It was a few minutes past 1 p.m. on Monday when Cal Lee received a call.
The first postseason game beyond the state tournament is around the corner, and the longtime Saint Louis coach was informed that his team’s opponent, St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida, might not be part of the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series.
Say what?
“They’re supposed to let us know in an hour or so if they’re allowed to go,” Lee said to his caller.
Indeed, there was, maybe still is, some disagreement at the school. St. Thomas Aquinas just won the Florida state championship last Saturday, and had already arranged to meet Saint Louis this Saturday at Bishop Gorman’s stadium in Las Vegas.
“The school turned the offer down, and (the football program) is trying to talk to their administration, trying to convince them about going,” Lee said.
An hour later, the school in Florida resolved the issue, Lee said. St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0) is heading to Las Vegas.
There’s no such confusion at Saint Louis, where the Crusaders are wrapping up finals week a day early and will fly out to the mainland on Wednesday afternoon. The unbeaten Crusaders (12-0) are coming off a four-peat of Open Division state championships. They have won their last 38 games.
Scouting the Raiders
Unlike St. Thomas Aquinas, everyone on campus at Kalaepohaku is aligned and prepared. Nearly three weeks since the state final, the Crusaders get one last battle on the gridiron.
“We’ve spent the last two-and-a-half weeks studying them,” senior quarterback Jayden de Laura said. “We didn’t take any days off. We threw. We watched film. Their defense pretty much runs a 4-3 front. They bring guys, they kind of disguise that, and they run the man outside. I think you can take advantage of that coverage. I personally don’t think you can prepare in a week for what we have on offense. Hopefully, they stay in their man coverage. That works to our advantage. I know I can count on Matt (Sykes), Roman (Wilson), (Isaac) Silva and (Koali) Nishigaya to get open and do their thing. I know my O-line will step it up.”
“We watched them play live on TV,” Lee said. “They look good. They beat a pretty good team (Orlando Edgewater) and they came from behind. They’ve got a good football team, a different brand of football. You can tell they’re well-coached.”
After nearly three decades as a head coach, Lee isn’t impressed often. But he knows Saint Louis is up against its toughest opponent of the season, and that includes nationally ranked Bishop Gorman (Nev.), which the Crusaders defeated 31-19 in late August.
“(St. Thomas Aquinas) has a lot of good football players. Their line averages 6-5, 300 pounds. They have one kid who’s 6-10,” Lee said.
The Raiders, coached by Roger Harriott, are ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. Saint Louis is No. 7 in the same ranking.
“They’re pretty much balanced. They run the ball, a lot of RPOs, and they throw the ball. The quarterback can run as well,” Lee said. “Their wideouts are big, tall kids. Fast. They’re just a different type of football. Maybe they remind me of Punahou.”
Next man up
The big question mark for Saint Louis how the defense replaces linebacker Jordan Botelho. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior has been a cornerstone of one of the best defensive groups in state history. Botelho and fellow All-State linebacker Nick Herbig were involved in an off-campus altercation after the volleyball state championships on Oct. 26. Herbig was later suspended for one game, but was cleared to play in the state tournament and the GEICO Series. Botelho, who made a court appearance, was allowed to play in the state tourney, but was later prohibited from leaving the state.
That means Botelho will not play this weekend. He also will not play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Botelho is practicing with the team, but will not make the trip.
“We’re going to miss him, but it happens. Everybody understands the situation,” Lee said. “Jordan is practicing, keeping active. He’s helping with the scout team. He wants to stay involved and help with whatever he can. He’s still part of the team.”
Botelho has a 3.5 grade-point average and will graduate early. He will enroll at Notre Dame in January. Herbig will also graduate early, then enroll at Wisconsin.
“You expect somebody else to step up. That’s why they practice every day. Somebody gets sick or hurt, next man up. That’s what you’ve got to do,” Lee said
That next man up is Laakea Louis, a 5-11, 190-pound sophomore.
“Probably him and we might move some defensive linemen to play outside ’backers,” Lee said. “Darrell (Masaniai) has played linebacker, so he knows what he has to do. That’s a possibility.”
State representatives
Herbig is hungry to play after the latest break.
“It’s such a great experience for us, to go up there not just putting Saint Louis on the map, but the state of Hawaii. Representing the whole state of Hawaii,” Herbig said.
The Crusaders are taking 85 players, Lee said. They will have tours of Hoover Dam and the UNLV campus. There will be a visit to a hospital.
The flu bug, he added, is a concern.
“I got players, I got coaches, everybody’s getting sick. This is the worst I’ve seen,” Lee said. “It’s on campus.”
For nearly three weeks since the state tourney ended, the Crusaders have been diligently working every day. Studying the tape. Running drills. Refining technique.
Senior safety Kamo‘i Latu made it to practice after an extensive AP final in the afternoon.
“We’ve seen it all before. Everybody plays 100%. We’re all going out there and give it our all,” Latu said. “We’re going to do us and play Crusader football.”
