Saint Louis-Kahuku, chapter 2, in the year 2018.

The first meeting on Sept. 7 was a 30-14 win for Saint Louis, ranked No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Top 10. The two-time defending state champion Crusaders are also nationally ranked.

The Hawaii football powerhouses battle tonight in the semifinal round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Open Division State Championship at Aloha Stadium. Saint Louis has won the last two matchups and has not lost to Kahuku since the 2015 D-I state final.

Saint Louis (9-0) has not played a game in three weeks, since winning the Interscholastic League of Honolulu crown for a fourth year in a row. Coach Cal Lee’s team has benefited from the rest, the healing time and the chance to get plenty of practice reps for veteran and younger players.

But it’s still a long three weeks.

“One week of preparation is enough. Two weeks, you start to think too much. Three weeks, you get kind of bored doing the same thing over and over,” said Lee, who has guided the squad from Kalaepohaku to back-to-back state crowns.

Lee played linebacker in high school (Kalani) and was all-conference at Willamette College. He enjoys the work of his current linebacker corps, which handles the siphoning duties for one of the nation’s best defensive units.

“Lawai Brown, Nick Herbig, Kila Kamakawiwo‘ole, Jordan Botelho, they’re all veterans. All you got to do is keep practicing the things you need to do. Make sure they’re in the right position to make plays, then they can secure and make the tackle. Get there,” Lee said.

Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho tips his cap to the Lou’s front seven.

“Twelve (Botelho), 19 (Herbig) and 1 (Kamakawiwo‘ole), those are the ones who stand out on all videos. We’re running and Kamakawiwo‘ole is filling that hole so fast. Herbig off the edge and playing coverage. Botelho holds down that side really well. (Faatui) Tuitele takes that whole middle section up,” Carvalho said. “We have to be precise in how we run. The lanes will be small, alleys tight, windows smaller than we thought. Their defense is great. You see Kahuku defense like that, but their defense is clicking on all cylinders.”

The faux pas of the Crusaders’ dominant win over Punahou three weeks ago in the ILH title game was a slightly over-the-top celebration after a fumble recovery TD return and another yellow flag shortly after on Botelho. He was extremely apologetic after the game, disqualified for the two unsportsmanlike conduct violations.

“He’s a kid and they learn from it,” Lee said. “Hopefully, everybody learns you don’t do things to hurt the team. The celebrations they see on TV, I don’t like it.”

A matchup with Kahuku is intriguing in that sense. A junior QB for either side — Robbie Sauvao of Kahuku, Jayden de Laura for Saint Louis — being pestered constantly by strong, big, athletic linebackers.

Kahuku’s 7-4 mark is a bit misleading considering the progress of its youth brigade since key injuries, including a midseason one to middle linebacker Miki Ah You. Kahuku has filled in admirably with young sophomores Ilaisa Fotu and Alan Talanoa.

“Hopefully, they will play their best. They just can’t play intimidated,” Carvalho said.

It’s not just the linebacker corps that faces a tough challenge, particularly from the talented, experienced Saint Louis offensive line. The hope that defensive backs Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu and Kaonohi Kaniho would return from injuries has dissipated. Both have been ruled out for this weekend’s game.

“Kaonohi had an outside shot. He’s up and jogging around, but he’s not getting full range of motion,” Carvalho said of the standout cornerback. “Mana (Fonoimoana-Vaomu) got hurt against Campbell the first time, then he got reinjured the second time against them. We were holding out hope.”

Whether the Red Raiders defense can play its best game of the season with basic schemes or more exotic blitz packages, de Laura isn’t the same quarterback he was early on. The southpaw has improved his willingness to stand in the pocket, and he is also more apt to run out of bounds than toss up 50-50 balls.

“We need to rattle de Laura,” Carvalho said. “This past couple of weeks, (defensive coordinator) Sola Soliai has been tweaking some fronts. Hopefully we can cause some confusion in getting to him, and in coverage.”

Soliai’s immense knowledge and experience can be a game-changer. So can the lack of a field to practice on.

“Our field is still bad. We haven’t practiced on it for a couple of weeks,” Carvalho added. “(Tuesday), we were at Farrington. (Wednesday), we’ll be at Castle.”

Dominant defenses don’t fear a challenge, but the awareness factor is built in for both sides. Kahuku’s group of running backs — Zealand Matagi (5-9, 195), versatile Wes Alo-Maiava (6-0, 180) and burly Toalei Lefau (5-11, 235) — sets off alarm bells for the Crusaders.

“I let them know, and they’ve seen tape of Lefau and how big he is and how hard he runs,” Lee said. “We’ve got to tackle properly, and gang tackle.”

Though the run game has been featured heavily by offensive coordinator Ron Lee, Saint Louis’ stable of receivers has been top flight again. Roman Wilson (30 receptions, 545 yards, seven TDs) has been a blur often on any kind of route imaginable. The cast of pass catchers — which includes Chance Beyer (41, 479, five), Makoa Close (23, 461, three) and Koali Nishigaya (35, 399, four) — is reliable and unselfish, often making key blocks for a Saint Louis run game that has tilted the run-pass play-call ratio in its favor this season.

Dayton Sam (460 rushing yards, six TDs) and Robbie Paikai (366, seven) average a combined 6.9 yards per carry.

Kahuku hasn’t come close to peaking yet with tall tight end Ethan Erickson, also known as “Alpine” because he’s originally from Alpine, Utah. Duke Heffernan is a reliable deep- and short-route target and Mason Paulo can be a game-breaker down the field.

NO. 1 SAINT LOUIS CRUSADERS (9-0) VS. NO. 4 KAHUKU RED RAIDERS (7-4)

Today, 7:30 p.m. Aloha Stadium

TV: Spectrum XCast (Ch. 1017)

Radio: 1500-AM

All-time series record: Saint Louis leads 15-8

First meeting: Kahuku 12, Saint Louis 6, Sept. 12, 1959

Last meeting: Saint Louis 30, Kahuku 14, Sept. 7, 2018

2018 rematch: Roman Wilson caught touchdown passes of 80 and 13 yards and finished with 136 yards receiving to lead the Crusaders to a 30-14 win on Sept. 7. Saint Louis held Kahuku to 8 total yards in the first half and had eight sacks, including three by Nick Herbig and two from Jordan Botelho.

BEST OF THE REST

Mililani vs. Campbell

Today, 4:30 p.m. Aloha Stadium

With 3,369 yards and 37 touchdowns passes this season, Dillon Gabriel is much more than a dude in a yellow uniform. Gabriel is the state’s all-time passing yardage leader, though he would trade any statistical feat for a state title.

Eleven games into the season, Mililani (9-2) is one win away from reaching the Open Division final. When the Trojans meet Campbell (8-4) in the semifinal-round opener, it will be a rematch. On Sept. 15, Mililani overwhelmed the visiting Sabers 52-14. Campbell has a puncher’s chance against Mililani.

“There’s about 200 coaches in this state who wish they were still playing. If you’re playing in November, you did pretty good for the season,” Sabers coach Darren Johnson said.

Quarterback Krenston Kaipo will return from a shoulder injury. With him, Campbell edged Kahuku during regular-season play. Without him, the offense scored one touchdown against the Red Raiders in the OIA playoffs.

Preparing for Mililani’s array of quick, athletic defenders — including shifty 215-pound defensive tackle Mykah Tuiolemotu — had Campbell in advanced studies mode.

Longtime Mililani coach Rod York has his team prepared for just about anything including the kitchen sink.

“They’ve played a lot of quarterbacks, so you’ve got to be ready. They’re not afraid to insert a different quarterback in the middle of the first or second quarter,” York said. “We’ve got to protect our quarterback. We got to be able to run. It all depends on what Campbell shows us.”

Kaimuki vs. Kapaa

Saturday, 2 p.m. Vidinha Stadium

Knock them down and the Kaimuki Bulldogs bounce right back up. Kaimuki (10-2) is on its second plane trip in as many weeks, this time to face KIF champion Kapaa (6-2), the second seed in the Division II state tournament bracket.

The Bulldogs pulled out a 28-27 road win at Kamehameha-Hawaii last weekend. Kapaa had a bye.

After going pass-heavy early in the season, the Bulldogs are a reformed poster child for ground-and-pound smashmouth football. They rushed 52 times for 268 yards last week, and it was even more effective than it appears. Naomas Asuega-Fualaau rushed for 159 yards, Elijah Lemalu added 97 and Jonah Stephens tallied 63 as the three RBs averaged a whopping 7.4 yards per attempt.

Will Jonah Fa‘asoa end up throwing the ball more? He had just seven pass attempts last week — the guy who set a school record with 435 passing yards against Kaiser early on.

The ’Dogs embrace efficiency, saving the legs of their many two-way players, and will run behind a physical offensive line led by Sama Paama (6-4, 355).

“Seeing them live, you could really see how big they are,” Kapaa coach Philip Rapozo said. “They got better from the first time I saw them. That’s coaching. They kind of remind me of the Radford (state title) team in 2015.”

Facing that stampede will be Kapaa middle linebacker Raffy Pereno (5-6, 175).

“Honestly, he’s the smallest, shortest ’backer we’ve had since the (coach Kelii) Morgado days. This year, Raffy stepped up his game, matured and he’s playing lights out. I’m proud of the guy,” Rapozo said.

Roosevelt at Lahainaluna

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

Lahainaluna (9-0) is, as usual, a bit of a mystery squad. Not on TV. Not really on the internet. And playing their best football in recent years.

That’s saying a lot for a two-time defending D-II state champion, but co-head coach Garret Tihada — who rarely hypes anything — can barely believe what he sees sometimes. The Lunas defense has allowed just 3.3 points per game.

“Nyles Pokipala-Waiohu has been a defensive leader. Our defense plays so well together. The 11 move as one,” Tihada said. “It’s amazing to watch our defense this year.”

Joshua Tihada has racked up nearly 900 rushing yards along with 15 TDs, but for a second year in a row, it’s the multiple-offense, four-headed quarterback package that makes the Lunas unique. The Lunas use as many as 25 players on offense.

“So, it’s good for the kids, more kids get in the game, more of them are mentally prepared on the sidelines. The kids love it. The (assistant) coaches love it,” Tihada said. “It’s a headache and a half for me.”

OIA champion Roosevelt (12-1) is having an epic season with a ball-control ground attack, precision passing by Sky Ogata, and a talented, senior-heavy defense that has been one of the stingiest in all of D-II.

Coach Kui Kahooilihala has some hybrid-type athletes on defense who have sometimes been in Troy Polamalu mode. Marcus Hee and Caine Fitiausi-Fung have been generally interchangeable in that role. Defensive linemen Lio Ilalio (6-2, 315) and Chayden Sasaki-Kalamau (6-1, 240) anchor the front seven. Sasaki-Kalamau had five sacks in the quarterfinal win over Pac-Five last week.

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Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser