With only three Division I teams in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, there’s not much room for error.

Two years after winning a state football title in 2008, Punahou finished with a respectable 6-3 record last season.

Two losses to eventual state champion Saint Louis, however, meant no postseason for the Buffanblu, whose recent success has made expectations much higher.

Although they will break in a new quarterback this season, the Buffanblu have enough returning experience to check in at No. 5 in the Star-Advertiser Preseason Top 10.

Kamehameha, Saint Louis and Punahou have rotated the state title among ILH schools the past three seasons.

Buffanblu coach Kale Ane expects all three to contend again this season.

"It’s a tough Division I circus every year," he said. "It’s the same cast of characters in the ILH. … We’re excited about the opportunity to compete against these teams."

On paper: Punahou returns six starters on offense and five on defense, including a pair of 6-foot-7 nightmares for quarterbacks in defensive ends DeForest Buckner and Luke Kaumatule.

Both participated in The Opening, a NIKE-sponsored showcase for the top high school football players in the country last month in Oregon.

"I don’t think they’re going to sneak up on anybody," Ane said. "They are both outstanding kids, great leaders and are excited about making an impact in their senior seasons."

Juniors Ryan Tuiasoa (6-1, 215) and Isaac Savaiinaea (6-3, 225) lead a hungry group of linebackers that should have loads of opportunities to make plays with opposing teams focused on blocking the big boys up front.

Seniors Quincy Marting (5-11, 165) and Kaha McAfee-Torco (5-9, 160) should get help in the secondary from Tim Kamana (5-11, 175), whose dad, Carter, played football at Michigan State.

The bulk of the Buffanblu offense will once again fall on the shoulders of running back Steven Lakalaka, who carried the ball 152 times last year and averaged more than 5 yards a carry.

Lakalaka, who will join Punahou alumnus Dalton Hilliard at UCLA next year, is also a threat catching the ball out of the backfield.

He’ll carry the load while sophomores Luke Morris (5-11, 160) and Larry Tuileta (6-2, 175) battle for the starting quarterback job.

Punahou used two quarterbacks last year and will do the same in the preseason to give both guys ample opportunities to win the job.

"Like anybody else, we’d like to have one signal-caller, but it will also depend on the situation," Ane said. "We have different packages for certain teams and each has their different strengths that will allow them to be stronger at certain things."

Matt Sparks (6-5, 275) leads an offensive line that will have to hold up, especially early in the season, as the young Buffanblu quarterbacks get comfortable in their role.

Senior Mountan Mitchell (5-10, 175) is Punahou’s top returning receiver. He had 23 catches for 343 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.

The skinny: Even with two senior quarterbacks, Punahou managed just six touchdown passes last season. In four games against Saint Louis and Kamehameha, Punahou averaged just 10 points a game and was held to seven points or less twice.

Youth and inexperience can make for a tough combination early in the season, but whoever wins the starting quarterback job will have to learn quickly on the fly.

Punahou opens league play with a crossover game against ‘Iolani, which has won the past four Division II state titles.

Lakalaka showed the ability to carry an offense last year, and should be even better now. Punahou will need to find a healthy balance of run and pass on offense if it wants to survive maybe the toughest three-team high school league in the country.

It can also count on a defense that should be tough against the run and has the ability to hound opposing quarterbacks.

Both Morris and Tuileta are getting a taste of that in practice.

"They’re learning to become a lot more mobile with Luke and DeForest pressuring them in practice," Ane said.

The team will spend the first weekend of September in California for a game against Vista (Calif.) in San Diego.

"It should be a great experience for (the players) to play a quality team under pressure and be able to perform well in those situations," Ane said. "We’ve upgraded the tempo with our offense and it’s a chance for these kids to continue to get reps and get experience under their belts."

X-factor: Clearly it’s the maturation of the two young quarterbacks, as at least one of them will need to step in and execute quickly.

Fortunately, the Buffanblu have loads of talent on both sides of the ball, and the defense plus the ability of Lakalaka to run the ball on anyone will allow Punahou to make up for early mistakes that are bound to happen.

The Buffanblu have the type of star power on defense like they did with Manti Te’o when they won the state championship in 2008. That year, they also had a formidable passing game helped by receiver Robby Toma, who is now at Notre Dame.

If Punahou can find that balance and make opposing defenses at least think about the pass, the talent is there to make a run not only in the ILH, but in the state tournament as well.