Long before the world knew him as Abu Ma‘afala, college coach and Cal defensive lineman, there was Albert.

Albert Ma‘afala was an impressive youngster, articulate and insightful, a senior at Kamehameha Schools. It was during some of the nation’s darkest days, a time marked by 9/11, and Albert Ma‘afala’s perspective was unique. He had a vision of a state and union rising from the ashes.

He sounded like a young man destined to lead, at least to one sportswriter. Fifteen years later, Abu Ma‘afala enters his first season as head coach at Kamehameha. His vast path took him to Louisville and West Liberty University as an assistant coach. He returned to the islands as a husband and father of two children, now 12 and 9.

He remembers those surreal moments at Kamehameha and almost downplays the maturity he showed during that fall of 2001. These days, at least off the field, Ma‘afala is still an easy-going, laugh-a-minute kid inside that sometimes stoic demeanor. He was cautious with his delivery even back then as a young player.

“You’ve got to talk right to the media,” he says with a chuckle.

He may joke about his earnest, youthful years, but Ma‘afala’s leadership is as authentic as ever. So is his work ethic. While he was at West Liberty, Ma‘afala spent four weeks with the Carolina Panthers, completing a stint in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship in 2013.

At WLU, he was an instructor in the exercise physiology program. At Kamehameha, Ma‘afala is an athletic relations associate, helping student-athletes connect with colleges. It’s much like what Doris Sullivan did with Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance before the organization closed shop this year. In short, Ma‘afala is a recruiting liaison.

On the synthetic turf at Kunuiakea Stadium, it’s been all about sweat equity. Mentoring.

“We’re pleased with the effort they gave at our camp,” Ma‘afala said, adding that he saw maturity through two scrimmages in the past week. “Everyone gave their best. Not responding to other kids pushing them around, cheap shots. We’re building everything on character.”

Between the task of building up a young defensive unit — Andrew Aleki leads a group with just four returning starters — and committing to a balanced offense, Ma‘afala isn’t interested in comparisons.

“It’s not about Saint Louis or Punahou or ‘Iolani,” he said. “It’s about us.”

Ma‘afala’s mantra is all about unity and service. He put that into action in mid-July when the Warriors teamed up with the Waianae Seariders for a clean-up of Maili Beach Park.

Preseason games kick off this weekend. The No. 4-ranked Warriors will meet the same Seariders on Friday night at Kunuiakea Stadium, then fly to Maui for a matchup with Baldwin on Aug. 13.

“As long as we’re helping these young men, nothing else bothers me. I just focus on our guys,” Ma‘afala said.

TODAY

>> No. 3 Punahou at Leilehua, 7:30 p.m. — Senior safety Charles Moku Watson, an oral commit to Washington State, leads the charge for the Mules. Punahou’s offense, guided by Stephen Barber, was often spectacular last week in a tri-scrimmage with Kahuku and Farrington. Ethan Takeyama was a touchdown machine in the scrimmage. Defensively, linebacker Seyddrick Lakalaka is out for about a month with a foot injury, but DL Miki Suguturaga is a key part of a swarming, gang-tackling unit.

>> Campbell at No. 6 Kapolei, 7:30 p.m. — It’s always a bit sentimental for Hurricanes coach Darren Hernandez when his team plays Campbell, where he coached for a long stretch during the 1990s. Fans will certainly be buzzing with the debut of June Jones as an assistant high school coach — quarterbacks, of course — and the sophomore premiere of super-slinger Taulia Tagovailoa. As a freshman, he passed for 2,784 yards and 22 TDs with 12 picks.

DT Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (eight college offers) and linebackers Omar Mareko and Rocky Savea (two scholarship offers) are crucial parts of a promising defense. Ezra Savea, a versatile safety with three scholarship offers, began his high school career as a QB at Campbell.

The Sabers return 11 starters from a team that upset Kaiser in the OIA playoffs. Kawika Ulufale is now a seasoned QB with veteran pass catchers Markus Ramos and Zayne Barr-Rauschenburg. DL Ethan Muagututia and LB Micah Tynanes-Perez are among the top defensive returnees.

>> No. 9 Kailua at Aiea, 7:30 p.m. — The Surfriders have a busload of new faces in their starting lineup, but DE Christian Mejia is a familiar one. The 6-4, 210-pound senior with a 36-inch vertical leap has three scholarship offers, including one from Hawaii.

>> Waipahu at Nanakuli, 7:30 p.m. — These longtime opponents from the old OIA West’s Leeward Division are going their separate ways after this matchup. The Golden Hawks will be in the league’s D-I Red Division, while Waipahu moves from D-I to D-II. QB Nainoa Banks returns for Nanakuli, but top RB Sunshine Anuenue and top WR Keanu Momoa graduated, leaving coach Keala Watson and staff with quite a challenge.

The Marauders lost 17 starters from last year’s squad, including standout WR Andrew Simanu, OL Dallas Nagaseu and DL Elijah Taimatuia. Coach Bryson Carvalho’s rebuilding project will be dependent on returnees up front — OL Khaine Viliamu and DE Cameron Sua — first and foremost.

>> Kalaheo at Castle, 7:30 p.m. — Mustangs coach Darrell Poole finds ways to keep his small, sturdy program competitive. Last season, a young team competed, but missed the playoffs. With 13 returning starters this fall, Kalaheo has reason for optimism. There is experience across the board defensively, where DL Tali Fifita-Tuiaki and Marcus Nishimura return. On offense, QB Mark Lehrner and O-linemen Nathan Goob and Logan Emosi-George are back.

Nelson Maeda enters his 20th season as head coach of the Knights. His program was early in the evolution and development of spread formations to gain an edge for his smaller, often faster athletes. It won’t be as easy to hide a superb pass catcher like Jeremy McGoldrick, but two key offensive linemen (Chaz McCabe and Bronson Barba) return, too. LBs Maui Gaison and Ezekiel Rombawa head the defensive unit.

>> Roosevelt at Kaiser, 7:30 p.m. — Longtime assistant coach Kui Kahooilihala takes over for Roosevelt. Jeff Azuma stepped down after leading the D-II Rough Riders to their most competitive season in recent years. QB Shastyn Kekahuna returns, and there’s experience with RBs Kekoa Lima and Isaiah Rosa, WR Chris Kalamau-Molina and OL Ben Likio. The defense has a solid core of returnees led by LBs Ashton Lafaele and Tasi Sofa-Kini, DL Kahiau Kahooilihala and DBs Randy Eusebio and Jared Elwin.

Arnold Martinez enters his first season in charge of Kaiser’s program with the departure of Cameron Higgins. With just six returning starters and big playmakers like OL Michael Eletise (Arizona) and RB Jensen McDaniel among the graduating class of 2016, plus low numbers in spring ball, the challenge in D-I is enormous — just what Martinez likes.

LB/S Andrew Kaufusi, DBs Keoni Pangan and Noah Cambra, DE/LB Tyson Creekmur and DL Pootie Sua are key returnees to the defense.

>> Damien at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m. — The Monarchs are defending D-II champions in the ILH, and with 15 returning starters, coach Eddie Klaneski and staff are in a position of strength. Some key contributors, including DL Courtney Paaga, graduated. Two O-line starters, Rush Asing and Soane Tuihalafatai, return, along with QB Marcus Faufata-Pedrina and LBs Shawn Borges and Scott Lam. Versatile Justice White is also back. OL Julius Buelow has three FBS scholarship offers.

Na Menehune saw coach Jason Cauley depart, but not without seeing his influence on the offense. Moanalua QB Alaka‘i Yuen prospered in the wide-open attack, and he’ll be there in the pocket for first-year head coach Savaii Eselu, a former Na Menehune standout lineman.

Yuen passed for 2,439 yards and 27 TDs with 11 picks as a junior. Chemistry with his protectors up front and a new crew of receivers will be key. Only two of his top five targets return: Ryan Romonnes and Brandon Bender.

Saturday

>> No. 2 Saint Louis at No. 5 Mililani, 7:30 p.m. — There are more than enough players who will miss this game due to injuries, academics (dating back to the fourth quarter of last school year) and basic, minimum practice requirements to make this game a little more of a puzzle than it already was.

The Trojans are stocked with talent, much of it relatively inexperienced except for the many reps they learned at the younger levels: Mililani JV and Mill Vill age-group league. But they will miss some key starters, including a few on the offensive line for this game.

“I don’t want to make excuses, but in the end it’s about us as coaches being accountable,” Mililani coach Rod York said.

Still, the Trojans figure to be an explosive offense with second-year varsity quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the shotgun.

“At this point, he’s done a lot of things that we asked him to do. He works hard, probably one of the hardest workers on the team. He pays attention to detail,” York said. “His weaknesses, I criticize him hard and the makes it into a strength. That’s one of the best things for him and for us.”

As good as Gabriel could become, his counterpart across the field has few peers nationwide.

“They’re going to be tough. They have the No. 1 quarterback in the nation,” York said of Tua Tagovailoa. “(Linebacker) Dylan Toilolo created two turnovers against us in the state semifinal. He’s a hard hitter.”

While both coaching staffs try to solve the puzzle of their depth charts, this rematch of last year’s state-tourney game will have a special buzz come game time.

“Absolutely, we want to find out where we can get better,” Crusaders coach Cal Lee said. “It’s a good challenge for both teams. You’ve got to be ready for your season. We want to see. I think for the fans it’s good to see a good game, two pretty good games. That excitement.”

>> McKinley vs. Pac-Five at Aiea, 4 p.m. — Year 2 of the Sam Cantiberos era at McKinley has begun, and not a day too soon. The Tigers were undermanned last season, losing every game, including forfeits in the final two games due to low numbers. The good news is that they are no longer in Division I, where large athletes on large rosters prevail.

The Wolfpack have Kainoa Ferreira back for his senior season at quarterback. After posting some astonishing passing numbers as a sophomore two seasons ago, his receiving corps was hit hard by graduation. After winning their first three games, including an ILH D-II opener against St. Francis, the ‘Pack finished with three losses in a row last fall.

>> ‘Iolani vs. Radford at Aiea, 7 p.m. — Life in Division I after years in D-II was tough for the Raiders, but as a team, the players chose to remain in a league that includes three Top 10 teams on a regular basis. Quarterback Tai-John Mizutani capped his junior season with a 485-yard, three-TD effort against Kamehameha. How do Wendell Look and his staff replace the likes of LB Melvin Hoomanawanui, WR/PK Keoni-Kordell Makekau (Navy), DL Christian Naeole and more?

The Rams, defending state champions in D-II, are in deeper waters. Longtime coach Fred Salanoa stepped down, stud linebacker Jordan Walker moved to the mainland, RB/LB Ace Faumui and a truckload of talent graduated. The good news for first-year head coach Lon Passos is that three key O-linemen — Darius Oribello, John Pabalate and Talatonu Von Koppel — return for their senior seasons.

>> Pearl City at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m. — The Chargers open the year on the road, and with just six returning starters, it could be a daunting task against perennial D-II powerhouse Lahainaluna. Fourth-year head coach Robin Kami is upbeat about the Chargers’ work ethic through the offseason and preseason to date. Offensive lineman Jason Pong leads a core of returnees on offense, while DB Brody Padilla leads the defense.

The Lunas were extremely young last season, but still managed to edge Kaimuki in the opening round of the state tourney. Co-head coaches Garrett Tihada and Bobby Watson guided the Lunas to four wins in a row before a state semifinal loss to Kapaa.

>> Kamehameha-Hawaii at Waiakea, 1:30 p.m. — D-II KS-Hawaii beat D-I Waiakea in preseason and in the regular season last year, rolling to the BIIF D-II title game. Leading rusher Kaeo Bacatan graduated, but super sophomore DallasJ Duarte returns at QB.

>> Maui vs. Kapaa, Vidinha Stadium, 7 p.m. — With sound defense and a stubborn ground attack, Keith Shirota’s Sabers eked out a winning record (6-4 overall) last season in the MIL. Senior LB Feleti Afemui (6-2, 205) already has five scholarship offers. Freshman DL Sione Lolohea (6-3, 230) already has an offer (BYU).

Kapaa’s magical 2015 season ended with a loss to Radford in the state D-II final. The Warriors’ top RB and WR graduated, but QB Kurt Napoleon is back. So are offensive linemen Morris Unutoa (6-5, 290), who has 10 scholarship offers, and Elijah Unutoa (6-4, 265). The latter is only a sophomore and has two offers on the table.