At this level, with only one day left before the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I football championship is decided at Aloha Stadium, Kahuku and Mililani will make certain that nothing is left to chance.

Kahuku, the defending champion, was in elephant/rhino/impenetrable fortress mode over the previous two seasons under then-coach Vavae Tata. The “heavy” formation of the offense featured five imposing, massive linemen, two sizable tight ends, two bulldozing fullbacks and a tailback often built more like a middle linebacker. It was, and still can be, a brutal, merciless blueprint of intelligent design. More than a ton of poundage, all on the move at explosive speed, created to hammer any loose nail in its path.

But something happened after Tata stepped down. With an array of skill-position talent, led by quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava, first-year head coach Makoa Freitas opted to value balance. Unlike Tata’s Red Raiders, who began the sledgehammer approach as necessitated by QB injuries, Freitas’ background as a former pro lineman came into play. He wanted balance. Less predictability. Kahuku, which won the state crown in 2015, then lost to Saint Louis in last year’s final, is a different creature, though the engine remains the same.

Rebuilding the aerial attack has been a work in progress since March.

“I don’t think we even completed a pass in the state championship game last year, so it’s a lot of hard work,” Freitas said. “We’re basically using positions we haven’t used in the past couple years. To start from scratch like that last March, it’s a testament to the coaches and players.”

Built for the trenches and piloted through the jet stream. From time to time, Kahuku’s three-wideout set seems like a replica of the Tony Dungy-era Indianapolis Colts, the team Freitas suited up for just a few odd years ago. Maybe it makes Maiava a more mobile version of then-Colts QB Peyton Manning. The sophomore has much to learn, of course, before he reaches that tier, but at the varsity level, Maiava has become a different weapon on the field, never losing vision downfield, capable of winging the ball constantly if asked — he had 24 pass attempts in the first half against Kapolei three weeks ago — and more than willing to be an architect of the offensive craft. He hasn’t had to throw the ball more than necessary or any less than offensive coordinator, Faaesea Mailo, has requested.

“The passing game is coming along great and our OC and our assistants (deserve) all the credit. This is all his offense,” Freitas said. “(Mailo) came with his offense and talks to the receiver coaches and running backs coach and we try some things and see if our players can or can’t do it. It’s been a group effort. You see all their hard work pay off. The O-line coach has the protections down. They’ve come a long way.”

Freitas, a former offensive lineman, has placed great expectations on his Red Raiders in the trenches.

“Our two Samsons (Samson Reed, Samson Kapule-Si‘ilata), they do a lot. Feso Malufau. Longa (Draeteon) Thompson. Bryce Beatty. Whoever they call on to step up, they step. They’re the ones occupying double teams to let those ’backers through,” Freitas said. “Matt Faga, our D-Line coach, I think he’s the best DL coach in the state — him and Paipai Falemalu.”

The willingness of Kahuku to throw on first and second down, to hit the quick pass instead of running on third-and-5, makes defensive game planners less certain and perhaps a little bit queasy. Even with an extra week of planning. For the first time in recent memory, the OIA final follows a bye week.

“The more film I watch, the more I realize how good they are,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “You look at the results they’ve gotten. Basically, you can’t block them and they’re coming from all angles. The Bingham game, to travel that far and do what they did was pretty good considering their first-string quarterback didn’t play. Their defense and special teams are off the charts, to be honest.”

The defense, with playmakers like Miki Ah You in the linebacker corps, has been the cornerstone of Kahuku football for decades. It’s no different this season.

“It’s kind of like the (Baltimore) Ravens team when they had Trent Dilfer (at QB) and all those studs — Ray Lewis. Ed Reed,” York said. “The thing about it is they’re young. These guys are (mostly) juniors and sophomores.”

Of course, the Trojans are always up for a major challenge. Whether it was McKenzie Milton a couple of years ago or Dillon Gabriel today, they’ve trained their offensive personnel to be in constant attack mode. Milton, now on the Maxwell Award semifinalist list as a prolific QB for Central Florida, would often have his unit out-sprinting the chain gang as the next play unfolded. Gabriel is capable of the same while remaining efficient. The junior has thrown for 2,422 yards and 26 TDs with just six interceptions in 274 attempts.

“Five of those picks weren’t his fault. The receiver ran the wrong route,” York said.

Mililani, 10-0 including a forfeit win (Kaiser), has scored 418 points. Sometimes, it’s a matter of exploiting single coverage over the top. Ryan Chang has 28 receptions for 639 yards and nine TDs, almost all of them on deep throws. In all, six Trojans have at least 16 receptions and one TD catch.

The ground game is deep, with first-year starter Kilifi Malepeai (407 yards, eight TDs) and two-way performers Jalen Olomua (four TDs) and Darius Muasau (two TDs). When defenses take away most opportunities, Gabriel makes the read and keeps the ball. His numbers aren’t eye-popping — 154 yards — but the timing of his runs has led to a multitude of first downs and six TDs.

“Everybody can always be better. His decision-making is better, he’s comfortable in the pocket, comfortable getting out of the pocket,” York said.

The study time is ongoing, almost around the clock. On Wednesday night, York met up with Gabriel to study more video. Gabriel has one offer so far, from Navy, which operates the spread option. York added some new wrinkles to the offensive package because the signal-caller wants to stay home and play football after high school.

“He can run the RPO (run-pass option) and the spread option, two backs, the slot. He’s hungry. He wants to play for the University of Hawaii,” said York, a former Rainbow Warriors defensive lineman. “I’ve tweaked our offense to match UH’s offense. I went in and copied (assistant coach) Craig Stutzmann’s plays.”

The Trojans do all that and still get plays off in less than 10 seconds. It’s enough to drive a videographer to stock up on coffee and sugar-free Red Bull for Mililani games.

“I was hoping McKenzie was going to UH. When he went to (UCF), I knew he was going to be good, but I didn’t know he was going to be this good, that fast,” York said. “Dillon’s got the same fire and he does the things you don’t see. He bugs me for film. He has a 4.0 GPA. We’re meeting at 9 o’clock tonight to study more video. Hopefully, Rolo (Nick Rolovich) offers him and Dillon goes up and changes that program. He makes the guys around him better, and he’s always trying to get better.”

For now, there’s business at hand.

“We’ve got to prove it this Saturday,” York said.

FRIDAY GAMES

‘Iolani (4-5) vs. No. 7 Lahainaluna (9-1), War Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m.

The reduced Division II field (from six teams to four) in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championships is a bummer for fans and teams, but it also makes the competition fiercely engaging right from the first round. This is already a semifinal matchup.

After two years in ILH D-I, the Raiders finished the D-II playoffs playing some of their best football of the season. Coach Wendell Look’s program, which placed second in the D-I state tourney last year, has an unprecedented eight D-II state crowns.

However, a season-ending collarbone injury to senior receiver Justin Genovia (83 catches, 869 yards, seven TDs) was a huge blow. ‘Iolani’s offense isn’t built around any one playmaker, so the show will still go on.

Senior QB Tai-John Mizutani has reliable pass catchers in sophomore Carter Kamana (51, 744, six), and seniors Jonah Miyazawa (57, 705, eight) and Rayden Kaneshiro (33, 345, one). Mizutani has passed for 2,925 yards and 25 TDs this season, and his 7,302 yards ranks fifth all-time statewide. He trails Tua Tagovailoa (8,158) and Tim Chang (8,001) of Saint Louis, Andrew Manley of Leilehua (7,637) and McKenzie Milton of Mililani (7,303).

The Lunas ran the table in the integrated MIL, casting aside D-I and D-II foes alike. That’s eight wins in a row since losing at home to Kamehameha on Aug. 12. The Lunas’ hopes to host the game at Sue Cooley Stadium didn’t materialize. More than a few fans were considering a petition to move the game from War Memorial Stadium, 24 miles from campus.

“No petition,” co-head coach Garret Tihada said. “Just a little sadness.”

It’s a minor negative on what has been another classic Lunas football season. Etuati Storer’s experience at operating their modified single-wing attack has been sterling. As always, the ball is distributed to a variety of dangerous ballcarriers, from Storer to Elijah Ragudo to Joshua Tihada, making life difficult for undisciplined defenses who overreact to jet sweeps and various misdirection moves by the offensive unit.

It is, in a purist’s sense, like observing death by a thousand paper cuts. Still, the Lunas have never beaten the Raiders. In five matchups since 1994, ‘Iolani has won each time.

No. 9 Waipahu (10-0) at Konawaena (8-2), 7 p.m.

The long histories of Waipahu and Konawaena football do not include a single encounter between the programs. The Marauders arrive at this first meeting, on the road, as a squad that has reached the pinnacle of OIA D-II. Konawaena has been there, done that.

A key factor for Konawaena besides home field is that the team has been in the state tourney every year since coach Brad Uemoto took the reins.

Austin Ewing (22 TD passes) is in his third season as the starting QB of an often explosive offense. He has been more of a dual threat, though Chauncey Mariani-Louis had been the tip of the spear for the ground attack. The defense, tattered and torn, has been resilient, thanks in part to defensive ends Paka Cacoulidis (6-0, 210) and Alex Muti (6-1, 160), and LB Seau Amor (5-9, 185).

Ewing’s favorite target has been Kaanoi Rivera-Kelekolio, but like so many of the Wildcats, he went down with a season-ending injury. The list is painfully astounding: LB Dominic Dela Cruz, fractured vertebrae; DB Dustin Cho, leg.

Cho had double-digit tackles and was instrumental in Konawaena’s win over Hilo, limiting prolific RB Kahale Huddleston to 76 yards. But Cho tore his ACL in a regular-season win over Kamehameha-Hawaii. A week later, Rivera-Kelekolio broke his leg at practice when a teammate stepped on his ankle.

In some ways, these teams are twins, but one difference is that Waipahu has a seasoned group of pass catchers, while Konawaena’s senior-heavy group graduated.

Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho has many concerns coming into the game about a dangerous Konawaena squad that overcame a bumpy start — lopsided preseason losses to Kapaa and St. Francis — to run the table in the BIIF, including a home-field win over eventual D-I winner Hilo. Waipahu QB Braden Amorozo has more help, more balance on his unit. But the travel aspect rarely favors the team that has to endure the airports and flights and carrying loads of gear.

Last year, the Marauders finished second in the OIA and lost on the road to Lahainaluna 52-14. In 2015, Waipahu was still in D-I, and as a sophomore, Amorozo sometimes guided the offense to big point totals: 47 on McKinley, 32 on Castle, 34 on Kaiser, 28 against Waianae. That season ended with blowout losses to Kahuku and Kailua.

Now, Waipahu has one of the top offenses in the state. RB Alfred Failauga has topped the 1,000-yard mark and the receiver corps was already effective prior to the return of senior Isaac Yamashita.

After all the logistics were lined up, one of Carvalho’s priorities was more about routine. Since week one, the pregame meal has been hot dogs, Funyuns, Doritos and Gatorade. The catch? The hot dogs have to be Redondo’s brand.

“It’s got to be Redondo’s. When we go to Kona, my auntie is picking up Redondo hot dogs,” Carvalho said.

SATURDAY GAMES

No. 8 Campbell (7-4) vs. No. 6 Waianae (6-4), 4 p.m., aloha stadium

OIA D-I is still in playoff mode, taking last week off. Now the Sabers and Seariders are in elimination mode. This third-place game will determine who gets the final state-tournament berth, and it could be a classic showdown between two Leeward powerhouses.

Though the Sabers are fairly young this season, it is Campbell that has won four of the past six matchups.

The Seariders have prominent game-breakers in RB Rico Rosario (720 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and LB/DE Kana‘i Mauga, the latter being a commit to USC. Like Campbell, Waianae’s offensive line was still finding its groove early in the season, and that group has come together since.

Campbell junior Krenston Kaipo has developed rapidly under first-year head coach Darren Johnson and staff. Kaipo has passed for 2,084 yards and 17 TDs. Poki‘i Adkins-Kupukaa (43 receptions, 806 yards, nine TDs) has also been integral to the defense.

The Sabers lost RBs Jacob Covington and Tasi Faumui to injuries in a playoff win at Leilehua.

Maui (5-5) vs. No. 10 Hilo (8-1), Wong Stadium, 7 p.m.

The last time Hilo hosted a state-tourney game, Campbell visited and pulled out a tough win in a game played at Keaau High School Stadium roughly 10 miles out of town.

This time, the Vikings will host the game in their usual home site, where the field is laid out for baseball rather than football and the majority of seats are 50 yards from the closest sideline.

Those are aesthetic issues, of course. For coach Kaeo Drummondo and his Vikings, the more rain and mud, the better. The visiting Sabers eked out the D-I title in the Maui Interscholastic League last week with a win over rival Baldwin. The MIL, which enjoyed a dynastic rule by Baldwin during the aughts — nearly upsetting Kahuku in the semifinals one year — has had less success of late.

In the 18 state tournaments since the inception in 1999, the MIL champion (Division I) has a composite win-loss record of 6-19 (.240).

Playing in the middle tier (D-I) rather than Open Division since last season should help the MIL, perhaps more so this fall since the OIA has chosen to avoid the division entirely. This is the MIL’s first matchup with a non-OIA team in a first game of the state tournament.

Hilo continues the wave of its rushing attack. Running back Kahale Huddleston has rushed for 1,320 yards (11 yards per carry) and 24 touchdowns, adding seven more TDs via receiving and kick returns. The senior has even thrown a TD pass this season.

Much of the wreckage was done against D-II foes, including roughly half of the BIIF as well as ‘Iolani (244 yards, six total TDs).

Maui has long been a stone-walling defensive front against running teams. Relying mostly on ground-and-pound football, the Sabers have won five of their last six games, the lone defeat coming in a 24-17 loss to Lahainaluna. Nala Nakamoto and Solomona Tongi have led the ground attack.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation, with its smaller schools and programs, and a larger dependence on ball control in the rainy late-autumn months, has almost always struggled against off-island competition going back decades through the D-I state tournament and the Neighbor Island Classic of the 1990s.

In 19 tries at the D-I level, the BIIF is 0-19 in state-tourney play. Last year, when the three-tiered pilot system made its debut, the BIIF had its closest game — Hilo lost by a point to Leilehua. It is Exhibit A in terms of why the three-layered state tournaments make far more sense than the previous two-division format and, prior to 2003, the all-teams-in-one-classification setup.

Damien (9-3) vs. Kauai (5-3), Vidinha Stadium, 2 p.m.

This opening-round game in the D-II state tourney is another potential thriller. Coach Eddie Klaneski’s Monarchs defended their ILH D-II title last week in clutch fashion. The constant duels with St. Francis — four in all — should make the Monarchs sharper and stronger for KIF champion Kauai. The Red Raiders ended Kapaa’s stranglehold atop the league standings and are in the state tourney for the first time with this current roster of seniors.

Damien will bring a balanced offense to the Garden Island. Marcus Faufata-Pedrina has passed for 1,932 yards and rushed for 401, adding a combined 24 TDs. In 214 pass attempts, he has been picked off just seven times.

Sophomore Keoua Kauhi has rushed for 827 yards and five TDs, and Logan Lauti complements the attack (274 yards, two TDs).

Akila Arecchi (32 receptions, 631 yards, five TDs) has been a deep-ball threat, while Lindon Sevilleja (33, 495, six) and Lauti (22, 424, three) are trustworthy targets for Faufata-Pedrina.

The Red Raiders have come a long way since a 42-0 preseason loss to St. Francis. They didn’t permit more than 17 points after a league-opening 34-20 win over Waimea. Senior QB Christian Manera and RB Jaykob Nakaahiki-Young spark the offense.

Damien last played Kauai in 2015, winning a preseason game 34-19 at Aiea’s field. In preseason of the ’14 campaign, the Monarchs won 28-21 at Vidinha Stadium.