Fourth-ranked Kahuku and sixth-ranked Waianae both bring punishing rushing attacks and identical 6-0 league marks into Saturday's showdown in Halawa. ScoringLive photo illustration

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With the widespread popularity of the spread-formation and pass-heavy offenses these days, Saturday's clash between fourth-ranked Kahuku and No. 6 Waianae will be a throwback to yesteryear.

Both the Red Raiders (7-0 overall) and the Seariders (6-1) bring punishing rushing attacks and identical 6-0 marks in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Division I Red conference into their showdown in Halawa this week, the regular-season finale for both teams.

Kickoff between the powerhouses is set for 8 p.m. at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium and will follow a D1 Blue conference game between Farrington (5-2) and Campbell (1-6) at 5 p.m.

Kahuku has averaged nearly 242 rushing yards, or about 84 percent of its offensive production per game. Senior Sefa Ameperosa has run for 598 yards on 71 carries — both team-high marks — and has scored six touchdowns. Not far behind him is junior Kesi Ah-Hoy who has 459 yards and eight TDs on 68 attempts on the year.

"They're big — real big — they're fast and they're well-coached," Waianae coach Walter Young said of the Red Raiders. "It seems like they go to their bread-and-butter and line up in that I-formation and go at you until you can stop them and not too many people can stop them."

With Ameperosa sitting out last week's 63-0 win at Waipahu, junior Harmon Brown stepped in and ran for a career-high 184 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries (15.3 yards per rush). Ah-Hoy, a running back by trade, has been filling in at quarterback since starter Jordan Mariteragi suffered a broken collarbone in a week-two win over Kapolei, but was banged up with an ankle injury last week.

Despite the mounting injuries, Tata said spirits remain high.

"We should be fine. The morale has been great and we're just taking it one week at a time, keeping the same routine just like a regular game, but obviously the stakes are high because it's two undefeated teams," Tata said. "We're trying to stay the course, trying to keep everything even-keel. Obviously it's Waianae and we're playing for the Red Division, but we want to prepare every week like it's the championship game. Hopefully we're just taking care of what we can control, which is the fundamentals."

As prolific as their offense has been (averaging nearly 48 points per game), their defense has been just as stingy, having surrendered just 22 points all year (3.1 per game).

"I'm excited to see their offense and the ground-and-pound against our defense," Tata said of Waianae's wing-T attack that averages just over 284 rushing yards per game. "Our rush defense is somewhat up there and I can't wait to see how we fare against their run."

Opponents are averaging an anemic 3.9 rush yards and less than 100 yards of total offense per game against Kahuku.

"In the trenches is where it's going to be key for both teams," Young said. "I think it'll depend on how the trenches can hold up: the offensive line and the defensive line on both sides for us and them. Whoever can win the battle there, that's going to dictate the game."

The Seariders, who are averaging a shade under 52 points scored against 25 points allowed per game, have a stable of running backs that share the load. Junior Javen Towne has a team-high 14 touchdowns, but ranks fourth behind three other rushers in yards in Ezekiah Moniz-Hopeau (363 rush yards, 3 TDs), Jurick Valdez (311 rush yards, 4 TDs) and Jorell Pontes-Borge (296 rush yards, 2 TDs).

Like Tata, Young said he hopes his team is preparing for Saturday's showdown as it has for the rest of its games this season.

"We'll approach it like any other game; we don't look past anybody and we think every week is a big challenge for us," said Young, who said he expects his squad to be relatively healthy for the game. "I think we matchup fairly well. It will be a tough challenge, but I think we should be ready. I'm not saying that we can stop them or not, but we're going to put forth our best effort against their best effort and may the best team come out on top."

Tata couldn't help but point out the similarities between the two teams.

"Waianae is a great team," Tata said. "They're sort of a mirror image of us: they like to run the ball, ground and pound, their defense gets after it, so it's almost a splitting image. I'm excited, I know the boys are excited and I can't wait for Saturday to be here."

The winner of the game will lay claim to the Red Division's top seed, with the loser assuming the second spot. Both teams have already clinched a first-round bye in the 12-team OIA tournament, which gets underway next weekend.