At this rate, Leilehua should be an associate member of the Maui Interscholastic League.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Mules will play MIL champion Baldwin in the First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football tournament and third year in a row on the Valley Isle. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Friday at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku.

The game will be televised live by OC16.

"It's an annual event for us. At this point, I feel like I should know Coach A.J. Roloos' favorite music on his iPod, what's his favorite food," jokes Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda "But it's going to be fun. We're going to play a quality team. Well-coached. They travel well and at the same time, when they're at home, they have a great backing."

In their four meetings, the first in a state semifinal at Aloha Stadium in 2007, the Mules have won every game.

"We were hoping we'd see somebody different this year, but it came out this way," Baldwin coach A.J. Roloos said. "It's the fourth time in a row. i don't know what's the chance of that happening ever again."

No other teams have met in four successive state tournaments. Saint Louis playing Kahuku for the title the first three years of the tournament was the previous longest engagement.

The good news for Baldwin (9-1) ranked fifth in the ScoringLive-OC16 Power Rankings, is that it won't have to contend with QB Andrew Manley, now of New Mexico State. But the No. 4 Mules (7-3) still pass the ball efficiently with junior southpaw Kenan Sadanaga. He has passed for 1,700 yards, fifth-best among Division I QBs, and 17 TDs.

Wideouts Fred Padrones and Darrien Shealy ranked second and fourth, respectively, in receiving yards in D1. Padrones has 52 catches for 851 yards and 11 TDs, while Shealy is 61 for 750 for seven TDs.

Roloos said his defense played well this season and was the big factor in its 14-0 win against Lahainaluna several weeks ago. The Bears defense has allowed a score in eight consecutive quarters.

"Our team was young last year," Roloos said. "We return the majority of our defense. That's what's going to carry us through the state tournament."

The Bears always throw well and this year isn't any different. Keelan Ewalko led the MIL with 814 yards and 13 TDs. Ro Wilson, Sheldon Leong and CeeJay Santos have been mainstays and big contributors for the Bears over the years.

"We have a lot of returnees and I've got a young quarterback so trying to get through the system," Roloos said. "He'll grow up real fast this weekend."

Baldwin went unbeaten in the MIL. Its only loss was to California's San Clemente (42-20).

Leilehua was hammered 46-16 by Kahuku in an OIA Red semifinal; it's one of the games the Red Raiders had to forfeit for using an ineligible player. But the Mules rebounded by beating Wai'anae, 28-20 in a game for seeding purposes.