It wasn’t so long ago that the Punahou Buffanblu had a championship within grasp.

A last-minute drive against Kahuku ended with an incomplete pass in the end zone, and the Red Raiders won the 2005 state football championship with a 28-21 win.

Three years later, with Manti Te‘o ranging all over the field to make tackles, Coach Kale Ane’s squad rolled over Leilehua 38-7 in the state final.

Again, three years later, Punahou is in striking distance of the title game. This time, Baldwin stands in the path of the Buffanblu, and it may turn out to be a classic 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-rubber-granules battle. Both teams excel defensively with some of the smartest, most athletic athletes in the state.

On paper: Punahou (10-2), champion of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, has one advantage that Oahu Interscholastic Association schools did not: the Buffanblu are scarcely on statewide TV. Coach A.J. Roloos’ Baldwin (9-1) team was never on TV this fall until last week’s 28-24 win over Farrington.

Punahou returned a lineup heavy in defensive standouts, and defense has been the rock while the offense improved gradually with sophomore Larry Tuileta. When Baldwin was ousted in last year’s quarterfinal round by Leilehua, the Bears surrendered 474 passing yards by Kenan Sadanaga.

Tuileta is still developing as a passer, but his agility and quick decision-making are more important to the Buffanblu’s success than big statistics.

Baldwin, however, has the blueprint and materials to slow down any sledgehammer ground attack. Though Farrington’s Tyler Taumua rushed for 157 yards last week, the Bears came up with key defensive plays, including a pivotal strip and fumble recovery by explosive defensive linemen Miki Fangagua (6-0, 242) and Izeah-Edward Fernandez Ruiz (5-10, 286).

Multi-sport standout Pasoni Tasini (6-4, 245) has dominated at the line of scrimmage, discouraging most offenses from running to the right side.

They’ll get a big challenge from Punahou’s experienced O-line, led by Matt Sparks (6-5, 285), and running back Steven Lakalaka. The senior’s durability and versatility are the key cogs of a multiple-formation offense. Lakalaka has a combined 1,200-plus yards and 12 touchdowns from scrimmage. That includes 30 receptions, mostly on swing routes.

Baldwin’s offense is still a shotgun, four-wide set, and Roloos says they’ll go with it even on fourth and inches. The Bears are highly dependent on junior quarterback Keelan Ewaliko, a 5-11, 175-pound scrambler who raced in for the winning touchdown against Farrington last week with 42 seconds left.

X factor: Special teams used to be a big edge for Baldwin, but place-kicker Ceejay Santos graduated. Punahou has a decided edge with Kaimi Fairbairn, who has made nine field goals with a long of 53 yards. He also sends kickoffs deep for touchbacks on a regular basis.