Mililani's Kalakaua Timoteo leaps up to make a reception over a pair of Kahuku defenders in a game played on October 24, 2013. Eugene Tanner | SL

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For each of the past six seasons, the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Division I football crown has belonged to either Kahuku or Mililani.

That much will not change after Friday night, when the two powerhouses square off for the league title at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium in a nightcap of a doubleheader (Pearl City faces Nanakuli in the 5:30 p.m. D2 final). What has changed, however, is the landscape of the OIA.

The Red Raiders have won 23 OIA football championships in their storied history, including six titles before Mililani's Central Oahu campus even opened in 1973, but it is the Trojans, however, who are viewed as a favorite entering Friday's showdown.

Mililani is seeking its second consecutive league title and third in five seasons — all under coach Rod York.

"Practices have been going well this week," York said on Wednesday. "The kids are focused, practices are normal, but it seems a lot more crisp. They're motivated and excited to play Kahuku."

The Trojans have put prolific numbers offensive, scoring no less than 41 points in each contested game this season (a 2-0 forfeit win over McKinley notwithstanding) and have won by an average of 30 points per game.

"They're very good — the best team we've seen this season — and I think they're right at the very top of the state right now," Kahuku coach Lee Leslie said of Mililani. "They're executing very well and they're getting better each week, but our kids believe that they can win and they're working hard."

Mililani has a plethora of weapons offensively. Running back Vavae Malepeai has rushed for 1,126 yards and 22 touchdowns, while receivers Kalakaua Timoteo (40 receptions-808 receiving yards-7 TDs), Bronson Ramos (29-504-4) and Kainoa Wilson (18-319-6) leading the pass catchers.

"I think a key matchup will be our defensive backs against their wide receivers," Leslie said. "I think we're pretty level in those areas, but the difference right now is their quarterback (McKenzie Milton). He's been able to make plays with his feet all season, so we'll have to make sure we take care of him."

Milton, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior, has completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,556 yards with 26 touchdowns against 5 interceptions. He has also rushed for 774 yards and 12 scores.

Leslie said his team has been focusing heavily on defense in its preparation this week.

"I learned back in 1985, from when I screwed up in a championship game and tried to get too much going on offense," Leslie recalled. "Ever since then I've pulled way back (offensively) realizing that defense wins championships. Even though I love offense, I know that we have got to have a sound defense. With variables like weather, you just never know how it can affect your offense, but defense has to be steady. We've loaded up our defense from the very beginning and I think this game will feature the best offense versus the best defense."

Kahuku has relied heavily on its defense and special teams to keep it in games this year, especially in the latter half of the season. After averaging over 45 points on offense in each of its first four games, that number has dropped to under 20 in Kahuku's last five games.

"They have the number one defense and I don't think they get enough credit for their special teams," York said of the Red Raiders. "They've been dominating in that aspect every game and because they play great special teams and defense and they score enough points to win, that's been the winning formula for them."

Among the defensive standouts for Kahuku are defensive lineman Salanoa-Alo Wily, linebacker Manaia Atuaia and defensive backs Keala Santiago and Alohi Gilman. Wily also sees time in the offensive backfield at running back and Santiago and Gilman have also played some receiver in addition to their return duties on special teams.

"They're huge, they're big, they're athletic and they're still young," York said. "A lot of those guys are sophomores and juniors. We played them last year and they're one year older and wiser now, so that's dangerous for us."

The Red Raider offense has struggled at times, but has shown balance, averaging 148 rushing yards per game and 141 through the air.

Quarterback Tuli Wily-Matagi, who will play tight end at the University of Utah next year, has 1,068 passing yards with 10 touchdowns against 10 interceptions this season. Chance Maghanoy leads the team in every major receiving category with 15 catches for 249 yards and 5 touchdowns. Running Kesi Ah Hoy is the top ball carrier in a crowded backfield with 87 rushes for 440 yards and 8 scores.

They will be going against a Mililani defense that is allowing just under 18 points and 271 yards per game.

"Obviously, we've got to stop their big man in the middle and keep him off of Tuli," Leslie said of Trojans' defensive tackle Rex Manu, who has five sacks, four fumble recoveries and a forced fumble on the year.

York said the battle in the trenches will go a long way to determining who wins Friday night.

"We've got to be able to move the ball and we've got to be able to block them to do it and vice versa, they've got to block us, so whoever wins the line of scrimmage should do well," York said.

The last time the teams, Mililani came away with a 37-22 win in an OIA semifinal game last year.

Both teams have already secured a spot in the upcoming First Hawaiian Bank/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I State Tournament.

Kickoff between the Red Raiders (8-1) and Trojans (10-0) is expected around 8:15 p.m.

Other games this weekend:
-Pearl City vs. Nanakuli, Friday 5:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium
The Chargers (8-1) and Golden Hawks (9-0) are ranked fifth and fourth, respectively, in this week's ScoringLive/OC16 D2 Power Rankings. The last time the teams played — back on Sept. 26 — Nanakuli rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit with three second-half touchdown runs to win, 28-21.

-Kealakehe vs. Hilo, Friday 7 p.m. at Francis Wong Stadium
The Waveriders (4-5) will try to unseat the reigning league-champion Vikings (9-0) in the BIIF D1 final with a spot in the state tournament on the line. Hilo, which posted a 7-0 shutout win at Kealakehe back on Sept. 20, is one of just three remaining unbeaten D1 teams left in the state.

-Konawaena vs. Kamehameha-Hawaii, Friday 7 p.m. at Paiea Stadium
The Wildcats (7-2) can claim their fourth straight league title with a win over the Warriors (6-2) in the BIIF D2 final in Keaau. Only the winner will advance to the state tournament. Konawaena beat Kamehameha-Hawaii, 20-6, back on Aug. 29 in a regular-season game at Julian Yates Field.

-Farrington vs. Campbell, Saturday 6 p.m. at John Kauinana Stadium
The OIA's third and final D1 state-tournament berth will be up for grabs when the sixth-ranked Governors (7-2) meet the seventh-ranked Sabers (7-3) at a neutral site (Mililani). The teams faced off just four weeks ago, when Farrington came away with a 29-27 win over Campbell.