---

While the state's top two teams - No. 1 Kahuku and second-ranked Farrington - will take the field for what promises to be an epic battle at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium Saturday afternoon, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu will have its own clash of titans at Aloha Stadium.

Punahou, ranked fourth in this week's ScoringLive/OC16 Football Power Rankings, will meet No. 6 Kamehameha at approximately 7:45 p.m. Saturday with first place in the ILH Division I standings at stake. The game will follow a Division II game between Pac-Five and Damien at 4:45 p.m.

On the neighbor islands this weekend, Kamehameha-Hawaii puts its undefeated record on the line in a road contest at Hawaii Prep to headline four Big Island Interscholastic Federation games and Waimea hosts Kapa'a in an Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation matchup.

The entire Maui Interscholastic League is off this weekend because of the Maui County Fair.

Here is a closer look at those games:

INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU

Pac-Five vs. Damien, Saturday, 4:45 p.m. at Aloha Stadium

Both squads are in dire need of a win at this point in the season. After a 3-0 start, which vaulted them into the ScoringLive/OC16 Football Power Rankings, the Wolf Pack (3-3 overall, 0-3 Interscholastic League of Honolulu) have dropped their last three games and remains winless in the ILH. Pac-Five's defense was hailed for shutting out its first three opponents, but in its three losses, its offense has scored just 10 points while opponents have scored 75 points.

The Monarchs (0-5, 0-2) are still looking for win No. 1 under first-year head coach Eddie Klaneski. They struggled offensively - as they have all season - in a 34-0 loss at Punahou last Friday. Damien has scored just 14 points this season against 192 allowed. It doesn't get any easier next week as the Monarchs play Saint Louis before closing out the season against Pac-Five and 'Iolani.


Kamehameha vs. Punahou, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium

The nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader at Aloha Stadium features No. 6 Kamehameha and fourth-ranked Punahou. The winner of Saturday's highly-anticipated meeting will remain unbeaten in the ILH and will take a leg up on the other in the league's Division I race.

The Buffanblu (6-1, 3-0) have looked dominant at times this season, including a 35-0 shutout of Saint Louis two weeks ago. Entering Saturday's showdown, Punahou has won its last four games - a streak which began with a 19-7 win at Vista (Calif.) back on Sept. 3. In that game, the Buffanblu led 3-0 at halftime, but allowed a third-quarter score before rallying with 16 fourth-quarter points. Since suffering a 14-0� home loss to Campbell in its non-league finale, Punahou has outscored its opponents, 126 to 25.

The Buffanblu defense, which is allowing less than a touchdown (6.6 points) per game, has pitched shutouts in its previous two contests, including last week's 34-0 rout of Damien at Alexander Field. They have been especially tough against the run, as only twice this season has a team rushed for more than 100 yards against them.

Offensively, Punahou seems to be improving with each week. With sophomore Larry Tuileta at the helm, the Buffanblu average 263.4 yards (150.7 pass, 112.7 rush) and 27.9 points per game. Tuileta, who began the season splitting the quarterbacking reps with Luke Morris, has since layed claim to the starting job. He has completed 58.2 percent (78 of 134) of his passes for 825 yards with six touchdowns against two interceptions.

Running back Steven Lakalaka ranks fourth among all Division I rushers with 498 yards on 94 carries (5.3 yards per rush) and five touchdowns.

Some six weeks ago, when Kamehameha found itself at 0-2 to open the season, "morale at our school was getting low," as running back Tyler Meditz explained. Well, the Warriors (4-2, 3-0) have certainly done their part to pick-up the student body at the Kapalama Heights-campus.

Kamehameha's formula for success has been somewhat similar to Punahou's.
�
The Warriors' defense has been stingy, allowing under two touchdowns (13.5 points) per game and also tough against the run (70.5 rush yards allowed per game). The play of the secondary - made up of cornerbacks Kamuela Grugier-Hill and 'Aiea-transfer Taylor Taliulu as well as free safety Anthony Borengasser and strong safety Pono Choy - has helped to solidify the defense.

Although Kamehameha still utilizes a two-quarterback system with juniors Nephi Stevens and Cid Camanse-Stevens, it is the ground game - led by Meditz and boosted by backups Bronson Barretto and Cheyne Holt - that gets the Warriors going offensively. Of Kamehameha's six games this season, it has surpassed 100 yards rushing in three of them - each resulted in a victory.

Both teams have above-average placekickers in Christian Fairbairn for Punahou and Kanekoa Pawn-White for Kamehameha. Fairbairn leads his team in scoring with seven field goals and 22 extra points while Pawn-White has made four FGs and 11 PATs.


BIG ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION

Waiakea at Kea�au, Friday, 7 p.m.

The Warriors (3-2 overall, 2-1 Big Island Interscholastic Federation) rolled to a 34-0 win over Hilo last Friday and hope to keep that momentum rolling against the Cougars (1-5, 1-2). Waiakea, whose lone in-conference loss came two weeks ago in a 48-13 loss at Kealakehe, have a bye next week before hosting the Waveriders in a rematch on Oct. 15. Kea'au's only victory this season, a 41-13 rout of Hilo, came on Sept. 17. The Warriors won the previous meeting between the teams, 30-24, back on Sept. 3 at Wong Stadium.


Honoka�a at Konawaena, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

The Wildcats (5-1, 3-1) are tied with Hawaii Prep for second in the BIIF's Division II standings while the Dragons (3-4, 1-2) are in fourth place. Konawaena essentially had a bye week after Kohala was forced to forfeit last Saturday's scheduled meeting. Defense has led the way for the Wildcats, allowing opponents an average of 9.2 points and just 189.3 yards per game. They are 5-0 when giving up 21 points or less this season. Konawaena's lone loss was a 28-0 shutout at Kamehameha-Hawaii on Sept. 10.


Kamehameha-Hawaii at Hawaii Prep, Saturday, 3 p.m.

The unbeaten Warriors (7-0, 4-0) have sole possession of first place in the BIIF Division II race. Kamehameha-Hawaii, led by quarterback Warner Shaw (640 passing yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs), averages 31.4 points and 267.8 yards per game. Junior receiver Kama Vincent (14.8 yards per catch) leads the team in scoring with 36 points. Opponents average 10.7 points per game against the Warriors' defense, which shutout Ka'u, 35-0, last Friday. Ka Makani (4-2, 3-1) are also on a roll, having outscored its last three opponents, 183 to 23.


Hilo at Kealakehe, Saturday, 7 p.m.

The last-place Vikings (0-6, 0-3) will have to make the two-hour drive over to the west side of the Big Island to visit the first-place Waveriders (5-1, 2-0). Hilo lost to rival Waiakea, 34-0, last Friday while Kealakehe dumped Kea'au, 39-0, Saturday. The Waveriders have won four straight games since a 16-13 loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii back in week two. Kealakehe's offense has proven to be prolific, scoring no less than 36 points in each of its five victories.

�
KAUAI INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION

Kapa�a vs. Waimea at Hanapepe Ballpark, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

The Menehunes (4-1 overall, 2-1 Kauai Interscholastic Federation) are coming off a 14-7 win over Kauai last Saturday while the Warriors (3-1, 1-0) had the week off. Waimea's defense, which allows just 10 points per game, held true to form against the Red Raiders. Kapa'a has not officially played a game since its 23-13 win over Waimea on Sept. 10. A game between Kaua'i and Kapa'a two weeks ago was postponed after the lights at Vidinha Stadium turned off mid-game. The game will only be made up if the result will have any bearing on the KIF title.