To this day, Manti Te’o is still torn between his two high school football loves, Kahuku and Punahou.

The Notre Dame senior, raised in Laie, won’t be at the title game of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships. The showdown, though, is on his mind.

"Man, all I can say is I love both places. Good luck to both," the former Punahou all-state linebacker and defensive player of the year told Star-Advertiser columnist Ferd Lewis. "It’s always gonna be a good game, you know that. I’m a local boy. Raised in Kahuku but I will always go with the (Buffanblu). I have family on both sides. I really can’t say."

The game will be a rematch of last year’s final, a 30-24 win by the Red Raiders. Kahuku also won a preseason tilt with Punahou on Aug. 18 of this year, 21-13. Kahuku got 225 yards and three long touchdown runs by Aofaga Wily.

"Oh, don’t remind me of that," Punahou coach Kale Ane pleaded, only half kidding.

This time, however, not all things are the same.

With fullback P.J. Liua (ankle, calf) out again, left guard Malosi Alapa will again move to the backfield, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. Donald Barenaba-Setoki will start in Alapa’s spot.

Punahou was without blue-chip prospect Isaac Savaiinaea at linebacker in the early season Kahuku game due to injury. Sophomore defensive end Canton Kaumatule was still getting his feet wet.

» See video interviews of both coaches at hawaiiprepworld.com