Two-time defending Open Division state champion Saint Louis opens the 2018 season ranked No. 12 in the nation in the Max Preps preseason Top 25 released Monday.

The Crusaders, who finished No. 15 in the final Max Preps rankings in 2017, have won 15 consecutive games and 20 of the past 21 overall since losing to Kahuku in the 2015 state final.

Saint Louis lost six first-team All-State players from last season, including offensive player of the year Chevan Cordeiro, who is on scholarship at the University of Hawaii. The Crusaders return two first-teamers in offensive lineman Arasi Mose and defensive tackle Faatui Tuitele.

The Crusaders will open their season Aug. 10 at Aloha Stadium against Waianae. The following week, they will host Narbonne (Calif.), ranked No. 24 by Max Preps, at Aloha Stadium in a rematch of Saint Louis’ 56-50 win a year ago.

St. John Bosco (Calif.) was ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps poll, a spot ahead of defending national champion Mater Dei (Calif.)

The Braves will host Mililani in California on Aug. 31. If St. John Bosco remains No. 1 entering that game, it will be the first time a Hawaii team plays the top-ranked team in the nation since Bishop Gorman beat Kahuku 35-7 in 2016.

The Gaels open the season ranked No. 11.

More than half of the Top 25 are teams from California, Texas, Georgia and Florida.

Former Kahuku quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava transferred to St. John’s in Washington D.C., which opens the year ranked No. 6.

The high school football season in Hawaii kicks off Aug. 3.