Leilehua SB Allen Racette runs after the catch against Service (AK) in last year's Fire and Ice Bowl. ScoringLive file photo

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Another season of high school football gets underway this weekend with a slate of 17 games across the state.

The Fire and Ice Bowl headlines Friday's lineup, featuring a doubleheader with last year's Division I state runner-up Punahou taking on West Anchorage, the 2010 Alaska state champion, at 4:30 p.m. and the nightcap between reigning Alaska state titlist Robert Service and Leilehua to follow at 7 p.m.

Both games will be televised live statewide on OC16.

WEST ANCHORAGE vs. PUNAHOU

The Buffanblu made a run to the state championship game last Fall, but came up short against Kahuku by a score of 30-24. Punahou gets a shot at redemption next week when it travels to the North Shore for a Saturday night rematch against the Red Raiders, but first is the season-opener against a West Anchorage squad that lists just 29 players on its roster.

Punahou returns quarterback "Larry Tui" Tuileta, who threw for 1,724 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore last year. However, several players were lost to graduation, including running back Steven Lakalaka, who is now at the University of Hawaii. The top four pass catchers from a year ago have completed their eligibility, along with most of the offensive line.

Defensively, the Buffanblu must replace standout linemen DeForest Buckner and Luke Kamatule. However, Kamatule's younger brother, Canton (6-foot-7, 265 pounds), should help fill that void. Without question the leader of the defense is linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea, who has given an verbal commitment to Stanford. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior notched a game-high 14 tackles with two sacks in the state final against Kahuku.

After a perfect 10-0 season that saw West Anchorage win the 2010 Alaska state title, the Eagles dropped to 5-5 last year.

ROBERT SERVICE vs. LEILEHUA

A year ago - almost exactly to the day - these teams played to a 34-all tie to open their seasons. In that game, Service jumped out to a two-touchdown lead, but Leilehua scored twice in the final 63 seconds, including Kenan Sadanaga's 9-yard touchdown pass to Cole DeCorte with just two seconds to play.

The Mules have been auditioning a pair of juniors to replace Sadanaga - who graduated in the Spring - and the 3,118 yards and 40 touchdowns he threw for a year ago. Juniors Justin Jenks, who was on the junior varsity the past two seasons, and Levi Castanares, a transfer from Mililani, are vying for the starting job.

Leilehua also got a boost on the offensive side of the ball with the additions of wide receiver Keoni Piceno, who had 530 receiving yards and eight touchdowns at Campbell last year, and slotback Tristan Kamaka, who came over from Pearl City during the summer.

Service returns quarterback/safety Viliamu Aukustino, who accounted for 308 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, including a 99-yard interception return in last year's game against the Mules.

Following the tie against Leilehua, the Cougars reeled off 10 straight wins, including a 37-23 win over South Anchorage to lay claim to the Alaska large school state title. Service beat West Anchorage by a score of 41-19 in a regular-season game last year.