There are cousins in maroon and red.

There are ties that go back to villages in faraway regions of the Pacific.

But when No. 1 Kahuku and No. 2 Farrington square off Saturday, the similarities go even deeper. The Red Raiders and Governors, maybe more than ever, are twins. Clones. Take your pick, and there you have the two best teams in the state.

Tomorrow’s battle at Roosevelt’s Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium isn’t about a state championship, not yet. Kahuku (4-0, 6-0 overall) and Farrington (4-0, 6-0) last met on Oct. 1, 2010, a 16-0 home win for Kahuku. Aofaga Wily rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown at muddy Carleton Weimer Field as the Red Raiders continued an unbeaten run through the regular season.

Farrington dropped to 2-3 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association at the time. What was missing from the Governors’ blueprint was one vital piece: Tyler Taumua.

Then a sophomore, Taumua was injured and didn’t return until late in the season. Coach Randall Okimoto had raved about Taumua in preseason, but without him on the field, Farrington’s dependence on the ground-and-pound game was revealed.

Kahuku coach Reggie Torres has strong praise for Taumua too.

"He’s a strong runner with the ability to slash. He’s not just put your head down and run over people," Torres said. "He makes people miss. One guy is not going to be able to do it alone. He’s got to work with the team."

Other than the usual intensity of this rivalry, there’s the pride of finishing first in the Red East, but little else. With six teams qualifying for the playoffs out of the division, the top two earn automatic first-round byes. Kahuku and Farrington have already done that.

On paper: Taumua comes into the game with 1,152 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 192 yards per game. He’s on pace to surpass 2,600 yards.

The 5-foot-10, 199-pound junior has been healthy all season, thanks in part to a light workload. Since carrying the ball 25 times in Farrington’s nonconference win at ‘Iolani, Taumua has racked up more than 15 carries in a game once. With just 106 total rushing attempts, he is averaging 17 per game. Still, Taumua has managed to pass the 200-yard mark four times, including a 228-yard effort against Kaiser on 12 carries.

Kahuku’s defense has been at its best against run-first offenses: a 26-0 win over Waianae; 13-3 against Kamehameha. Teams dependent on the air attack, Kailua and Moanalua, scored a combined 14 points.

The skinny: Kahuku defensive coordinator Kimo Haiola takes everything to heart. Last Friday, when Moanalua scored its lone touchdown on a "double pass," he was almost despondent. That pride in the defense is infectious at Kahuku, which has allowed 17 points in six games.

Since a 26-21 win over Kamehameha six weeks ago, Farrington has allowed just 20 points. At 412 rushing yards per game, the Govs and their immense offensive line — the "Bamboolas" — have been dependent on invasion by ground.

But what happens when the defenses step up and force these offenses to put the ball in the air? This is where Kahuku, with its fleet of athletic defensive backs, will get a big test. Farrington quarterback Travis Tamapua has been efficient with eight touchdown passes in just 79 attempts. He has also been picked six times in his first season as a starter under center.

X factor: The Governors defense has been beefy in years past, but is a little bit lighter this year. Linebacker Semo Sila (6-2, 195) will be tested by an aggressive Kahuku offensive line.

Another key is the kicking game. Keanu Foki has made 11 point-after kicks for Farrington, but no field goals so far. Kahuku’s Kekahu Aluli has 35-yard range on field goals, Torres said. Aluli has made six field goals already.

ILH

ILH

OIA RED EAST

OIA RED WEST

OIA WHITE

Today
» Castle at Kailua, 6 p.m.
» Roosevelt at Moanalua, 7 p.m.
» Leilehua at Waianae, 7 p.m.
» Kapolei at Mililani, 7 p.m.
» Nanakuli at Waialua, 6 p.m.

Saturday
» Waipahu at Pearl City, 4 p.m.
» Kalani vs. McKinley at Kaiser, 6 p.m.
» Anuenue vs. Kalaheo at Kailua, 5 p.m.
» Radford at Aiea, 6 p.m.
» Pac-Five vs. Damien, 4:45 p.m. Aloha Stadium
» Farrington vs. Kahuku at Roosevelt, 5:30 p.m.
» Kamehameha vs. Punahou, 7:30 p.m., Aloha Stadium