In the past month, there have been a lot of tears and sleepless nights in Nolan Tokuda’s life.

That’s life as a new daddy.

The Leilehua football coach has fingerprints all over the Mules program, stoking the fire that turned it back into a perennial contender. But with the birth of Taytum, his first child, Tokuda did an end-around that changes the look of Oahu Interscholastic Association football battles.

Or will it? Tokuda planned out his absence in advance. Al Viloria, the brains behind much of Leilehua’s innovative scheme, is now the offensive coordinator. Defensive coordinator Mark Kurisu, who implemented the “30” defense that confuses opposing quarterbacks, is in charge of the program this season.

“They haven’t missed a beat,” said Tokuda, who has spent his rare moments of freedom at Leilehua scrimmages behind a video camera. He’ll be on the sidelines as coach for games.

With Tokuda busy most days — he returns to the classroom in his role as a teacher next Monday, but will remain away from the practice field — coaches and media still expect plenty from the Mules. Leilehua was voted No. 4 in the Star-Advertiser Preseason Top 10.

The Mules get their first taste of game competition on Thursday with a home game against Alaska powerhouse Service. The Cougars were 9-2 last season and are ranked No. 3 in the MaxPreps Top 10. They won the Alaska Large School state championship in 2008.

On paper: The Mules went 9-3 last year, losing to eventual state champion Saint Louis 42-28 in the semifinal round. They were explosive against a stellar defense, but the two receivers of that night and last season, Fred Padrones (all-state first team) and Darrien Shealy (all-state second team), have graduated. So have some key offensive linemen who helped quarterback Kenan Sadanaga to a prolific season.

On the plus side, though, promising playmakers are back in Allen Racette and Jeremiah Andrade. Racette emerged as a reliable scoring threat by ground and air, while Andrade’s ability with the ball made him valuable as a receiver and kick returner. They could step in and contribute the kind of numbers Shealy (73 receptions, 950 yards, eight touchdowns) and Padrones (73 catches, 1,098 yards, 16 touchdowns) produced.

Sadanaga, who passed for 420 yards against Saint Louis, is the latest in a line of superb quarterbacks to call Hugh Yoshida Stadium home. The lefty passed for 2,598 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior. He was picked off 16 times (209-for-316) and had the fourth-highest passer rating in the state last year.

Andrade (5-foot-7, 160 pounds) hauled in 53 balls for 710 yards and five touchdowns last fall. Racette (5-7, 165) caught 26 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns.

Nothing will go right without protection up front. Center Tim Momiyama (5-10, 230), left guard Jaryn Villegas (6-3, 275) and right tackle Kilika Burner (5-9, 190) bring experience back to one of the state’s more explosive attacks. Burner protects the back side for Sadanaga, a southpaw.

Defensively, Russell Siavii (6-3, 185) will roam from his spot at safety. Siavii, younger brother of former Mule and current Idaho linebacker Robert Siavii, has range and excellent hands but prefers playing defense. Siavii, who has drawn attention from Hawaii and Idaho, is also part of the rotation at wide receiver.

A lot of new faces are on this side of the ball, which is just fine with Kurisu, who loves to innovate. The “30” involves nine, 10 or even all 11 defenders in standup position — all in the box — for pre-snap. Though the scheme is vulnerable to quick blasts up the middle, it creates major confusion for inexperienced quarterbacks who can’t make a clean read on the blitz. It led to nine sacks against Castle last season, Tokuda noted.

“There’s no way to know who to block,” he said.

Leilehua will look to key returning starters for stability. Linebacker Reece Acohido (6-0, 190) and defensive back Rivers Orillo (6-0, 170) should lead the way.

Momiyama, the center, is one of the best special teams resources in the state as a place-kicker. He has 50-yard range on field goals and can boom kickoffs to the goal line.

The skinny: The offensive line received a boost from new coach Ikaika Kuninau, who brought his knowledge and technical grasp from Linfield — where Kurisu also played.

“We’re looking a little different. He’s done wonders and we’re doing stuff I haven’t seen before,” Tokuda said. “He’s got trick plays all over and the no-huddle when the starters are in.”

Among the adjustments are more tight-end sets to take advantage of Penitito Melei (6-2, 210), a sure-handed, athletic senior who also plays defensive end.

“I like both,” he said of the double duties.

Tokuda’s diaper-changing role this fall hasn’t seemed to hurt, but that’s almost expected because the staff is both creative and unified. Viloria and Kurisu, in particular, have spent hours debating the nuances of their craft, bordering on obsession.

“Coach Viloria will attack the ‘rules’ of a defense, so that’s where Coach Kurisu will ask questions and develop his defense,” Tokuda said.

Kurisu has kept things intense, yet fun. There was shambattle last week. Water balloon tosses. Even leadership class for the eight captains.

In a division, the OIA Red West, in which top quarterbacks, running backs and receivers have graduated, Leilehua seems to have the upper hand.

X factor: With a defense that will improve with more scrimmages and games, the offense may take on an additional role as a defensive weapon. The ground game, with Racette in the backfield and an extra blocker at the point of attack (tight end sets), could help the Mules chew up more clock than they have in recent years. That versatility can help — but only if the new formation runs smoothly.