Kamehameha and Punahou get set to open the ILH regular season at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium Friday. ScoringLive file photo

Purchase image 1 of 1

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season gets underway this weekend with a doubleheader Friday while the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference schedule features a pair of televised contests and a showdown of up-and-coming teams in the White Conference.

Here is a closer look at those games:

INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU

No. 7 Kamehameha vs. No. 3 Punahou - Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium

The Warriors (2-1) are coming off a 34-0 shutout of Kealakehe on the Big Island while the Buffanblu (1-1) had a week off after a 21-13 loss at top-ranked Kahuku two weeks ago. Kamehameha, ranked seventh in this week's ScoringLive/OC16 Power Rankings, was led by quarterback Makoa Camanse-Stevens, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the win. Meanwhile, its defense sacked Kealakehe quarterbacks seven times and held the Waveriders just 137 yards of total offense. Wide receiver Alii Pedrina is one of the quickest players in the ILH and is especially dangerous on punt returns. He is averaging 16.7 yards per reception and has one rushing touchdown this season.

The last two losses for the Buffanblu have been at the hands of Kahuku, including last year's Division I state title game. Punahou, No. 3 in the power rankings, should be well rested after the road loss to the Red Raiders. Despite a 13-0 halftime lead, Kahuku rallied with three second-half touchdowns to stave off a rare loss at Carleton E. Weimer Field. In the loss, Punahou ran the ball 14 times for a total of minus five yards, an area it has struggled with this season following the loss of Steven Lakalaka to graduation. However, a new star may have emerged in sophomore wide receiver Kanawai Noa, who leads the state in receiving yards (275) and receiving touchdowns (5). Highly-touted linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea and defensive lineman Canton Kaumatule may return from early-season injuries this week.

No. 9 Iolani vs. Pac-Five - Friday, 5 p.m. at Hawaiian Airlines Field at  Aloha Stadium

The Raiders (3-0) broke into this week's power rankings at No. 9 after a perfect non-league schedule. Iolani rallied to beat Konawaena, 43-40, in week one and followed that with another come-from-behind victory in a 35-34 win at Waipahu in week two. However, the Raiders seemed to hit their stride Saturday in a 44-6 blowout of Hawaii Prep at Eddie Hamada Stadium. Running back Kody Mento scored twice to lead a rushing attack that amassed 241 yards (7.1 per rush) in the win. Quarterback Reece Foy completed all four of his pass attempts for 62 yards and a touchdown before giving way to backup Easton Tsubata in the first quarter.

The Wolf Pack (1-2) opened with a win over Waipahu in week one, but have dropped their last two games. After a 35-7 loss at Mililani in week two, Pac-Five's rally fell short in a 13-12 loss at Kauai Saturday. After a 1-yard touchdown run by Vance Fuchigami in the fourth quarter, the Wolf Pack opted to go for a two-point conversion - and the lead - but the runner was stopped short of the goal line and the Raiders held on for the win. Pac-Five missed an extra point earlier in the game. Pac-Five has one of the most dynamic players in the state in defensive back/kick returner Nicholas Kwon. The senior had a 62-yard pick-six in week one and a 96-yard kickoff return to the house in week two.

OIA RED EAST

Kailua vs. No. 1 Kahuku - Friday, 7 p.m. (OC16) at Carleton Weimer Field

The Surfriders (0-3, 0-1) are reeling after three consecutive home losses to open the season, including a 46-13 drubbing by Moanalua last week, and it doesn't get any easier this week. Kahuku, ranked No. 1 in the power rankings, will be well rested after a bye week. This will be just the second game this season for the Red Raiders, who were also off in week one. Kailua is averaging nearly 200 yards of total offense, but just 7.7 points per game. Senior quarterback Kahaku Iaea, a four-year starter, has completed just 37 percent of his passes with one touchdown against four interceptions.

Meanwhile, the Red Raiders (1-0, 1-0) ponded out 393 offensive yards - all but 71 via rushing - in a week two win over Punahou. Senior running back Aofaga Wily carried 28 times for 225 yards - including 171 in the second half - against the Buffanblu. He scored on runs of 48, 28 and 22 yards and averaged eight yards per carry to lead the Kahuku rally. Kailua running back Jarrin Young, who is averaging five yards per carry, may find it hard to break one against the Red Raiders' defense, which held Punahou to minus five rushing yards two weeks ago.

OIA RED WEST

No. 5 Mililani vs No. 4 Leilehua - Saturday, 7 p.m. (OC16) at Hugh Yoshida Stadium

The annual meeting between the neighboring rivals has been a tightly-contested one in recent years. The Trojans (3-0, 1-0) came away with a 42-35 double-overtime victory at Hugh Yoshida Stadium two years ago, but the Mules (2-0, 0-0) returned the favor with a 40-33 win at John Kauinana Stadium last year. In fact, the visiting team has won in each of the last four meetings of this series.

Leilehua rallied past Kamehameha in week two by a score of 12-10 and is coming off a bye in week three, so it should be well rested in what may be a shootout. With both teams employing no-huddle offenses, there will be no rest for the weary. One area of concern for the Mules is quarterback, where neither Justin Jenks nor Levi Castanares has emerged as a consistent replacement for Kenan Sadanaga. However, there are no shortage of athletes at the surrounding skill positions. Wide receivers Keoni Piceno (12 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDs) and Josh Jenks (9 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TDs) have proven to be the favorite targets on pass attempts. Leilehua's defense has allowed an average of just 109.5 pass yards per game, while the Mililani offense is putting up 236 pass yards each time out.

Quarterback Jarin Morikawa leads all Division I passers with 657 yards and eight touchdowns, but it has been the Trojan defense that has carried the team early on. Mililani is allowing just 11.7 points per game by opponents and in a 35-7 win over Waianae last week, it forced seven turnovers by the Seariders, including a 59-yard fumble return by Dakota Turner. Linebacker Dayton Furuta, who also sees time at running back, had one sack, forced a fumble and recovered another last week. He leads the team in rushing, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and has scored in each of the Mililani's first three games.

OIA WHITE

Kalani vs. Anuenue - Saturday, 4 p.m. at Kailua

After picking up its first victory of the season in a 33-14 win over Waialua two weeks ago, the Falcons (1-1, 1-0) enjoyed a bye in week three. While it is still struggling offensively, Kalani's defense and special teams have been shouldering the load. Senior defensive lineman Shiloh Laboy scored twice against the Bulldogs on a 90-yard fumble return and a 30-yard return on a blocked punt.

One of the biggest stories in prep football this season has been the emergence of Na Koa (1-2, 1-1) running back Kainalu Kaleo, who already has 718 yards on 43 attempts with seven touchdowns. He is averaging an astronomical 16.7 yards per carry. In three games, Kaleo has rushed for 116 yards against Kamehameha-Hawaii, 336 against Nanakuli and 266 against Waialua. As a team, Anuenue did not attempt a single pass against the Bulldogs, but averaged 10.3 yards per rush.