With Punahou winning the first round of ILH Division I play, Saint Louis and Kamehameha can’t afford another loss.

The Warriors and Crusaders battle Thursday night at Aloha Stadium in what is close to an elimination game for either team. There is a path for the loser to win the ILH title, but it would include running the table and winning two playoff games.

Punahou’s 51-45 double-overtime win over Saint Louis last week was pivotal to lock up the first round and guarantee a spot in the ILH championship game if there is one.

"It’s huge," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "That’s why each game is so important. Each game is critical."

If Punahou wins out, there wouldn’t be a title game. Saint Louis and Kamehameha need to win the second round to force the playoff game against the Buffanblu that would decide which team makes the state tournament.

Here’s a breakdown of tonight’s Kamehameha-Saint Louis matchup with help from Ane.

>> Kamehameha front seven vs. Saint Louis ground attack

Alema Kapoi (6-0, 275) is one of the state’s most effective defensive tackles. His crew, which includes junior defensive end Andrew Aleki (6-3, 222) will go up against an O-line that features mammoth Nate Herbig (6-4, 335), a commit to Stanford.

Saint Louis RBs rushed for 65 yards on 18 carries in the loss to Punahou last week. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, struggling with a calf injury, led the Crusaders with 72 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

"Tua ran very well," Ane noted. "He’s such a tremendous athlete and he has a huge offensive line. Herbig’s going to Stanford and deservedly so. They’re difficult to get by, they move their feet and the block is there."

Jahred Silofau rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries in the first meeting between the teams. Jon Manalo, who rushed for 28 yards, was injured in a later game and is out for the season.

Herbig and his big friends will be ready.

"Their front seven is physical and they fly around. We need to play smart and fast. It just comes down to who wants it more," Herbig texted. "It will be a great battle."

>> Kamehameha secondary/pass rush vs. Saint Louis passing game

Tagovailoa passed for 267 yards and was limited to a 54-percent completion rate (14-for-26) in the Sept. 12 matchup of these teams.

Drew Kobayashi’s ability to go deep could set the tone. Jahvin Spear and Leelan Oasay have been reliable pass catchers on intermediate and short routes. Oasay had seven receptions for 74 yards in the first battle.

"Saint Louis’ wide receivers are getting better every week and they run well after the catch," Ane said. "Kobayashi is stretching the coverage every time and he’s so tall, you have to be aware of where he’s at. They’ll throw to him deep and he’s athletic enough to make all the catches."

The key, as always, is Tagovailoa’s mastery.

"He has such a quick release. If you drop everybody, he runs," Ane said. "Their receivers are getting better. They don’t really have a draw (play), but they have a shovel pass. It’s a pick-your-poison kind of situation."

Kamehameha, with eight starters back on defense from last year, has balance.

"Their front seven is outstanding, athletic and strong. They put pressure on you. Kapoi is extremely strong and quicker than you would think," Ane said. "He gets a lot of pressure right up the front."

>> Saint Louis front seven vs. Kamehameha ground attack

In their first game, Saint Louis took away much of Kamehameha’s rushing game. Jordan Bayudan had just 10 carries for 43 yards. The Warriors took to the air, and with the Crusaders in pass-coverage mode, then-QB Thomas Yam scrambled for 62 yards on 12 carries.

Saint Louis, with run stoppers Isaac Slade-Matautia and Jordan Loveni Iosefa, has been up and down against the run.

"It’s so much hype and hard to live up to it, but they’re good," Ane said. "They’re definitely Division I (college) prospects. They’re great in space and take great angles. Constantly putting pressure on the running game and athletic enough to cover ground. The two of them on the field at the same time makes it difficult to scheme against them. You just have to be patient. It’s not going to come easy. It’s going to be a grind."

>> Saint Louis secondary/pass rush vs. Kamehameha passing game

Yam, who is out with a shoulder injury, passed for 282 yards in the first matchup. He ran for three TDs and passed for another, and was also picked off three times. When Fatu Sua-Godinet returned from injury, he played both WR and QB. Last week, Justice Young made his first start at quarterback, breaking a school record with 374 passing yards in a 63-21 win over ‘Iolani.

Sua-Godinet hauled in 10 passes for 165 yards. Kumoku Noa had nine catches for 193 yards, including four TDs.

"It’s a very interesting decision to put (Sua-Godinet) out there, and you have to cover two great athletes," Ane said. "He and Noa are going to make it difficult for the defensive backs. They’re really smart about putting their athletes where they can make the greatest impact."

Young, a 5-9, 160-pound junior, has gone from third stringer to ace.

"He looks a lot more comfortable than you would expect for someone (starting) for the first time," Ane said.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

‘Iolani (2-4, 0-3 ILH D-I) at No.1 Punahou (6-0, 3-0) — It was during the first meeting of these teams on Sept. 11 that Punahou starting QB Ephraim Tuliloa went down with a shoulder injury. Nick Kapule stepped in and passed for 301 yards and four TDs in a 59-22 runaway win over the Raiders.

Since then, Punahou has won two more games with Kapule in the pocket.

"Nick’s playing really well. We’re really pleased and grateful that he’s stepped in and done as well as he has," Ane said.

Tuliloa continues to rehab and serve as a de facto QB coach to Kapule.

"Ephraim’s doing everything he can," Ane said. "Helping coach Nick at practice and in games. He’s staying in shape, but you never want to rush anybody back until they’re ready to go. That’s up to the doctor and trainers."

No. 3 Mililani (6-1, 6-0 OIA Blue) at Moanalua (3-4, 2-4) — The Trojans march on without their field general, quarterback McKenzie Milton (shoulder). They have first place in the division wrapped up, so this game has no bearing on their playoff seeding. Wide receiver Kalakaua Timoteo is expected to return from an ankle injury that sidelined him in last week’s win at Kailua.

Moanalua is locked in as the fifth-place team in the division after edging Campbell last week.

Aiea (1-6, 1-5 OIA Blue) at No. 7 Kapolei (4-3, 3-3) — Kapolei is coming off a big win over Farrington. Should Farrington lose on Saturday against Campbell and Kapolei defeat Aiea, the Hurricanes would move into a third-place tie with the Governors and own the higher seeding due to head-to-head play. But it’s semantics, for the most part, since the third- and fourth-place teams will have home-field advantage in the OIA playoffs.

The OIA’s opening round is when higher seeding is in play. The OIA semifinals and final will be played at Aloha Stadium. The third-place game will be at a neutral field, OIA executive director Raymond Fujino said.

Na Alii need a win to have a shot at the playoffs. They are currently tied with Campbell, but Campbell owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Leilehua (3-4, 3-3 OIA Red) at Kaiser (3-4, 3-3) — This is another regular-season closer with third place in the division at stake. These teams last met on Oct. 3, 2014, when the host Mules won, 42-30.

Radford (7-0, 6-0 OIA D-II) at Nanakuli (6-1, 6-0) — These squads last met on Oct. 3, 2014, when Nanakuli won a 27-26 thriller at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium. The Golden Hawks get to host their first game on campus this season. Friday’s winner gets the regular-season title, but in the OIA, that amounts to a higher seeding and nothing more.

St. Francis (2-4, 0-2 ILH D-II) vs. Pac-Five (3-1, 1-1), Aloha Stadium — The Wolfpack would like to win and stay one step behind front-running Damien. St. Francis gave the ‘Pack a stout battle in their first meeting three weeks ago, won by Pac-Five 29-18.

Lahainaluna (3-4, 2-3 MIL) vs. Baldwin (3-3, 3-1), War Memorial Stadium — The Bears won their first matchup 48-27, but the Lunas are on a two-game win streak.

Kealakehe (5-3, 4-1 BIIF) vs. Hilo (4-3, 4-1), Wong Stadium — It’s another two-hour trip to the east side for Kealakehe, which went to Keaau and won 29-8 last week. Hilo is on a three-game win streak, outscoring opponents 121-12.

Kamehameha-Hawaii (6-3, 3-2 BIIF) at Honokaa (2-5, 2-3) — The Warriors’ 24-0 win over previously unbeaten Konawaena last week leaves questions about supremacy in the BIIF. In most recent years, D-II teams have proven to be the best.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

No. 4 Kahuku (7-0, 6-0 OIA Red) vs. No. 6 Waianae (6-1, 6-0), Aloha Stadium — First place and the division’s top seed in the playoffs are at stake. Kahuku has been dominant up front, and its defense has not allowed more than seven points in a game.

Though the series has been dominated by Kahuku, which has won the last 13 meetings, most of those games have been decided by a touchdown or less. Waianae’s last win over Kahuku was on Sept. 22, 2000.

Campbell (1-6, 1-5 OIA Blue) vs. No. 9 Farrington (5-2, 4-2), Aloha Stadium — A Govs win means they would seal second place in the division and earn a first-round bye in the OIA playoffs. That would bump Kailua to the third seed because Farrington beat the Surfriders 19-13 on Sept. 12.

If Aiea upsets Kapolei on Friday, Campbell would need to beat the Govs to secure the sixth and final playoff spot in the Blue.

Kaimuki (4-3, 4-2 OIA D-II) vs. Kalaheo (2-5, 2-4), Alex Kane Stadium — A win by Kaimuki clinches one of the four playoff berths available. Billy Masima rushed for 164 yards and a TD in a key win over Waialua last week. Kalaheo needs a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Pearl City (2-4, 2-4 OIA D-II) vs. Kalani (3-4, 3-3), Kaiser Stadium — For the perennial playoff program at Pearl City, this is a make-or-break contest. Kalani is in a fierce battle for a playoff berth. The Falcons are tied for fourth place, but Waialua has the head-to-head tiebreaker edge.

Kamehameha-Maui (2-4, 2-3 BIIF) at King Kekaulike (0-6, 0-5) — The Warriors won the first meeting on Aug. 28 25-9. Na Alii have scored seven points in their last two games, and forfeited last week’s game against Maui.

Kapaa (5-0, 3-0 KIF) vs. Waimea (3-3, 1-2), Hanapepe Ballpark — Waimea’s loss to Kauai last week means the Menehune face an elimination possibility in this game. Kapaa can clinch the league title with a win.

Konawaena (6-1, 4-1 BIIF) at Hawaii Prep (2-4, 2-3) — Ka Makani close out regular-season play against the top two teams in BIIF D-II, Konawaena and KS-Hawaii.

Waiakea (1-7, 1-4 BIIF) at Keaau (0-6, 0-5) — A decade ago, these programs were at peak mode, giving the then-dynasty at Kealakehe a serious run. Now, these D-I teams are battling for a higher seed in the league playoffs. 

OIA RED STANDINGS & STATISTICS

OIA BLUE STANDINGS & STATISTICS

OIA DIVISION II STANDINGS & STATISTICS

ILH DIVISION I STANDINGS & STATISTICS

ILH DIVISION II STANDINGS & STATISTICS