Saint Louis to play ex-national champ Bishop Gorman in inaugural Aloha Football Classic

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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Saint Louis defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele (91), defensive lineman Gino Quinones (44), safety Junior Wily (20) and offensive lineman Arasi Mose (77) lifted their hands and pointed to their fans after winning the HHSAA State Division I Open Football Championship against the Mililani Trojans on Saturday. The Saint Louis Crusaders won 38-17 for the title.

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Three-time defending state champion Saint Louis will play three-time national champion Bishop Gorman in one of two football games that will make up the inaugural Aloha Football Classic.

OIA champion Mililani will host Liberty High School from Nevada in the other game. Both will be played Friday, Aug. 30, with the Crusaders playing at Aloha Stadium and the Trojans hosting the Patriots at John Kauinana Stadium.

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame is a charitable partner of the Aloha Football Classic.

“We are excited to bring the nation’s top high school football to Hawaii,” Jesse Sapolu, chairman of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, said in a press release formally announcing the event. “This will be another great opportunity to showcase the immense talent here in the 50th state.”

The Crusaders, who finished the season ranked No. 12 in the nation by USA Today, will get a high-profile opponent to boost their national profile. Saint Louis went 11-0 last year and has won 26 consecutive games dating back to 2016.

The Gaels, who finished 12-3 in 2018 and won their 10th consecutive state championship in Nevada, won three straight national championships from 2014-16 and beat Saint Louis 52-40 in a game at Aloha Stadium in 2012.

Liberty, which is located in Henderson, Nev., finished 7-5 last season, ending a streak of eight straight seasons with at least 10 wins. The Patriots have advanced to the state semifinals in Nevada nine straight times.

Mililani, which went 10-3 last season and advanced to the state final against Saint Louis, will also host St. John Bosco (Calif.) on Sept. 21.

The Braves finished the 2018 season 13-1 and were No. 3 in the final USA Today Super 25 rankings. They hosted the Trojans on Aug. 31 and won 52-14.

St. John Bosco quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 1 QB in the class of 2020, according to recruiting website 247Sports.