It is make or break time for most of the state’s top football teams today and tomorrow.

Perhaps no team has climbed the slope more diligently than Kamehameha. The Warriors need a win over top-ranked Saint Louis on Saturday to stay alive. A victory would give them the second-round title, and they would have to beat first-round winner Saint Louis again next week for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I championship.

Now ranked No. 4 in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10, Kamehameha’s dream of rising from the bottom of the ILH to the top is in midstream. The 44-31 win over Punahou, which had beaten Kamehameha twice during the regular season, came at the right time.

As the Warriors ascend, there is plenty of urgency and, perhaps, more unity than ever. Second-year head coach Abu Ma‘afala, normally open to interviews, has opted to remain cordial but silent recently. If this is part of the recipe that results in huge victories, Ma‘afala will remain on a self-imposed oath of media silence.

His counterpart, longtime coach Cal Lee, recognizes the symptoms.

“People are people, and they have their ideas about things, but you do what you know is best for your program,” said Lee, the winningest football coach in state history.

While Kamehameha was big in the clutch against Punahou, Saint Louis had the week off. The Crusaders took a good look at a defensive unit that includes standout linebacker-defensive end Jonah Welch (6-2, 230), a senior who has seven scholarship offers, and defensive back Tiger Peterson (offer from Hawaii).

“Their front four, their front seven, actually, is really good,” Lee said of the Warriors. “They got a lot better. They can play the run and they can pressure the quarterback. They’re well coached and it shows, because every time they play, they get better and better.”

Saint Louis (7-0) has gotten rest time, but there has been no dropoff in preparation, Lee said. Kamehameha (4-4) was winless in ILH D-I until last week — Saint Louis beat the Warriors 44-0 and 23-12 — but that means nothing now.

“Kamehameha played really well offensively and defensively. We’re not taking anything for granted. They’re coming off a big win and have a lot of energy. We’ve got to work hard,” Lee said. “Right now, it doesn’t matter what we did before. We can’t think, ‘We beat them twice already.’ We’re playing them like we lost.”

For the staff at Saint Louis, that means honing all aspects one rep at a time.

“You’ve got to practice, go against each other and work on the things you need to do better. The things you’re not doing well consistently, try and do it better. You can always get better,” Lee said.

In the ILH, competition breeds excellence because the only other option is elimination. Kamehameha is in a must-win situation. Saint Louis could lose and still have its spot in the league title game later. Lee expects the Crusaders to be in championship mode on every play.

“I don’t care how many points we’ve scored, we have to have the attitude of scoring every time we have the ball and have the attitude of playing great defense,” he said.

The Crusaders are healthy. Senior Chevan Cordeiro (1,679 passing yards, 15 TDs, five interceptions) has completed more than 64 percent of his throws. His ability to recognize coverage and run for first downs has been a huge part of the offense. Cordeiro has rushed for 295 yards (5.2 per carry) and nine TDs.

Six Crusaders have at least 200 receiving yards, led by Mitchell Quinn (25 catches, 602 yards, eight TDs) and Jonah Panoke (24, 354, one). Kainalu Tumpap (195 rushing yards, four TDs) has been effective, while offensive coordinator Ron Lee utilizes speedsters from the slot on jet sweeps.

Kamehameha’s Kanoa Shannon leads the ILH in rushing with 670 yards (4.1 per attempt) and has scored three TDs. Thomas Yam has been efficient with 1,004 passing yards and 10 TDs with just one pick in 131 pass attempts. Yam has also been crafty afoot with 149 rushing yards and two TDs.

Skyler Ramos (22 receptions, 348 yards, five TDs), Onyx Freitas (15, 271, one) and Braden Akima (20, 271, two) pace the receiving corps.

Kamehameha faces a Saint Louis defense that features junior defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele (18 college offers), linebackers Isaiah Tufaga (seven offers), Noa Purcell (two offers) and Isaiah Taliulu (Air Force), and defensive backs Isaiah Feary (offer from Hawaii) and Kai Kaneshiro (UH).

OTHER FRIDAY GAMES

No. 2 Kahuku (8-1) vs. No. 7 Campbell (7-3), Aloha Stadium, 4 p.m.

A wondrous season it has been for the young Sabers, who proved a week ago that it’s not all aerial fireworks in Ewa Beach that fuel their offense. They squeaked out a 10-6 win at Leilehua playing a patient, low-risk game. Trusting their defense.

That kind of resilience will be required to beat defending league champion Kahuku. Krenston Kaipo has passed for 2,001 yards and 16 TDs, but RB Jacob Covington is lost for the season after suffering a collarbone injury against Leilehua. The onus is on the O-line and RBs like Viliami Vaimoui, who might not play because of an injury suffered in the same Leilehua contest.

Tyrese Tafai played a stellar game last week, forcing a fumble and scoring the go-ahead TD. Kahuku’s deep and dominant defense can key on Tafai and still close out on Sabers WR Poki‘i Adkins-Kupukaa (42 receptions, 797 yards, eight TDs).

Adkins-Kupukaa’s focus has been more on defense as a DB. The Sabers have permitted just 15 points in their last two games. Before that, they lost to Kahuku in an OIA Blue matchup, 45-6.

“We definitely can’t make the same mistakes,” Campbell coach Darren Johnson said. “People have Kahuku and Mililani pretty much pencilled in, but anything can happen. We know the challenge we have. We know we’re the underdogs.”

The Red Raiders are coming off a 35-7 win over Kapolei. The evolution of their offense is in full gear. QB Sol-Jay Maiava threw 24 passes in the first half and the offense finished the game with 35 pass attempts and 32 rushes.

Enoch Nawahine (721 yards, nine TDs) has sparked the ground attack. Sione Mahe (6.8 yards per carry) and JL Lavea (6.7) are also ready to carry the load.

The passing attack, though, looks ready to lift off. Converted DB Duke Heffernan was very active with six receptions for 76 yards, and Maiava’s many reliable targets include Peter John Mataira (19 catches, 240 yards, two TDs), Sitaleki Tongi (12, 140) and Thorton Alapa (10, 120, one).

No. 3 Mililani (9-0) vs. No. 6 Waianae (6-3), Aloha Stadium, 7 p.m.

In Rod York’s mind, Waianae is danger personified.

“You can’t stop Rico (Rosario). You can’t stop their slots and their running game. That’s Waianae,” the Mililani coach said. “But what we can do is try to slow them down.”

The Seariders were mostly inexperienced to start the season. In fact, Rosario, a returning All-State running back, lined up at quarterback when Justin Tacgere went down with an injury.

Tacgere healed up; Rosario returned to RB and has racked up 702 yards (6.1 per rush) and 10 TDs.

“They have a deadly passing game. Their quarterback doesn’t get enough credit,” York said. “If their slot or wide receiver is open, they connect.”

Tacgere’s numbers (361 passing yards, three TDs) are modest enough, and leading receiver Keoki Davis has just 10 catches (146 yards). But the risk of stacking the box with eight defenders and giving Tacgere’s outside targets solo coverage might not be ideal for York, a defensive-minded coach who morphed into an elite offensive play-caller.

Dillon Gabriel has major production as a passer: 2,236 yards, 24 TDs, five picks. Yet, his patience in the read-pass option game has matured to another level. Kilifi Malepeai (347 yards, 6 per attempt, eight TDs) is the lead RB, but suffered an injury during the regular season. If Malepeai is at full health, that means Darius Muasau and Jalen Olomua can concentrate on linebacker duties.

The aerial attack is solid with Ryan Chang (28 receptions, 528 yards, nine TDs) stretching the field. Reichel Vegas (25, 399, four) and Josiah Sampaga (23, 242, one) also operate in a system that has produced six Trojans with double-digit reception totals.

It may be the toughest task for Waianae’s defense since Kahuku in Week 3. The Seariders have an unrestricted weapon in highly recruited linebacker/defensive end Kana‘i Mauga, who has 13 offers and committed to USC.

Kealakehe (4-5) vs. Hilo (7-1), Dr. Francis Wong Stadium, 7 p.m.

After opening the season with four losses, the Waveriders won their next four. Then came a 42-29 loss to Hilo at Wong Stadium two weeks ago to close the regular season. Kealakehe, which once had a longstanding dynasty in the BIIF, averaged just 12.5 points per game in those first four games and 40.2 since.

The Vikings leaped into the spotlight early on with huge production from their O-line and running back/returner Kahale Huddleston. A midseason loss at Konawaena knocked Hilo out of the Top 10, but a win over Kealakehe would send the Viks to the D-I state tournament.

Maui (4-5) vs. Baldwin (4-5), War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.

This game pits two teams more evenly matched than any other matchup in the state this weekend. The Sabers beat Baldwin 32-21 in round one and have won four of their past five games, the lone defeat coming against Lahainaluna (24-17).

The Bears are coming off a wild 59-47 win over Kamehameha-Maui.

Kamehameha-Hawaii (7-3) at Konawaena (7-2), 7 p.m.

Late in the regular season, the Warriors were in position to 1) challenge for the best record in the league, and 2) secure home field in the league’s D-II playoffs. Instead, they lost at home to Hilo and a week later, lost at home to Konawaena, 13-12.

KS-Hawaii can rectify those stumbles by traveling cross-island and beating the Wildcats for the BIIF D-II title, which would also secure the lone D-II state-tourney berth.

Konawaena hasn’t played since Sept. 29 — the day of the win at KS-Hawaii. After going nine weeks without a bye, the break without game action will be 21 days long as of today. The Wildcats and Warriors have one of the most competitive rivalries in the state. Coming into this season, the home team had won the past five matchups.

SATURDAY GAMES

Kamehameha-Maui (4-5, 3-4 MIL) at No. 8 Lahainaluna, (8-1, 7-0) 7 p.m.

The Lunas beat the Warriors 39-19 five weeks ago, but KS-Maui scored 47 points in a loss to Baldwin last week. Kainoa Sanchez passed for seven TDs in defeat.

Damien (8-2) vs. St. Francis (7-3), Aloha Stadium, 3 p.m.

When these teams last met on Oct. 7, it was a regular-season finale that had no bearing on the standings because Damien had clinched first place one week earlier. St. Francis won the game 19-0, and though Damien was in plain-vanilla play-acting mode, St. Francis may have found a formula to capture its first ILH football title.

It’ll have to contain the rudimentary process to slow down Damien’s field general. The gaudy numbers of senior Marcus Faufata-Pedrina — 1,598 passing yards, 306 rushing yards, 22 combined TDs — don’t exactly reflect his wisdom on the gridiron. He has thrown just six interceptions in 168 attempts, and Damien has not sacrificed its ground game. Keoua Kauhi has amassed 805 yards (5.9 per carry) and five TDs and Logan Lauti has been reliable with 276 yards and two TDs on the ground.

Akila Arecchi has produced big-play numbers (26 catches, 538 receiving yards, five TDs) and Lindon Sevilleja has emerged as a key component with 27 receptions for 395 yards and five TDs. Lauti and Kauhi rank third and fourth in receiving yardage for the balanced Monarchs.

The Saints have taken big strides toward similar balance offensively. Senior Bubba Akana (1,442 passing yards, 265 rushing yards, 17 combined TDs) has been highly effective, and he has thrown just five picks in 170 attempts. Super sophomore Jonan Aina-Chaves has rushed for 1,420 yards and 15 TDs, adding 25 catches for 401 yards and a TD. Scott McLeod is arguably the best physical specimen at wide receiver in the state. At 6-2, 220 pounds, he has hauled in 48 passes for 643 yards and 10 TDs.

The development of the O-line, featuring 6-7, 340-pound sophomore Ope Laloulu (two college offers), has been another key factor.

Kapaa (3-4, 1-4 KIF) vs. Kauai (5-2, 4-1), Vidinha Stadium, 2:30 p.m.

Kapaa has already been eliminated from D-II title contention, while Kauai already has a D-I state berth in hand. Kapaa, the three-time defending KIF champion, has lost four in a row since beating Maui, Konawaena and Waimea to start the year. Last week’s 55-38 loss to Waimea sealed the D-II berth for the Menehune.