There are no assumptions in high school sports, not on the football field.

Not usually. Not at ‘Iolani, especially.

With the semifinal round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II State Football Championships set for Saturday at Aloha Stadium, the five-time defending Division II state champions may hear the expectations of a sixth title. They may even hear the occasional accusation that they don’t “belong” in that classification.

It doesn’t matter. As long as Wendell Look is head coach, the Raiders know precisely where their strengths and weaknesses are. As long as they have an average-sized line and a continuing tradition of undersized, but overachieving athletes, nothing may ever change the essence of “One Team.”

There’s isn’t time or space for the trappings of success on the field that Eddie Hamada and Father Bray built, not when Radford, Lahainaluna and Nanakuli are showing they’re just as hungry for that championship crown. Look doesn’t see any of the final four as an underdog, except perhaps his team.

Even the Cinderella program, Nanakuli, gets Look stirred up.

“If there’s a team of destiny, it’s Nanakuli. They have less than 30 players. (Chazz) Troutman doesn’t come off the field at all,” Look said of the quarterback/safety. “I think Skippy Lopes should be coach of the year. What he’s done there is incredible.”

“After watching their video, they’re just as good as every previous year,” Radford coach Fred Salanoa said of ‘Iolani. “Having a quarterback (Reece Foy) who has won two state championships already makes them the favorite. Wendell Look and his staff do a tremendous job and whether people want to accept it or not, they’re smarter than the average Joe. Their football knowledge allows them to get that edge.”

Here’s a look at Saturday’s D-II semifinal matchups:

No. 7 ‘Iolani (7-3)  vs. No. 10 Radford (11-1)

On paper: It has been nearly three months since ‘Iolani played a non-ILH opponent and nearly three weeks since the Raiders played a game, period. Historically, Look and his staff have excelled at preparation during this pre-state tourney timeframe. That’s saying a lot for an offense that is diabolically efficient with misdirection schemes and run-and-shoot principles.

The Raiders have evolved offensively over the years, going from a pure run-and-shoot attack to one that incorporates a fly sweep and misdirection. It starts up front, as Look often says, but it also requires a seasoned hand at the trigger. Reece Foy’s senior season has been prolific at times, but more so, efficient.

The third-year starter has passed for 2,051 yards and 26 touchdowns with just five interceptions. His accuracy (68 percent), proficiency (7.9 yards per attempt) and passer rating (164.13) are all among the best in the state.

Tanner Nishioka is the veteran of the receiver corps. The 6-foot, 175-pound senior corralled 49 passes for 585 yards and 11 touchdowns, including a season-best game of 15 grabs for 175 yards and three scores against Kamehameha.

Yuuya Kato emerged as a highly productive running back after starter Cody Mento went down with an injury. Kato switched from defense to offense full-time and rushed for 448 yards and nine touchdowns in ‘Iolani’s last four games.

The Rams have been more air-friendly with Cody Lui-Yuen in the pocket. The junior southpaw has been slinging at an abundant rate from day one. He has 2,536 yards and 30 touchdowns to go with 15 picks. He was 20-for-34 and 180 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in last week’s narrow 22-21 win at Kauai.

“He’s their guy. Everything centers on him and he’s blossomed into a good quarterback all-around,” Look said. “He has command and confidence. He made some big plays on Kauai.”

Lui-Yuen’s favorite target, sophomore Jameson Pasigan, tied a season-high with nine receptions for 92 yards against Kauai. He also caught a touchdown pass for the first time in a month.

The skinny: If there’s one team in D-II that looks like ‘Iolani, right down to the black uniforms and helmets, it’s Radford with its quick, no-huddle offense.

“We played good teams, but like I told our team, there are no more average teams. ‘Iolani has been the top in (Division II) the state the last five years,” Salanoa said. “We’re just trying to match the tempo that ‘Iolani will bring. We know their defense flies around and rallies to the ball, and we do that, too. It’s going to be a fast-paced game. We’ve come this far doing what we do.”

The Rams are active, physical and fast defensively. Linebackers Isaac Alualu and Mana Kakiva are heat-seeking missiles against the run, but as a unit, Radford has also fared well against pass-first quarterbacks. They picked off Kaiser’s Makana Lyman twice in their matchup on Sept. 28, but lost the game 33-14.

The risk of bringing pressure comes with danger, of course.

“They were blitzing a lot,” Kauai coach Corey Aguano said. “They came up on us and they’re really quick. We missed some wide-open receivers. They could do well with ‘Iolani. They put some good DBs on us.”

One of them, Aguano said, was defensive back/place-kicker Cayman Conley.

“Radford is very impressive in every phase,” Look said. “Their front six is aggressive with a lot of pressure, a lot of movement. That’s part of their strength. Compared to us, they’re pretty good-sized guys.”

‘Iolani has surrendered mass amounts of yardage on the ground: 152 yards and three touchdowns by Adam Noga (Saint Louis); 85 yards, one touchdown by Kaulana Apelu (Kamehameha); 271 yards, four touchdowns by Ryan Tuiasoa (Punahou); 267 yards, two touchdowns in two games by Keoni Tom-Millare (Pac-Five).

That could be a good omen for Radford senior Chris Jackson (5-9, 175), who had a season-high 171 yards against Kalaheo three weeks ago. However, Jackson was injured in the Kauai game and is a “question mark” this weekend, Salanoa said.

Jordan Murao, who began the season as the starting running back before getting hurt, is back on the field. He had a key reception for Radford on its winning drive against Kauai.

X factor: ‘Iolani’s defense could sit back and hope for the best, or bring pressure as Kauai did against Lui-Yuen.

“We tried to mix it up as much as we could and pressure him,” Aguano said of Lui-Yuen, who tossed two picks in the win.

Changing things up will be vital. Nanakuli was scorched for 312 yards and three touchdowns by Lui-Yuen during the regular season, but limited him to a season-low 107 yards and no touchdown passes in the OIA White final.

No. 9 Lahainaluna (8-1) vs. Nanakuli (7-4)

On paper: Nanakuli is in the state tourney for the first time, and this is their first action beyond the OIA playoffs since 1983, when the Golden Hawks lost to Saint Louis 15-12 in the Oahu Prep Bowl.

This year’s squad is coming off a historic win, their first in the state tourney. Royce Ochimas’ pass rush forced Konawaena quarterback Kahoali‘i Karratti into a decisive safety in the final minute of last week’s 25-23 comeback win.

Neither team has eye-popping statistics, which belies the fact that they’ve played some clutch football this season. Nanakuli, in particular, has been both thrilling and timely with comeback wins over Kaiser (OIA White playoff) and Konawaena (state tourney).

Troutman, the junior two-way standout, had a huge 247-yard rushing game against Kalani more than two months ago, but since then, his numbers haven’t told the whole story. His nimble feet and smart decisions on the option attack make the Golden Hawks a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

Tailback Brandon Felisi stepped up with some huge performances this fall, and with fullback Khade Paris (114 yards, one touchdown against Konawaena), in gear, Nanakuli wears down most defenses.

“Their quarterback is the playmaker, but you have to stop the fullback, No. 30 (Paris),” longtime Lahainaluna co-head coach Bobby Watson said. “In our league, King Kekaulike ran the option for a little while and then they dropped it, so we haven’t really seen it. (Troutman) hangs on to the ball real well. He rides it.”

Lahainaluna reached last year’s semifinal round with a young team that was good enough to rout an injury-riddled Baldwin squad 32-0 this season. The Lunas rely on a committee of running backs and wingbacks to make their modified Wing-T offense a thing of beauty.

Semisi Filikitonga, Jared Rocha-Isalas and Tytus Lucas all get their turns while Kiko Kohler-Fonohema directs traffic. Kohler-Fonohema will likely see some time at safety, and Filikitonga is a 5-5, 140-pound linebacker/defensive end with a penchant for making big plays.

The Lunas have not played since a 31-0 win over Maui three weeks ago.

Nanakuli’s defense, led by linebacker Dezmond Kaaihue (6-1, 225), has been physical and relentless.

Despite a lack of depth, they’ve played some of their best football in the late going.

The skinny: Preparing for an option attack is tough, but perhaps not quite as difficult as simulating Lahainaluna’s Wing-T at practice. Between the fly man going in motion pre-snap to the quick-hitting fullback, it’s a headache for all defenders involved. Lahainaluna has taken to putting their quarterback in a shotgun set of late, though Watson says the offense is much more effective when Kohler-Fonohema is under center.

Going to a shotgun has allowed the Lunas to get more offensive balance, co-head coach Garret Tihada said. Tight end Tytus Lucas has caught three touchdown passes, as has Filikitonga.

The Lunas have one decided advantage over Nanakuli: rest time.

“Sometimes it’s too long. You just got to get back into rhythm and game speed,” said Watson, who began assisting at Lahainaluna in 1978.

“This time of the year, that extra week of rest really helps,” Tihada said. “You want to heal up, go back to fundamentals and put in some new wrinkles.”

Defensive lineman Hercules Mata‘afa has been mythic at times in the trenches for Lahainaluna, while sophomore Connor Mowat (5-11, 215) and Samiuela Filiai (6-2, 225) have been pillars.

“They’ve played unreal, those three guys up front, in our league anyway. We’ve been able to put pressure with those three guys,” Tihada said.

X factor: Lahainaluna will have some adjusting to do come game time, but the Luna defense knows plenty about chasing speedy quarterbacks after facing Baldwin’s Keelan Ewaliko twice this season.

When Ewaliko returned from injury for the second round of MIL play, he rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 overtime win over Lahainaluna. Troutman may not run as freely, but he’s got 6-foot-4 wide receivers Joseph Shelton and Lansen Liki for alley-oop tosses in the red zone.

The twin towers were limited to two receptions for 12 yards and no touchdowns against Konawaena.