Kahuku’s Jordan Mariteragi has thrown 11 touchdown passes and been intercepted just once this season, while Mililani’s Emana Tarape will make his second start at quarterback Saturday night in place of injured starter, Kini McMillan. ScoringLive photo illustration

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When the Kahuku Red Raiders take to the field at John Kauinana Stadium Saturday night, they will do so with heavy hearts. 

David Vimahi, a longtime assistant coach and beloved community member, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday morning. Vimahi was the team's recruiting director, while his wife, Lori, serves as director of operations. 

"Coach Dave Vimahi will be sorely missed," Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho said. "His impact to the program and to our players is tremendous and his loss will be felt throughout the Red Raider nation. Lots of love and aloha going out to the Vimahi Ohana."

In addition to his contributions to the football program, Vimahi was instrumental in the spiritual and educational development of so many youth in the area. 

The program had already endured a number of heartbreaking losses with the passing of assistants Maui Kahalepuna and Matt Faga within the past year. 

"It's a big loss once again to our Red Raider nation," Carvalho expressed. 

Now Carvalho has the relatively paltry task of preparing his team for a football game this weekend. Against its toughest test to date, no less.

Kahuku (4-0), the No. 2 team in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Football Power Rankings, will take on No. 4 Mililani (3-0) in a meeting of undefeated teams in central Oahu Saturday night. 

"Practice has been going well; it's been grinding," Carvalho said Wednesday afternoon. "We understand and we know that the opponent will be ready for us, but with the tragic news of this morning we'll see how the rest of the week goes."

The Red Raiders and Trojans have faced off in the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship game the last three seasons. Kahuku won in 2017 and 2019, while Mililani came out on top in 2018. 

"Mililani is always a tough game. Their players are always up for this game, I know (Trojans) coach (Rod) York will get their players up for this game, so it's gonna be a battle," predicted Carvalho, whose team has scored 221 points and allowed just 20 through its first four games this year. 

The Trojans, meanwhile, are coming off of a bye after a 38-0 win over Leilehua two weeks ago, which marked their second road shut out in as many weeks. Saturday's game will be their one first back in the confines of Kauinana Stadium since their Oct. 15 season-opening 49-6 win over Waianae — the only points they have surrendered all season. 

"This is probably the first big challenge we're gonna face this year, so we're just excited for the competition and opportunity to really see where we're at, but I know York will have them ready," Carvalho said. 

Kahuku posted a 50-7 win over the Seariders Saturday night — their fourth game in as many weeks. 

"Knock on wood, we're still pretty healthy. Our boys are just cherishing the opportunity to be playing," Carvalho said. "Every day it's been a great gift for every single one of our players."

York offered his assessment of the Red Raiders. 

"It's your typical Kahuku team: they're tough, they're athletic, they're fast, they're aggressive, they're well-coached and they're number one for a reason, so we've got our hands full, but we're looking forward to the challenge," said the 11th-year Mililani coach. 

The Red Raiders have been getting their typical production from both their defense and special teams units, but on offense they've been getting it done a little bit differently than years past. 

Kahuku is averaging nearly 168 passing yards per game and just 113 rushing. Quarterback Jason Mariteragi is second in the OIA Open Division with 642 passing yards — a single yard behind Campbell's Chayne Kuboyama-Hayashi — and has completed 66.7 percent of his passes. Mariteragi, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior, has thrown 11 touchdown passes; He threw his first interception against Waianae Saturday night. 

"The passing game is improving each week," Carvalho said. 

In wins over Kapolei, Farrington and Waianae combined, the Red Raiders passed for 588 of their 845 yards of total offense (69.6 percent), while against Leilehua they ran for 202 of their 223 net yards. It's a matter of opportunity — and numbers, Carvalho explained. 

"We don't see it as, ‘Oh, we're gonna pass this week, or we're gonna run this week, but more of, ‘What is the defense giving us?,' " he said. 

"That's why certain games seem more pass-heavy or run-heavy, but hats off to my quarterback, Jason Mariteragi; He's able to audible depending on how many (defenders are) in the box and he's been reading the defense and practicing throughout the week, so it just makes us more explosive offensively that we're able to run or pass," Carvalho said, "but having the luxury of a great defense and special teams allows us to take chances and feel no pressure offensively, so it's been a great team effort throughout these first four games."

Opponents average a meager five points and 106 yards per game against Kahuku's vaunted defense, including a minuscule 28.3 rushing yards per contest. 

"Everybody wants a piece of the pie, so at this point we're in a good place and everybody knows that anybody can contribute at any time and as long as everybody does their job, we'll continue to be successful," Carvalho said. 

Mililani has shown the ability run the ball, as it averages 165.3 rushing yards per game. York's squad churned out a season-high 190 yards on the ground against Waianae and tallied another 172 against Leilehua. 

The team's leading rusher, Nehemiah Timoteo, is averaging 11.3 yards per carry. Fellow running backs Tavian Hallums and Tykea Johnson Jr. are averaging 9.8 and 7.6 yards per rush, respectively. 

The Trojans' production from the run game has alleviated much of the pressure upon junior Emana Tarape, who will be making his second consecutive start at quarterback after a season-ending knee injury to starter Treston "Kini" McMillan. 

"It's a big help," York said. "Any time you can run the ball it takes the pressure off the QB and it opens up passes."

McMillan, 6-foot, 180-pound freshman, got hurt in a 20-0 win over Kapolei in week 2 of the OIA season. 

Tarape has played in all three games and thrown for 235 yards and five touchdowns against two interceptions on 20-of-40 passing. 

"He was our JV quarterback that took us to our JV championship and that's pretty much the only experience he's had up until this year, but that's every team, not just Mana, so it is what it is," York said. 

Against the Mules, Tarape completed 8 of his 12 passes for 143 yards and two TDs without an interception in his first varsity start. 

"He only (started) one game and only played one and a half quarters, so he's still fairly new. We could have played him more, but number one, the score would have been ridiculous and number two, we're risking injury," York explained. 

Despite the injury to McMillan, York feels that the Trojans are beginning to find their identity. 

"Our team is resilient, they're confident and they understand what needs to be done, but we're still gelling, to be honest," he said. "We only played three games; I think we'll be at our best when we get into the playoffs."

York has been impressed with the work ethic and positive attitude exuded by his squad this season. 

"We got a couple guys going both ways, we got a lot of guys playing through owies and injuries, so the bye week came at the right time, but these guys don't complain. We gotta pull them out of practice and that's a lot different than some other teams we've had," York said. "These guys are always relaxed — sometimes I feel, too relaxed — come game time, though, it's a different story, but Kahuku will be the toughest team that we play, so we'll find out a lot more about our team in that game."

Like their opponent Saturday night, the Trojans have also played lights-out defense. They allow only two points and 113 yards per game; in fact, opposing offenses average minus-1.7 rushing yards per game. 

"Our defense has been playing well. We've been sound defensively, no busts," York said. "We've been able to stuff the run and we've been able to pull our offense out of bad field position."

Mililani will potentially face another undefeated team next week when it visits No. 5 Campbell (3-0) on Nov. 20, not that York is thinking about the Sabers just yet. 

"I'm not looking past them, but right now we're oh-and-oh and we just wanna be one-and-oh at the end of this week, so we just want to focus on Kahuku, but it's definitely two pivotal games back to back," York said. 

Saturday's game, which has a cap of 3,500 fans at Kauinana Stadium, will culminate a week of homecoming festivities at Mililani. 

"It's all very positive," York said. "The kids are upbeat, they kids are excited that it's homecoming week. We tell them to 'enjoy it, but at the same time, let's take care of business,' and the good thing about it is the kids understand that."

As for Kahuku, it's just another week on the road as the Red Raiders are without a home venue this season due to the on-going resurfacing of Carleton E. Weimer Field. 

Not that there's any complaining from Carvalho's crew. 

"We're used to that," he said. "We gotta travel to Costco, to Sam's Club, to Wal-Mart, so an hour trip for us is nothing, but we do miss playing at home, obviously, Like they say, there's no place like home, but at the same time, going back to the fact that we're just grateful that we are playing football."

Kickoff between the Red Raiders and Trojans is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m.