WR Keoni-Kordell Makekau and the Iolani Raiders take on QB Tua Tagovailoa and the Saint Louis Crusaders Saturday. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Few football programs know success like Saint Louis and Iolani.

Both Interscholastic League of Honolulu members have claimed their share of titles over the years. The Crusaders won a unprecedented string of 14 straight Oahu Prep Bowl or state championships from 1986 to 1999, while the Raiders' streak of six consecutive Division II state crowns came from 2007 to 2012.

Saint Louis claimed two more Division I state titles in 2002 — under current Iolani defensive coordinator Delbert Tengan — and in 2010. However, the Crusaders are off to a 1-3 start in 2014 and sit in last place in the three-team ILH D1 with a 1-1 league mark.

Iolani's reign atop the D2 world came to an end with a stunning semifinal loss to Kauai on its home field last November. The Raiders, who are 2-0 overall and in first place at 1-0 in the ILH, are playing their third straight home game to open the season.

We caught up with the coaches of both teams a few days before their afternoon matchup at Eddie Hamada Track and Field.

ScoringLive: Describe your team's current situation in one word.
Cal Lee, Saint Louis coach: "Improving. I think our quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) is starting to feel a little more comfortable after last week. You know, sophomores they all get a little jittery, but after his second game (as the starter) he looked more comfortbale so I like that. I like the execution. He's really pretty sharp on his passes and that's why I think we've been better and you know, you need a little confidence when you play too, so we're building up confidence. They see things happening, they see it realized, so when you get success it builds confidence."
Wendell Look, Iolani coach: "Improving. I think with every game — because of the inexperience and the youth on this team — with every game, they're getting better and I think playing in the ILH right now, they need to get better real quick."

SL: How near or far is your team from playing at its potential?
Lee: "Well, I think that's the goal; that you want to get better every week and you know you, you'll always make mistakes, you'll never have a perfect game but the expectation is to always do things better — run better, pass better, play special teams better — so there's always things to work on. The kids need to believe that and they need to stay hungry and keep working hard because it takes effort. We're having a pretty good week and the kids are excited, (but) it's going to be a nice hot day, so you've got to be prepared for that."
Look: "I think we're still far away. We're still trying to create an identity for ourselves on both sides of the ball and find something that we can really hang our hat on and be proud of and go from there. We just haven't played enough games to do that yet."

SL: What player(s) or position group would you consider to be the heart of the team?
Lee: "i think offensively that whole group has that potential to really take the game in their hands. Our offensive line, running backs, quarterback, receivers, I think they're all in there knowing what they can do and they're pretty confident, I think. You just don't want to be satisfied. Every time you touch the ball you want to score."
Look: "Well you've got to look — on any football team — at your line. You offensive line or your defensive line. They have to be the heart and soul of where it all begins. We're fortunate this year where we do have some size, relatively speaking for us, and so that's always a blessing for us to have some physical size there. We just don't have the depth, but again you can't have everything, so we're happy to have something. In my opinion, if you target any group it has to be the line on both sides of the ball."

SL: Do you feel league games between D1 and D2 teams are beneficial or detrimental?
Lee: "I think the game against Pac-Five was just one of those games where everything went right. You intercept a pass and run it back, score on defense. Special teams, you run the kickoff back. For the Division I teams, they need the games, they need to practice with somebody else, but I think even for (D2 teams) if you play better competition that's the way you get better. Their numbers might be low, but they just have to keep playing harder and you know, maybe this (format) changes next year anyway."
Look: "In recent seasons it's been tough competing with the Division I guys. I don't know why, maybe we're in this lull right now in Division II, in terms of size and in terms of depth, but it is what it is. At least in years past, we had been competitive with them, but lately it's been tough. They're just that much better and I mean, just athletically, physically, they're just very dominant right now."

SL: What are you thoughts about your opponent this week and how do you feel your team matches up?
Lee: "You've got to give Iolani a lot of credit. they do a great job coaching them and they have success because of that, which builds a lot of confidence on their part. It's not like they're getting busted up by a lot of competition and I give the coaches credit for competing and getting the boys to play hard. No matter who you play, mentally you've got to ready to go out there and give it your best shot and I know Iolani will come out fired up and ready to go. For us it's not a matter of who we play, but how we practice. It's never about who we play, you can't worry about who you're playing, you've got to worry about what you're doing in practice. That's what is important, so that's what we focus on; practicing the best that we can."
Look: "With Saint Louis everybody looks at their record being 1-3, but shoot they played some really, really good teams. I mean, they played the number two team in the nation, so whenever you do that — when you play good teams — you're going to get better and be better. You can't measure their win-loss record and have an opinion on them by that, they're still very good. They're physical, they're athletic, they've got great coaches, so you combine all those things and they're a good football team. We have to just do what we do well and if we can do that then it gives us a chance to compete."

SL: What do you think we can expect from Saturday's game?
Lee: "Well, I think it's going to be two teams that'll be in a battle. You kind of hope that you can execute on offense and do the things you need to do on defense and the third part is special teams, which can make or break a game. Those three parts are vital for both teams. I just expect a good game. Iolani is Iolani. They've won championships and they know what it takes, so I'm expecting a real good fight from them."
Look: "The one thing I know we can expect is it's going to be hot. I think it's going to be a very physical game and it's just a matter of who can last the longest in that heat. I think it'll be a physical game and our lines are going to get after it. I think the game will be determined in the trenches and that's the one advantage we have, is that we're playing at home and we're playing at 1 o'clock, so hopefully we can take advantage of that."

Kickoff between the Crusaders and Raiders is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Kozuki Stadium.