Kilohana Haasenritter and the Kamehameha-Hawaii Warriors travel West to take on Alex Muti and the Konawaena Wildcats Saturday night at Julian Yates Field. ScoringLive photo illustration

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If history is to repeat itself for a fifth straight year, this weekend's matchup between Konawaena and Kamehameha-Hawaii is just round one.

The Wildcats host the Warriors Saturday night at Julian Yates Field in a key BIIF Division II contest, which may also serve as a potential league title game preview.

The two teams have faced off for the league crown in the past four years, with Konawaena winning the last three BIIF titles. The Wildcats have also won the past five meetings against the Warriors.

Konawaena (4-2 overall, 4-0 league) is led by freshman quarterback Sheynen Nahele, who has thrown for 1,527 yards and 14 scores.

Defensively the Wildcats are led by junior defensive end Alex Muti, who has 10 1/2 sacks in four regular season games.

KS-Hawaii had a slow start to the season with no non-league games with Hurricane Lane wiping out its only scheduled contest before the regular season.

The Warriors split their first two games of the year - which both were decided by seven points - but have been on a tear lately with a 42-7 win over Honokaa and a 55-16 win over Hawaii Prep to give them a 3-1 record.

The return of senior quarterback Kaimialoha Like has sparked KS-Hawaii in its last two games. Like has completed 68.4 of his passes and thrown for 396 yards and six scores in the Warriors' two-game winning streak.

We were able to catch up with Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto a few days before the Wildcats and Warriors take to the field.

ScoringLive: Describe your team's current situation with one word and explain.

Brad Uemoto: "Demystify. We are entering the portion of our schedule where the characteristics of this team will be revealed. I feel we have a ton of potential and this stretch will provide some clarity as to how far this group can go."

SL: What has the first half of the BIIF season taught you about your team?

Uemoto: "We came into the season as an inexperienced group. Our younger players gaining game reps have been huge. In going 4-0, we have made tons of mistakes and I believe we are slowly getting better because we have so much to learn from and grow to."

SL: In what areas has your team made its greatest strides this season?

Uemoto: "Defensively, it was finding our identity and structuring our personnel around our strengths. Offensively, it has been the play of our linemen. I can't express how much work coach Jason Leleiwi has put into this group and how good they have become."

SL: How is this year's group different from the 2017 team?

Uemoto: Last season we had a bunch of great leaders that had a lot of experience. The one thing that really stuck out last year was the love you could feel throughout the group. I don't know how it developed, there's no recipe for it, but it's something we want to replicate. This year's group has the potential to have that same feeling, but I think it's a process and we still have some ingredient left to make that happen, but we're just not there yet."

SL: What are you thoughts on this week's opponent?

Uemoto: "Kamehameha-Hawaii always plays their best football against us. I've watched them a few times this season and they are also in the process of finding that identity. Their quarterback has returned and they definitely have an entirely different look offensively. Defensively, they play tough and force you to earn everything. We're going to have a lot of challenges on both sides of the ball Saturday night."

SL: In addition to playing each other in the regular season, the two teams have met up in the league title game in the past four years. Does that affect any part of the game-planning process?

Uemoto: "Not it doesn't. Many coaches like to hold some cards and save some for later, but I don't believe in that. You can turn on film and see exactly who we are. I'm definitely a wrinkle guy where I'll have some fun putting in something crazy offensively, but that's just for our kids. It purely comes down to execution for us."

SL: Your team wins on Saturday if ________ happens.

Uemoto: "We stop the run and get to the quarterback on defense. Offensively we need to get into a rhythm and establish our tempo."

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.