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Offensive production was hardly an issue in 2015 for the Kailua football team, but its the other side of the ball that coach Joseph Wong and the Surfriders will lean on this season.

With a three-year starter at the controls, Kailua averaged just under 30 points and 332 yards per game last year. However, the trigger-man for that unit — quarterback Noah Auld — has since graduated, putting the onus on the defense to lead the way in 2016.

The lynchpin for the defense this year? That would be the same guy as last year, 6-foot-4, 210-pound defensive end Christian Mejia.

In his breakout campaign as a junior last year, Mejia led all of Division I with 15 sacks en route to First Team All-Hawaii honors.

"I've actually seen a lot of him," said Moanalua first-year coach Savaii Eselu, whose team opens Oahu Interscholastic Association play against Mejia and the tenth-ranked Surfriders at Alex Kane Stadium Saturday night.

"He's a very tall, lanky guy. He reminds me of one of my teammates at Cal, Scott Smith from Saint Louis," said Eselu, a former Golden Bears' tight end. "He's a big plus for them with what he brings off the edge. He's definitely one of those factors that you cannot run the ball his way. You have to be able to neutralize him or isolate him and then work off of that, but he's a really good player and it's going to be an exciting matchup."

Mejia and the Kailua defense will try to slow down a Moanalua offense that posted 46 points and 470 yards in a 46-24 win over Damien last week.

Senior quarterback Alakai Yuen threw for 356 passing yards and six touchdowns on 17-of-29 passing. Senior wide receiver Ryan Ramones was his main beneficiary, notching 10 receptions for 260 yards and five TDs.

"I know they have a good quarterback in Alakai returning from last year and he's a competitor," said Wong, the third-year coach of the Surfriders. "Even though they have a new coach, I'm sure they build off what they did last year. I've watched them on film and they do some real good things."

Wong said putting pressure on Yuen will be of utmost importance Saturday.

"Our whole thing is to get after the quarterback, make him make some bad decisions or bad throws and hopefully we can capitalize on that," Wong said. "We have to make it hard for them to get the ball to (Ramones), whether it's coverage or pressure. I believe our guys are up to the test. Hopefully our defensive unit sets the tone and we feed off of that all night long."

The Surfriders defense hasn't disappointed so far, not allowing a score in three scrimmages during the preseason.

"I'd say they've been doing really good out there," Wong said. "Offensively, we're right there on the cusp of doing some great things, but like anything else I'm never satisfied."

Keoni Serikawa, Jr., a 6-foot-3 senior quarterback, steps into the starting quarterback job for Auld, who threw for 2,077 yards and 30 touchdowns last year.

"He's coming along real well," Wong said of Serikawa, Jr. "We have a nice run game to complement him where he doesn't have to make all the decisions as a passer. We can put it on the ground and put it in the air, so I know he'll be real comfortable in there."

Na Menehune held Damien to just three first-half points and 255 yards of total offense last week, but Eselu said the Surfriders present a tougher task.

"Kailua is always a tough opponent, they're strong up front, they're big, they can balance it out, run, pass, do the whole deal, so it's just a matter of how well we can answer with all the things they have," said Eselu, who pointed to the play of his defensive line as a key factor.

"I think our defensive line definitely has to step up this week. They have to set the point of attack, make a new line of scrimmage after the snap. If the defensive line is strong and stout up front, that gives us a lot more wiggle room with the secondary and the linebackers."

Kickoff between Na Menehune and the Surfriders is slated for 6:30 p.m. Saturday.