"One Team" is represented by two teams at the state high school football championship finals.

‘Iolani — where the school’s motto for teamwork originated generations ago with Father Kenneth Bray — is back in the Division II championship game it has won seven of the past nine years under coach Wendell Look, playing Lahainaluna in Friday’s first game.

And Rod York, a standout at ‘Iolani more than 20 years ago, is the fifth-year head coach at Mililani. In the nightcap, the Trojans take on Punahou in a rematch of last year’s Division I tilt, which the Buffanblu won.

"I brought that over to Mililani, and our players added to it. Our motto is ‘One Team, One Family,’ " York said. "The whole concept behind that is it doesn’t matter what you do in life, you’re always part of a team and gotta be a team player, always put others before you. The team first and you dead last. It helped me in everything I did in life."

Look was York’s defensive line coach and ascended to head coach while York was at ‘Iolani. "I was fortunate enough to play under him and (Eddie) Hamada and learn from both. The ‘Iolani ‘One Team’ thing, it was imbedded in me, but I didn’t fully understand it until I got out of high school."

When he walked on at the University of Hawaii in the fall of 1992, York was no longer one of the biggest and strongest players. And, due to a rash of injuries on the offensive line, he was moved from the defensive front. He went from all-stater to fourth-stringer — a non-entity.

But a 40-year-old temporary strength and conditioning coach who had played in the NFL took the time to help York. His name was Kale Ane; he is now the Punahou head coach.

"A lot of guys only work with starters and the second string. But he took me under his wing and taught me how to play center and I made scout team MVP," said York, who eventually was moved back to the defensive line, earning a scholarship and starting spot. "He was the one who mentored me. When you’re fourth string it’s depressing. During those times I learned that’s why you treat everyone with respect. He’s Coach Ane, his dad’s a legend, and he is now a living legend, and he respects everyone."

So, even though ‘Iolani and Punahou are intense rivals in just about everything, York said there’s no chip on his shoulder or animosity of any kind from his high school days, nor stemming from last year’s loss.

"It’d be easy to say that, but it’s a different situation," York said. "Back then ‘Iolani competed with Punahou — they beat us, we beat them. But we (Mililani) want to beat them now just because we have to to be No. 1. After the game last year, people want to write stories like this year is about us trying to get redemption. That’s inaccurate."

York coached Punahou players in last year’s HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl. And goodwill is exactly what it generated.

"Of all the schools they’re the most humble, great attitude guys. I was just happy for them. Meeting (quarterback) Larry Tuileta, (tight end) Dakota Torres, the way they handled themselves. Make no mistake about, we want to beat Punahou. But not because they’re Punahou. Because they’re standing in our way."

Ane said the respect is mutual, and he emphasizes with his players that they compete hard but understand a bigger picture.

"We’re in a place, Hawaii, where you wake up and it’s going to be beautiful and your opponents last night are now your neighbors," he said. "Like Marcus (Mariota), at Saint Louis he killed us. But now he represents us. They’re all our sons and neighbors."

There will be trophies and tears tonight at Aloha Stadium, and lifetime bragging rights earned. But — at least to some degree — the idea of One Team will expand to all of the competitors, not just the schools with that as a motto.

Reach Star-Advertiser sports columnist Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com and twitter.com/davereardon.