St. Louis ranked
No. 5 in the nation

A 34-20 victory over Waianae
last week convinced pollster that
the Crusaders are for real

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

St. Louis is ranked fifth in the first National Prep Poll -- the highest the team has ever been listed in any poll.

The Crusaders, who were observed by the man in charge of the poll, Doug Huff, in their 34-20 victory over defending Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Waianae last Friday night, will play a preseason game against Kahuku Thursday at Aloha Stadium.

St. Louis is No. 2 in the West Coast Regional Poll behind De La Salle High School of Concord Calif. (No. 2 in national Poll). The National Prep Poll, which Huff compiles with the help of 35 sportswriters nationwide, appears on the Associated Press wire and ESPN.

"I think they're a solid football team with early-season polish," said Huff. "They have a good blend of defense and they scored a couple times with their defense in the first quarter Friday. Then they got their passing game uncorked and (Jason) Gesser showed he's an exceptional quarterback.

"If they go along like they have the past 11 years, you have to consider them highly in the poll."

The Crusaders, coming off an undefeated season, have won the last 11 Prep Bowls.

Asked if St. Louis could play with other teams in the top 10, Huff said yes.

"From what I've seen and what I've heard from people I deal with and talk to, this team has got a good blend of size and enough speed. Of course the hitting -- which is Hawaii football -- didn't disappoint me. I think they have a good thing going this year."

St. Louis head coach Cal Lee, who found his school ranked No. 21 last week in USA Today's Super 25, said he was happy with the ranking.

"What it does is it gives the school and state national exposure -- that's No. 1 to me," said Lee.

"The people across the country look and notice that St. Louis from Hawaii has a football team and maybe they play pretty good ball there."

Leading the National Prep Poll is Hampton, Va.

Lee was intrigued that De la Salle immediately preceded St. Louis in the West.

"We asked to play them five years ago -- we wanted to go to their field but they said no," said Lee.

"I think the only way we can move up and be noticed (in the USA Today rankings) is to play someone like De La Salle on the West Coast. People must be saying, 'Well, how good is this team from St. Louis?' "