It took Hilo coach Kaeo Drummondo nothing more than a few minutes to reset the focus for his Vikings.

The Vikings had staved off a major scare from Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Leilehua for a 19-9 win on the mud and bog of their home field, Dr. Francis Wong Stadium. Now, it’s another challenge, this time from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

The Vikings kneeled near one of the dugouts of the baseball facility and Drummondo steered their vessel toward Honolulu.

“ ‘Iolani is very well coached,” he said to his unbeaten team, and the adrenaline of another key postseason win simmered.

He echoed concern at the coaches press conference on Tuesday. ‘Iolani picked off Moanalua five times in a 35-9 win.

“From what I saw from ‘Iolani, they turn you over so much. They might give up yards, but they force turnovers,” Drummondo said.

“A lot of times, it’s not them waiting for the ball to be turned over. They rip it out. The ball’s in the air, they go and get it.”

Top-seeded Hilo (13-0) had not played a ranked team all season until Leilehua. Across the state, on and off social media, doubters persisted. Hilo plays a weak schedule. Hilo had it easy by playing at home.

That’s just more fuel for the Vikings, who won the Division I state championship in 2017. They lost to Waipahu in the final last year, and those returning players, including quarterback Kyan Miyasato and linebacker Kainalu Lewis, returned for the ’19 season hungrier than ever.

“He makes plays. He threw for 44 TDs, but he makes plays with his legs and keeps plays alive,” ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said of Miyasato. “To try and contain him is going to be a challenge.”

Third-seeded ‘Iolani (10-2) had its mettle tested on a weekly basis. The Raiders lost early to Moanalua and trailed Damien in the standings. The chase forged steel into the core of ‘One Team’ before they caught Damien and won the tiebreaker game to qualify for states.

Eleven times ‘Iolani has reached a state championship game, including the mythical state final, the Oahu Prep Bowl, in 1980. Under Look, the Raiders have won eight D-II state crowns. In ’16, they met Mililani for the D-I state title and lost 31-20. This is their first time back in the title game since.

HILO OFFENSE

QB 12 Kyan Miyasato 5-10 160 Sr.

WR 13 Kaimi Tiogangco 5-9 170 Jr.

WR 4 Guyson Ogata 5-6 155 Sr.

WR 7 Kilohana Haasenritter 5-10 180 Sr.

WR 3 Elijah Apao 5-6 160 Sr.

RB 30 Lyle Silva 5-9 165 So.

OL 52 Sione Olani 5-10 265 Sr.

OL 53 Kason Abadilla 5-6 230 Sr.

OL 56 Kawika Leehong 6-1 275 Sr.

OL 65 Cas Kua 6-0 205 Sr.

OL 70 Collin Fujimoto-Young 6-3 250 Jr.

The Vikings have a history of wide-open formations and gun-slinging tendencies, but they share a common denominator with ‘Iolani. Both teams like to establish the running game.

Linebacker-turned-running back Lyle Silva was a big part of Hilo’s success against Leilehua, rushing for 86 yards on 19 carries. The passing exploits of Miyasato were slightly diminished by the slippery footballs used last week in the rain, but he still connected with Kyler Aguiar (73-yard TD), Kilohana Haasenritter (five catches, 55 yards, TD) and Kaimi Tiogangco (six, 53) for crucial first downs.

Miyasato has passed for 2,784 yards and 44 TDs with just four picks as a senior. If he continues to pass the ball efficiently — last week’s bad snaps and dropped snaps can be fully attributed to the sloshy conditions — Miyasato will provide yet another major test for ‘Iolani’s savvy defense.

Haasenritter (38 receptions, 588 yards, 12 TDs) is a Hawaii commit who has reliable hands and tremendous play-making ability after the catch. Aguiar (40, 821, 11) is a pure burner on the sidelines, and Tiogangco (30, 633, 9) carves up defenders with effective routes. Guyson Ogata (29, 466, 8) had a quiet game against Leilehua, but is another scoring threat.

Haasenritter, at 5-10, 185 pounds, is also a threat out of the backfield in Hilo’s misdirection package (238 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs).

EDGE: Even

HILO DEFENSE

DB 2 Layne Deperalta 5-10 160 Sr.

DB 3 Elijah Apao 5-6 160 Sr.

DB 5 Kapana Kana’e-Kane 5-10 170 Sr.

DB 7 Kilohana Haasenritter 5-10 180 Sr.

LB 10 Kalen White 5-9 185 Sr.

LB 11 Kainalu Lewis 5-11 180 Sr.

DB 20 Keola Balga 5-7 160 Sr.

DB 25 Stan Mwarey 5-9 170 Sr.

DL 43 Joshua Niro 5-10 200 Sr.

LB 44 Mana Price 5-9 170 Sr.

DL 50 Kayden Alameda 6-0 200 Sr.

DL 75 Tysen Kaniaupio 6-1 260 So.

The Vikings have not been tested on this side of the ball, but a big part of that is simply because of a physically strong and aggressive front seven that dominated all 13 games to date.

Linebacker Kainalu Lewis came up with the biggest play of the night against Leilehua with a sack and forced fumble in the fourth quarter, moments after Leilehua received a free kick, down 12-9. But he was just one part of a synchronized, swarming defense that limited Leilehua QB Kekoa Turangan to 7-for-20 passing and 84 yards.

Cornerback Layne Deperalta was a menace all night, blanketing Leilehua receivers and coming up with an interception in the end zone. He also had a fumble recovery, as did Guyson Ogata and lineman Tyson Kaniaupio.

Is this the toughest Hilo defense in history? Perhaps not, but it is arguably the most balanced from the trenches to the back end. Hilo has allowed just 5.5 points and fewer than 90 yards of total offense per game.

Defense is why Hilo beat Leilehua, a team that beat ‘Iolani during the regular season.

EDGE: Hilo

HILO SPECIAL TEAMS

P 21 Masila Siua 5-10 155 Jr.

K 82 Keanu Keolanui 5-10 160 Sr.

KR 3 Elijah Apo 5-6 160 Sr.

KR 4 Guyson Ogata 5-6 155 Sr.

LS 61 Isaiah Guerrero 5-8 220 Fr.

LS 23 Lester Walker 5-9 170 Jr.

HO 3 Elijah Apo 5-6 160 Sr.

Senior kicker Keanu Keolanui was clutch against Leilehua — in the rain, on the soggy grass — with field goals of 44 and 37 yards, and he had plenty of room to spare. However, Keolanui also missed an extra point.

He is also crafty with kickoffs. Hilo recovered a pooch onside kick after going up 12-0, but the ball was just short of the 10-yard minimum.

‘IOLANI OFFENSE

QB 11 Jonah Chong, 6-0, 165, SR

RB 1 Brock Hedani, 5-10, 180, SR

WR 12 Noah Gaudi, 5-9, 150, JR

WR 21 Carter Kamana, 6-3, 177, SR

WR 2 Cole Ichikawa, 5-5, 145, SR

WR 6 Wailoa Manuel, 5-10, 150, JR

OL 50 Kilo Scanlan, 6-3, 215, SR

OL 51 Micah Anduha, 5-10, 174, JR

OL 55 Raynne Passi, 6-0, 195, SO

OL 72 Chase Kato, 5-11, 200, JR

OL 79 Brandon Chin, 5-11, 185, JR

There was a time when ‘Iolani’s four-wide offense leaned on the passing game. Over time, the Raiders have incorporated wrinkles that accentuate the run-blocking talent of its offensive line. This season, ‘Iolani ran the ball 348 times and passed it 276. That run-pass ratio of 57% to 43% is a reflection of ‘Iolani’s personnel usage.

Running backs Brock Hedani and Brody Bantolina gave their coaches all the reason to capitalize on their talents. Hedani’s explosiveness was special this season, but his play-making as a route runner was also valuable. He has rushed for 718 yards and 12 TDs, and has 14 receptions for 171 yards and seven more TDs.

Bantolina has rushed for 550 yards and 10 TDs. That base as a running team makes life in the pocket simpler for QB Jonah Chong (1,721 yards, 22 TDs and only six picks).

Speedy Wailoa Manuel (54 receptions, 795 yards, four TDs) and elite route runner Cole Ichikawa (23, 329, seven) held down the fort while WR Carter Kamana (28, 447, three) was out with an injury for five games.

EDGE: Even

‘IOLANI DEFENSE

DB 4 Trevor Kan, 6-0, 185, SR

DB 5 Micah Camat, 6-2, 185, SR

DL 10 Shayden Molina, 6-2, 245, JR

LB 23 Lanakila Pei, 6-0, 180, SR

DB 26 K C Bell, 5-9, 169, JR

DB 27 Isaac Ignacio, 5-7, 145, SR

LB 29 Stirling Sakashita, 5-11, 165, SO

DL 35 Jayden Murata, 5-10, 165, JR

LB 41 Joshua Miyazawa, 5-9, 175, JR

DL 98 Lima Harbottle, 5-10, 214, SR

DB 28 Micah Shikada, 5-10, 140, SR

The Raiders, as coach Wendell Look points out, have two defensive linemen. He’s not far off because, aside from Shayden Molina (6-2, 245) and Lima Harbottle (5-10, 214), ‘Iolani has only two other players listed as DLs.

Over the years, defensive coordinator Delbert Tengan has crafted a design for the small, but speedy, unit. The senior-heavy bunch is physically stronger than it was a year or two ago, and it shows when they execute and tackle.

Oh, they still give up rushing yardage, but the bend-and-don’t-break mentality is a mainstay for the Raiders. All-time rushing leader Alfred Failauga went for 298 yards and two TDs on the Raiders, but ‘Iolani won 48-14. Damien’s Amo Sulu rampaged for 225 yards and a TD on 29 carries, yet ‘Iolani prevailed 38-21 in the regular season.

Kaimuki’s Naomas Asuega-Fualaau had 145 yards and a TD on 19 attempts, and ‘Iolani won 34-24.

Even if Hilo RB Lyle Silva breaks the 100-yard mark, perhaps even 200, it’s no guarantee that the Vikings control the game. ‘Iolani’s defense has allowed 335 yards per game, but just 16 points per outing.

‘Iolani linebacker Lanakila Pei and safety Micah Camat are part of a seasoned, battle-tested crew that may be the most prepared defense in the state.

‘Iolani picked off Moanalua’s RJ Javar five times in last week’s 35-9 semifinal win. Two were by Pei, two more by Micah Shikada and one by Stirling Sakashita.

A run-heavy team doesn’t automatically beat ‘Iolani, but having that consistent force on the ground gives an offense a chance.

‘IOLANI SPECIAL TEAMS

P/K 6 Wailoa Manuel, 5-10, 150, JR

KR 1 Brock Hedani, 5-10, 180, SR

PR 2 Cole Ichikawa, 5-5, 145, SR

KR 23 Lanakila Pei, 6-0, 180, SR

LS 28 Micah Shikada, 5-10, 140, SR

HO 8 Rexton Suzuki, 5-5, 155, JR

Manuel, the WR, handles kicking duties for ‘Iolani. His range isn’t major, but his accuracy is. The junior has knocked eight field goals through the uprights.

Like his counterpart, Keolanui, Manuel doesn’t have touchback range on kickoffs, but placement plays a big role in ‘Iolani’s kicking game. Manuel checks the box there.

EDGE: ‘Iolani