Twenty teams, three championships and three weeks to decide who hoists the koa trophies.

The opening round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships is nearing for teams from Kapaa to Hilo.

With the addition of a third classification in the format, the two-tier, 12-team look is long gone. Another eight teams are in the mix, playing for a title that is not quite at the level of nationally ranked teams (Kahuku) and not with the league’s smaller and lower (power) rated programs. Open Division is where the behemoths — two ILH and four OIA — now gather to settle their competitive desires. Division I is now where those extra eight teams go to battle. It is, in a way, a way of creating a Division 1.5, which is perfect for the programs that compete at a high level, but don’t have the boundary-less span or history of dominance of the Open Division teams.

Three classified tiers puts Hawaii more in line with the formats of most states. The parity should be a football party for high school fans. The two seeded teams in Open, Kahuku and Saint Louis, have opening-round byes this weekend. So do the top two in D-II, Kapaa and Konawaena.

TODAY’S GAMES

Leilehua (4-7) vs. Hilo (8-1), D-I, Keaau High School field, 7 p.m. — All four D-I quarterfinals will be done by the end of tonight. The conditions in Keaau in recent weeks have been wet, and the natural turf there will favor a run-first team, which is Hilo. Leilehua practices in its share of rain, but the Mules haven’t regularly practiced on grass in two years.

“We’ll make sure we bring our snorkels and our masks so we’ll be swimming our way for a first down,” Mules coach Nolan Tokuda said. “We’ll be doing the little things like dipping the football into a bucket to get ourselves ready during practice.”

The strength of the Vikings, champions of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, is traditionally their physical defense. This year is no different.

“They’re well coached. (Kaeo) Drummondo does a great job, especially on special teams,” Tokuda said. “They’ve got some playmakers, so we’ve got to make sure we take away the things they like to do.”

Drummondo is in his second year as head coach. He was the interim head coach last season, when the Viks reached the state tourney.

“For me, it’s more familiarity being the head coach. Last year, I never envisioned I would be in this position. More than anything, the program has steadily improved. It’s good to see that as pieces come and go, the players can still be successful.”

The Viks will spread the field and run the ball when Ka‘ale Tiogangco is at quarterback, but he suffered an injury at midseason and hasn’t returned yet. A freshman, Kyan Miyasato, has been at the reins since. He isn’t the runner Tiogangco is, but he has thrown six TDs with just three interceptions.

Kahale Huddleston is averaging more than 10 yards per carry and Nainoa Kane-Yates also works out of the backfield. Defensively, they’ve moved from a standard look to a 3-4.

Isaac Liu and Kahiau Walker are outside and Kamuela Mamone and Rylen Kaniaupio are inside.

“They’re pretty athletic, can rush the passer, play the run and cover. Hopefully, we can cover on Friday night,” Drummondo said.

The Mules have grown stronger and sharper with each week. An early-season slate that included Kahuku and Punahou only helped them get better. The biggest challenge heading into this travel game is the loss of safety/wide receiver Charles Moku Watson (torn labrum). Defensive back Jerome Holiday filled in at receiver quite well in the Mules’ last game with two TD catches.

“Our coaches have done a great job preparing our players, a guy like Jerome who hadn’t played a snap all year on offense, getting two TDs against Mililani,” Tokuda said.

Mililani (6-3) at Baldwin (8-2), D-I, War Memorial Stadium, 6:30 p.m. — The Bears practice against a four-wide aerial attack every day, but it’s been some time since they’ve faced one with the balance, power and speed of Mililani’s hybrid creation. Sophomore QB Dillon Gabriel (1,842 passing yards, 20 TD, 10 INT) has flourished with a solid ground attack. Darius Muasau (7.2 yards per carry) and Jalen Olomua (7.5) have been thunderous north-south pounders at RB when they’re not playing LB.

Gabriel is adept at the read-option game, a long-striding yardage monster when defensive ends bite on the fake handoff. He may have just 146 rushing yards for the season, but he has scored six times on the ground, and as with predecessor McKenzie Milton — now the starting signal-caller for UCF — it’s the timing of his big runs that hurts a defensive unit more than anything.

The Trojans have relied less on the aerial big play since their wunderkind playmakers graduated, but they still have dangerous weapons in Andrew Valladares (35 catches, 638 yards, seven TDs), Ryan Chang and Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi. Stanton Lee emerged as a key pass catcher last week, always seemingly wide open.

Baldwin coach Pohai Lee, like Mililani coach Rod York, believes in spreading the field without compromising the ground attack. Lee has heavily praised the work ethic of senior Kamaki Gouveia, who has become the most productive RB in the MIL. That has taken the pressure off QB Chayce Akaka as the Bears have become a run-first attack even though they line up four wide. With an offensive line that averages around 300 pounds per man, ground and pound is an easy choice most nights.

The Mililani-Baldwin winner will play the Hilo-Leilehua winner on Nov. 12.

Waiakea (3-8) at Campbell (6-4), D-I, 7:30 p.m. — The Sabers went quite some time without a home field, but it was worth the wait. The Sabers upset then-No. 4 Waianae during the regular season and have continued to defend their turf with great success. They will be the only team in the D-I tournament to play on their home field, late-night fireworks in the neighborhood and all.

The Sabers, under former standout lineman Amosa Amosa, are a testament to diligence. Their ability to stick to the grind showed last year when a 1-6 regular season turned into a stunning playoff win over Kaiser. This season, QB Kawika Ulufale matured and progressed while a typically sturdy defensive unit patiently anchored the ship. Ulufale is now playing his best football and Tasi Faumui leads a capable ground attack.

Defensive lineman Kishaun Ki (6-2, 280) has been one of the motors on defense that have led the surge for Campbell.

Waiakea began the season 0-3, won three of five, and then finished second in BIIF D-I. The Warriors have a tough task with the interisland travel and playing on Campbell’s home field. In addition, starting QB Gehrig Octavio will not play due to a prior commitment to a baseball showcase event on the mainland. Makoa Andres, a standout pitcher for the Warriors’ baseball team, could be next in line at QB. Fourth-year head coach Moku Pita might start a QB who was promoted from the JV team. It is just another obstacle for Pita at a school that has been a baseball powerhouse for years.

“Baseball is his ticket. He had to commit to this three months ago. He helped us get to this point,” Pita said.

The Campbell-Waiakea winner will meet the Moanalua-‘Iolani victor on Nov. 12.

Moanalua (5-6) vs. ‘Iolani (3-7), D-I, Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium (Roosevelt), 7 p.m. — One team loves to air the ball out, basically by necessity. The other methodically, surgically dissects a defense, using a four-wide look as a method to the means.

Na Menehune of Moanalua are, like the rest of the D-I field, simply benefiting from the expanded format approved by the HHSAA in hurry-up fashion earlier in the season. Fans who haven’t seen QB Alaka‘i Yuen and Moanalua’s air force attack yet will get at least one more chance. Yuen has passed for 2,179 yards, 25 TDs and 15 picks. He is also a sneaky threat as a scrambler (four TDs) and leads the team in rushes.

Given enough time, Yuen has a slugger’s chance to keep Moanalua close against almost any foe. Ryan Ramones (79 receptions, 1,143 yards, 16 TDs), Brandon Bender (35, 377, three) and Rylan Miguel (37, 344, four) have produced, but they need each other. If Bender, who also plays on defense, is not at full health, the offense is much less effective.

“They’re an exciting team. We’ve got to be ready to play,” ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. “They’re explosive — play-making quarterback, one of the premier quarterbacks with a heck of a receiver. They really make things happen.”

The Raiders have struggled in ILH D-I against two teams in the top three statewide and another that has been Top 10. RB K.J. Pascua has been a workhorse with 210 total touches and 882 yards from scrimmage. All 13 of his TDs have been on the ground for an ‘Iolani offense that has evolved over the years with a variety of blocking schemes, jet sweeps and, occasionally, pure straight-ahead power.

Moanalua has struggled at times against running teams, so this is a major test. If Na Menehune find a way to contain Pascua, they’ll have to pick their poison when Tai-John Mizutani goes to the air. Mizutani won’t take a lot of risks (11 TD, 7 INT); he likes to go to Justin Genovia (65 catches, 883 yards, six TDs). If Moanalua goes by the book and blankets Pascua and Genovia, Mizutani will be content to pepper the ball to secondary targets. Brent Nagami, Jonah Miyazawa, Rayden Kaneshiro, Isaac Anderson and Drake Shigemura are in a range of 17 to 33 receptions, generally interchangeable route-running machines.

Waipahu (8-2) vs. Lahainaluna (6-4), D-II, War Memorial Stadium, 3:30 p.m. — The Marauders’ best season since 2011 (OIA D-II championship) lost a bit of momentum with a thrilling 36-35 loss to Waialua last week. Now, it’s a road trip to the Valley Isle, where this matchup with MIL champion Lahainaluna is the first of a state-tourney doubleheader.

Marauders coach Bryson Carvalho is hoping his team curtails the turnovers and penalties that marked last week’s game.

“I know Lahainaluna is a tough team. The good thing with the OIA, we’ve seen pretty much every defensive front there is,” Carvalho said.

The Lunas’ modified Wing-T attack is never easy to prepare for.

“Defensively, it’s alignment, assignment, technique, execution,” Carvalho added. “We’ve got to control the line of scrimmage.”

The Marauders can air it out with QB Braden Amorozo (2,240 yards, 18 TDs, 10 INTs). His chemistry with receivers Isaac Yamashita (29 receptions, 628 yards, six TD), Ezekiel Reyes (32, 436, three), Alika Ahsing (25, 355, three) and Cody Andres-Paguirigan (26, 231, four) has been superb most nights.

All of their aerial success is dependent, however, on the work in the trenches. Freshman RB Alfred Failauga (1,157 yards, 12 TD) has been a workhorse between and outside the tackles. He has also been effective as a receiving target (21 catches, 307 yards, TD).

The victor will meet No. 2 seed Konawaena at Julian Yates Field on Nov. 12.

Waialua (7-2) vs. Damien (6-2), D-II, Campbell High School field, 4:30 p.m. — There was a parade before the OIA D-II championship game through Haleiwa and Waialua. Coach Lincoln Barit just wasn’t expecting one after the Bulldogs’ amazing title-game win over Waipahu.

“They were out in Haleiwa, and then at the entrance to the school with the band,” said Barit, now in his 14th season as head coach.

The glow hasn’t completely dissipated, but the champions will take on their counterpart from the ILH in what is, in effect, a matchup of the No. 4 seed (Damien) and No. 5 seed (Waialua), according to the HHSAA website.

“We don’t know a lot about them,” Barit said. “Except what we’ve seen on YouTube.”

The Monarchs endured a rugged ILH slate, facing St. Francis and Pac-Five multiple times before knocking out St. Francis in the final. QB Marcus Faufata-Pedrina has flourished in an offense that has tapered down the passing complexity in favor of a more basic, run-first philosophy.

“We wanted to make sure we run the ball. We got away from it a little during the middle of the season. It kind of took away from our offense, so going into that (championship) week against St. Francis we made it a point that we’re going under center and we’re going to run a little more,” Damien coach Eddie Klaneski said. “We didn’t have a lot of yards, but we stayed on the field a little more and Marcus made good decisions, and our defense brought it.”

Faufata-Pedrina has capable RBs in Justice White and Deacon Kapea, but he is the primary weapon by ground and air. The junior has passed for 1,259 yards and 21 TDs with just seven picks, and he has rushed for 507 yards and six more TDs. The presence of a big tight end, Shaun Apiki (26 catches, 332 yards, nine TDs) keeps the decision-making process simple and tight for Faufata-Pedrina.

“We have a pretty good offensive line, a big tight end, two good backs and two good wide receivers,” Klaneski said. “Marcus is utilizing his guys more. We kind of mixed it up early this season to get Marcus into more of a zone read, but putting him back to some old-school veer, it hits quicker.”

Waialua’s championship run was built on defense first, but the Bulldogs haven’t seen a lot of running QBs this season. They’re willing to do anything it takes. Barit said they went to a 6-5 defense to stop Waipahu last week, a short-yardage play late in the game that resulted in a turnover that sealed Waialua’s win.

The winner will play top-seeded Kapaa at Vidinha Stadium in Lihue on Nov. 12.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Waianae (8-4) vs. Farrington (8-3), Open Division, Aloha Stadium, 4:30 p.m. — The first game of Saturday’s Open Division doubleheader is as old school as it gets. Seariders coach Walter Young looks at the Governors as a team that mirrors his own, in many ways.

“They’re a great team. Similar style offenses, (both) run the ball primarily, toss the ball around,” said Young, whose team took the hard path to the state tourney. “Defensively, both teams fly around the ball. When we go against each other, it’s always a good game.”

Waianae was in position to clinch a first-round bye in the OIA playoffs when it was upset by Campbell. An injury to QB Jaren Ulu compounded the challenges, but the Seariders reached the league’s semifinal round and qualified for the Open Division bracket. Rico Rosario (1,154 yards, 14 TD) has been one of the most physical ballcarriers in the OIA, but his skill at catching passes and changing momentum with his legs could be utilized in this battle. The Seariders would prefer to stay on the ground, particularly with the depth at RB provided by Javen Towne (457 yards, seven TDs) and Kade Ambrocio (316, six). Ambrocio may be the best pass catcher Waianae has on intermediate routes.

Jorell Pontes-Borje, normally a backup RB, has filled the gap at QB with Ulu — who may return to the lineup this weekend — sidelined. His downfield passing connection with deep threat Isaiah Freeney (26, 449, four) could be tested out early on.

The Governors have a Terminator-ish offensive force in Challen Faamatau — 1,187 rushing yards, 29 receptions for 253 yards, 19 TDs from scrimmage — who is also one of the most dangerous return men in the islands.

Bishop Rapoza and Justin Uahinui continue to share snaps at QB, combining for 1,648 passing yards and 17 TDs. With Kingston Moses-Sanchez playing through a bruised knee and Mosi Afe (bruised back) unlikely to suit up, the Govs will be hard pressed to keep the Seariders’ tenacious defense honest.

The winner will face No. 2 seed Saint Louis on Nov. 11.

Kapolei (9-2) vs. Punahou (7-2), Open Division, Aloha Stadium, 7:30 p.m. — This game pits two high-octane passing offenses. Kapolei, with Taulia Tagovailoa, and Punahou, with Nick Kapule, have the potential to short-circuit the scoreboard with their aerial delights.

It’s a different world in Open Division. In years past, the ILH had just one representative, and always got an opening-round bye.

“I wish we could’ve had more time to prepare,” Punahou coach Kale Ane said. “They’ve got great kids, great coaches. It’s going to be a battle for all of us. We’re all grateful for a chance to play.”

Tagovailoa has been a classic pocket passer in the Kapolei run-and-shoot offense with 3,292 yards, 36 touchdowns and just six picks. Since an early-season loss to Waianae, the ’Canes have scored 44, 40, 40, 34, 28, 50, 49, 27 and 27 points.

Jaymin Sarono (92 receptions, 969 yards, 17 TD) has been possibly the toughest WR to bring down after the catch statewide. Wyatt Perez (51, 711, 12) and Isaiah Ahana (38, 524, three) have emerged as clutch performers, and Kaeo Alvarez-Ranan (28, 508, two) has also stepped up to a new level.

Kapule was intercepted five times by Saint Louis in the ILH title tilt after tossing just three in his first eight games. The senior has been magnificent most of the time: 2,678 yards, 30 TDs, distributing his spirals to a variety of teammates.

Ethan Takeyama (49 catches, 888 yards, nine TDs), Judd Cockett (46, 644, seven), Ke‘ala Martinson (39, 600, seven) and Eamon Brady (29, 502, seven) have been one of the best four-wide crews in recent memory.

The winner will play No. 1 seed Kahuku on Nov. 11.