A new era of Saint Louis football will officially be ushered in on Saturday when the Crusaders visit three-time defending state champion Kahuku on Saturday evening, which will serve as Tupu Alualu‘s first game as the head coach of his alma mater.
On the field, the team will be led by receiver and University of Hawaii commit Titan Lacaden, who enters his senior season as one of the most electric players in the state.
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Lacaden, who hauled in 84 passes for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games in 2023, according to Hawaii Prep World, hopes to restore the reputation of a proud Saint Louis program in 2024. The Crusaders last won the ILH in 2021, back when he was a freshman on the varsity team.
“Definitely bittersweet. Kind of sad that it’s my last year with the boys and the coaches but I’m just trying to stick to the main thing, and the main thing is to bring the Koa (trophy) back to where it belongs in Kalaepohaku,” Lacaden told KHON2.com.
After Ron Lee stepped down as head coach at Saint Louis, a new energy has surrounded the program since Alualu’s hiring.
“Coach Tupu brings that fire, that gas, and that’s what we need, especially with this hard upcoming season that we have,” Lacaden said. “It’s against guys that are considered top in the state.”
The Crusaders will begin their season with consecutive road games against two of the state’s top teams in Kahuku and Mililani.
With no desire to look ahead to the Trojans, Lacaden is relishing Saturday’s matchup in Laie.
“I feel like if we just do our job, continue to believe in the coaches and what we have planned and just do us, I feel like we’ll come out on top,” he said.
Saint Louis preaches brotherhood among its students, but in Lacaden’s case, the term hits close to home. His older brother, Jake, was an all-state safety for the Crusaders and played collegiately for Nevada. He’s currently on Alualu’s staff coaching linebackers, along with his father, Frank, who coaches on the offensive side of the ball.
“Definitely big. He definitely paved the way for me,” Titan Lacaden said. “I’m just grateful. Football is definitely something that runs deep in my family and just to be able to have that opportunity to just carry that legacy on, it’s just a blessing.”
Lacaden, who caught two interceptions in a win over Kamehameha last fall, can also patrol the defensive secondary at safety if needed. But his future is at slot receiver, and it’s where the University of Hawaii plans to have him line up next fall. Lacaden was the first member of the class of 2025 to commit, and his pledge remains solid.
“I’m loving it,” he said. “Just to be able to have this opportunity to put on for the state, represent who we are, represent Saint Louis. I’m just blessed.”