edition of the run-and-shoot with Jason Gesser at quarterback and wide receiver Randynmr6 Randyn
Akiona Akiona projected to be the Crusaders' newest game-breaker.
Waianae opened last week with a 13-12 last-minute loss to Kamehameha at the stadium.
The St. Louis-Waianae game is the only prep football game tonight on Oahu. There will be 13 games tomorrow night.
Gesser, a 6-2, 180-pound junior, has the unenviable task of filling the shoes of two-time all-state quarterback Darnell Arceneaux, the 1995 Star-Bulletin Offensive Player of the Year, now at Utah.
But Gesser has looked impressive in scrimmages and in pass league play.
The other difference for St. Louis this season is that it's unranked nationally by USA Today for the first time since 1987.
The only nationally ranked team in the islands this weekend is No. 10 (USA Today) Capistrano Valley of California, which will play at Nanakuli tomorrow night at 7:30.
"All of our receivers catch the ball and run with it pretty well," said St. Louis head coach Cal Lee.
Those receivers include Akiona, a 6-0, 180-pound senior who caught only nine passes and scored three touchdowns last season but is now considered St. Louis' most dangerous offensive weapon.
Punahou track coach Dacre Bowen, who worked with Akiona during the summer, said the Crusaders' receiver could be faster than Brendyn Agbayani or George Ornellas "off a rolling start."
St. Louis has several other solid receivers to help Akiona get open.
The St. Louis offensive line is big, especially the right side, which is anchored by returning all-state first-team pick Dominic Raiola, a 6-3, 285-pound senior, and Rimoni Tuiasosopo, a 6-1, 350-pound senior.
Most of the returnees are on defense, with two 1996 all-state first-team selections: 6-1, 190-pound defensive back Wes Tufaga and 6-1, 225-pound linebacker Jacob Yoro.
Tomorrow night, the Father Bray Classic will have its annual tripleheader at Aloha Stadium.
In the prime-time game (8:30 p.m.), Iolani will take on St. Paul's High School of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., a one-time state power. But St. Paul's is coming off its worst season in 32 years (4-6), according to coach Marijon Ancich.
St. Paul's strength is on offense with 6-5, 296-pound offensive tackle Pete Salazar, who appears headed to the Pac-10, and Elton Gabourel, a 6-0, 179-pound two-way player who is probably St. Paul's best athlete, with 4.6 speed in the 40.
"Just looking at their roster, they're not overwhelmingly big but they're bigger than us," said Iolani head coach Wendell Look.
"Offensively, we still haven't jelled," he said, despite a 35-0 win last weekend against Lahainaluna.
In the other stadium games tomorrow, Farrington will face Kamehameha at 3:30 p.m. and Waipahu will meet Pac-Five at 6 p.m.
In home-site games tomorrow, Torrey Pines of California will be at Punahou in a 3:45 p.m. game. At night, Aiea will be at Mililani, Kaimuki visits Roosevelt, Radford hosts Kalaheo, Kalani is at Honokaa, Leilehua is at Campbell, Moanalua at Waialua, Sunny Hill at Kailua, and Capistrano Valley (Calif.) at Nanakuli.
In another evening game, Damien will travel to Kahuku for a game that will honor the memory of Jason Keo. Keo, who led the ILH in rushing as a Damien player in 1994 and led Kahuku to the OIA title in 1995, was killed in a car accident this summer.