Kahuku RB Aofaga Wily has been a workhorse back for the Red Raiders this season. ScoringLive file photo

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Farrington RB Tyler Taumua carries the ball against Kealakehe. ScoringLive file photo

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In a rematch of a regular season meeting, defending champion Kahuku will take on Farrington in a semifinal of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football tournament Friday at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Another semifinal between Mililani and Punahou starts at 4:30 p.m. The winners meet for the championship next Friday. All of the games will be televised live on OC16 (channel 12).

The last time these two met, it wasn't pretty. The Red Raiders (10-0), first in the ScoringLive/OC16 Power Rankings, dominated the Governors (10-2), 31-6, on Sept. 20. Kahuku coach Reggie Torres admits there is a tendency for his players to look past this game, but reality quickly set in when of that contest was analyzed.

"When I looked at the tape, we had some lucky breaks," Torres said. "We had two punts within the 5-yard line. In reality, their defense shut us down. Our fullback (PJ Liua) had some great runs, but he already had to break three tackles, so we had some lucky breaks. Had they made the tackles, things would've been different. Even defensively, we were out of position, but we still made the tackle. So on film, it was really closer than it should."

The Governors' defense contained running back Aofaga Wily to 61 yards rushing, but had a tough time tackling the 5-foot-9, 222-pound Liua, who had 92 yards on just nine rushes with two TDs.

The Red Raiders' defense held Farrington's tandem RB backfield of Tyler Taumua and Abraham Silva to a combined 62 yards from 28 carries between them. Safety Kawe Johnson forced a fumble and returned an interception for a TD for the Red Raiders. But Taumua and Silva have played well in recent games, worrying Torres.

"(Silva) is looking healthy," Torres said. "Look at him against Kapolei (Silva rushed for 157 yards). Even Taumua. They're finally looking at full speed."

The running game is both teams' strength. Torres said the team that can force the other out of its game will take control.

"Our play maker is Aofaga," Torres said. "Put the ball in his hand, the percentage of our success is higher because he can do something with the ball. Same with Silva and Taumua. If they have the ball, they'll have opportunities to go to the house (end zone). Any time a team can take the game plan out of those guys, better for them. It's going to be who can take the game out of the playmakers' hand."

Kahuku, though, does have another playmaker in Kawe Johnson, a four-year starter. He can turn a game from safety, receiver, return specialist and even as a punter.

Farrington is 4-7 in state tournament play, 0-3 in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Kahuku has owned the state tournament with an 18-4 record, 8-2 in the semifinals, and a record six titles. Only Saint Louis has double-digit wins (16) in state tournament history.