The majority of Hawaii prep football fans were clamoring for a Mililani and Punahou rematch in the Division I finale from the start of the season and it's finally here. I unfortunately won't be able to watch it all unfold live due to a prior commitment, so I'll try my best on breaking down some key things to look out for.

In this championship matchup, I think the tempo and flow of the game will decide the winner. If it's a shootout with minimal defense, I like Mililani's chances. If it's a defense heavy, grind-it-out kind of a game, Punahou has the edge with its defense and special teams. 

Not having RB/SB Heisman Hosoda in the fold will really hurt the Buffanblu offense if they need to come back from a deficit. It's not a guarantee, but I have a hard time seeing him being healthy for this week after seeing him in crutches after the Saint Louis game. Punahou will miss Hosoda's ability to catch passes out of the backfield and in the seam routes. The 5-foot-10, 193-pound senior was also used as the jet sweep and pre-snap motion man in spurts last year. 

As an offensive skill position player, Hosoda possesses traits that I think are best at attacking the Mililani defense. With the Trojans losing All-Hawaii linebackers Jacob Afele and Dayton Furuta to graduation, I'd say it's safe to say that this year's linebacker corps is inferior to last year's group. The Buffanblu also do not have a reliable tight end to replace Dakota Torres from a year ago. Matthew Christman has seen some snaps at the position, but hasn't done a whole lot (six catches, 115 yards, one TD) for me to say he will be a difference maker Friday.

To mitigate this issue, I foresee Punahou offensive coordinator Teetai Ane putting a lot of crossing and drag routes in the game plan. Every defense knows that Kanawai Noa is a deep threat, but they often forget that he a complete receiver. Ane will figure out a way to get Noa in space at the expense of the opposing defense.

Running back Wayne Taulapapa will also need to have an impactful game if Punahou hopes to win this one. As impressive as QB Ephraim Tuliloa has been in his first year at the helm, he is not the seasoned three-year veteran that 2013 offensive player of the year Tui Tuileta was in the Buffanblu's championship year. Taulapapa needs to demand enough attention so that Punahou can use play-action effectively. When and if Mililani does start to stack seven and eight guys in the box, I'd like to see Taulapapa get motioned out wide and take advantage of his physicality against defensive backs. 

On the other side of the equation, Mililani's offense against Punahou's defense will be the chess match to watch. One thing that the Buffanblu will look to take out of the game is all the quick passes and bubble screens that Mililani's spread offense flourishes on. Punahou did a good job against slotback Bronson Ader in last year's title game, holding him to 19 yards on eight catches.

One thing that interested me in the Trojans' 17-14 win over Farrington was how they lined up their receivers. For the majority of his career, Kainoa Wilson lined up in the right slotback role, but lined up as the left wide out against the Governors. Bronson Ramos, who has rotated from inside and outside during the season, was almost used exclusively in Wilson's former role. Bryson Ventura lined up in the left slot where Ader played last season and Kalakaua Timoteo lined up as the right wide out spot where he usually does. 

I thought this was interesting in the sense that it sets up the matchup against Punahou's defense nicely. The Buffanblu has a tough front seven with Oregon-commit Canton Kaumatule on the line and the best linebacker corps in the state. Although Punahou's secondary has shown great improvement throughout the year, I still think Mililani's best bet is to attack the perimeter offensively.

Out of the four receivers, Bryson Ventura has the least experience. His role as the left slotback will generally have Punahou outside linebacker Ronley Lakalaka cover him for the most part of the game as he did with Ader in 2013. Mililani isn't shy about taking a particular player out of the game as evident in its OIA Division I semifinal game against Campbell. Where ever All-Hawaii Campbell safety Solomon Matautia was on the field, the Trojans would audible into a play that went to the opposite side of him. 

Ramos, who caught two fourth quarter touchdowns to spark a late Mililani comeback in the last championship game, will mostly be covered by outside linebacker Saitui Moeai on the strong side. I could see the Buffanblu trying to make sure Ramos doesn't burn them once again and look to prevent him from getting much production.

This leaves Timoteo and Wilson on the outside. Covering Timoteo will most likely be three-year varsity cornerback Dayson Watanabe. Watanabe might be one of the more fundamentally sound man-to-man cornerback in the state, but he does not have that top-end physical attributes that excite most college recruiters.  On the other hand, Timoteo possesses the raw ability and talent that will land him some Division I offers. I think the winner of this individual matchup will help shift the game in their respective team's favor.

With Watanabe on Timoteo, this will leave Randon Oda on Wilson, the most experienced receiver on the Trojans' squad. The move for Wilson from the slot to the outside may be due to limited reps from his (second) return from a collar bone injury. Although he could get return back to the slot in this upcoming contest, I like the move of putting Wilson out wide. In my opinion it gives the Trojans' most reliable playmaker more room to operate and make plays.

While I just spent six paragraphs talking about the Trojans' receivers, Punahou still has to contend with RB Vavae Malepeai. It is worth noting that Malepeai's 33 yards against Punahou in the state title game should be taken with a grain of salt. Malepeai was dealing with the death of his grandmother in that game and should come out on Friday looking to atone for last year's performance. 

It should be a great contest between squads and hopefully I can make it in time to at least catch the second half and some potential late game drama.