For the past two years, Kahuku has stood atop the prep football world in Hawaii.

However, if the Red Raiders are to make it a three-peat in 2013, it will be with a slew of new faces.

Gone are the familiar faces of running back Aofaga Wily and defensive back Kawe Johnson. In fact, the entire starting defensive secondary from a year ago is gone, as is two-thirds of the linebacking corps.

But don't feel too bad for Kahuku – the cupboard is hardly bare. The Red Raiders still have standout defensive end/tight end Lamone Williams (who has scholarship offers from Washington State, Nevada, Utah, Wisconsin and Hawaii) to anchor its defense along with senior outside linebacker Clifford Ramseyer.

Filling the shoes of Wily will be a trio of senior PJ Liua and juniors Soli Afalava and Salanoa Wily – younger brother of Aofaga.

"We don't see it as pressure, we see it as motivation," said Salanoa Wily of entering the season as the reigning two-time state champs.

Salanoa, who is an imposing 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, said he learned the lesson of perseverance from Aofaga.

"He'd tell me that no matter what the score is, to keep pushing," Salanoa said.

If Wily is the thunder in the Kahuku backfield, Afalava is the lightning.  The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Afalava rushed for 127 yards (4.2 yards per rush) in limited action last year. Liua, a 5-foot-9, 220-pounder was the starting fullback a year ago and will be the single back in shotgun formations this season. According to Kahuku coaches, Liua has amongst the best hands on the team.

Another relative of Aofaga Wily – cousin Tuli Wily-Matagi – steps in at quarterback after the graduation of Lasi Livai. Wily-Matagi (6-2, 220) was a backup tight end last year and looked very confident in a pass league game against Kaiser on Wednesday. Wily-Matagi has surely benefited from the tutelage of quarterbacks coach Colt Brennan.

Williams (6-3, 240) looks even more athletic than he did during his impressive junior season in 2012. He's versatile enough to play inside at DT, but is especially quick off the edge at DE against opposing offensive tackles. Williams knows he must step up as the unquestionable leader of the Red Raiders' defense.

"I have to improve upon everything, but mostly at surveying the field," Williams said. "Losing guys like Kawe, Ku-J (Tupusoa), Rashaan (Falemalu), I know that means more responsibility on me. I learned a lot from those guys about respect and leading by example."

Big Red hosts Campbell in a scrimmage on Aug. 1, visits Kapolei the following day and welcomes Mililani on Aug. 3. Kahuku will not play on opening weekend and opens with a non-league showdown against Saint Louis on Aug. 17 at Aloha Stadium. The following week the Red Raiders travel to Utah to play East High (Salt Lake City).