The Valley Isle's three Division I teams — defending champion Baldwin, King Kekaulike and 2000 champion Maui — figure in the battle for the MIL title, according to the league's coaches.

"I think the league is going to be pretty even," second-year Baldwin coach Chad Kauhaahaa said. "There is no one powerhouse and no pushovers. Last year, we somehow, someway dominated the first round. But then in the second round, the other teams had a feel for us. You cannot overlook any one team. You do that and you'll walk out of War Memorial Stadium with a loss."

The Bears are coming off a 3-0 win against Farrington in last weekend's Father Bray Classic at Aloha Stadium. They lost a number of players to graduation, such as MIL Offensive co-Players of the Year Michael Donohoo (quarterback) and Akamu Aki (end) and Defensive Player of the Year Meade Tabata (lineman) and are relying on sophomore Kalehua Moniz to lead their run-and-shoot offense.

"We're pretty young with some experience," Kauhaahaa said. "Offensively, we need to get it going, be consistent. We showed we could move the ball against Farrington, but we couldn't capitalize because of turnovers or penalties. We have to eliminate those things."

Maui's assets are 12 returning starters. That despite the loss of tight end Tevita "T" Finau, not to be confused with Sabers guard Tevita Finau. "T" transferred to Kahuku earlier this week. Maui coach Curtis Lee said he is a big loss, yet at Kahuku the 6-foot-5, 235-pound senior is likely to play behind 6-3, 200-pound junior La'auli Fonoti, the younger brother of former Red Raider Toniu Fonoti, starting guard for the San Diego Chargers.

"We have quite a few returnees and some kids up from the JV that we're excited about," Lee said. "It will be an interesting league, but we feel we should be contenders."

Lee, the dean of MIL coaches as he enters his 20th season, said he will try to refrain from using players two-ways. "That way, we'll get more people involved and it will make for a happier team," he said.

King Kekaulike, which enters its seventh season, had its first winning season last year. With 14 returning starters, coach Dennis Dias is optimistic.

"Our team has grown a lot since last year," he said. "We had our first decent season and we're trying to build from last year. I think we're prepared."

Lahainaluna, which won the MIL is 2001, is entering as a Division II team. The Lunas, who lost to Kahuku, 34-0, in a non-league game last weekend, hope to find success with their option game behind quarterback Preston Medeiros.

"We're pretty young and have plenty of work (to do)," coach Bobby Watson said. "We hope they start coming around in the second round."

The league's newest entry is Pac-Three, a combine of players primarily from St. Anthony supplemented with players from Seabury Hall, which never played football, and Ka'ahumanu Hou, which played from 1997-2000. Of the 42 players, 11 are from Ka'ahumanu Hou and three from Seabury.

The Titans — the combine's nickname — beat Honoka'a, 27-8, in their debut last weekend.

If one of the two Division II teams win the MIL title, it will represent the league in the Division I tournament, while the other gains the berth in the Division II tournament.

Baldwin Bears

• COACH: Chad Kauhaahaa, 2nd season (8-2)
• 2002: 8-2, MIL champions
• PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Shevis Shima (6-0, 160, Sr.); RB Waylen Costa (5-6, 148, Sr.); WR/DB J.J. Eno (5-8, 151, Sr.); WR/DB Reid Kaya (5-9, 172, Sr.); OLB Trenson Himalaya (6-0, 207, Jr.); LB Kuluka Maiava (6-0, 215, Jr.); NT Mathew Auau (5-8, 205, Jr.); DE Cory Nakamoto (5-9, 200, Sr.); C Willy Saltiban (5-7, 266, Jr.); T Barrett Maioho (6-0, 235, Jr.).

King Kekaulike Na 'Alii

• COACH: Dennis Dias, 3rd season (8-10)
• 2002: 5-4
• PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR/FS Ryan Felten (6-2, 180, Sr.); G/DE Keola Nakoa (5-10, 220, Sr.); OT/DT Allen Kato Puha (6-0, 245, Sr.); C Adam Akau (6-2, 270, Sr.); MLB Keahi Holder (5-9, 220, Sr.); TB Kona uinabo (5-1, 195, Sr.); SS Brisen Gonsalves (5-5, 155, Sr.); Alapa Artates (5-9, 175, Sr.); G/DE Keola Nakoa (5-10, 220, Sr.).

Lahainaluna Lunas

• COACH: Robert Watson, 14th season (unknown)
• 2002: 1-8
• PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Preston Medeiros (5-10, 155, Jr.); OL Charles Wallace (5-9, 185, Sr.); T Sione Malmamala (6-5, 320, Sr.).

Maui Sabers

• COACH: Curtis Lee, 20th season (119-57-7)
• 2002: 4-5
• PLAYERS TO WATCH: FS Tim Larson (5-10, 185, Sr.); QB Chadwich Sagon (5-10, 186, Sr.); LB Lawrence Torres (5-8, 205, Sr.); FB Ryan Ishizu (5-8, 190, Sr.); G Tevita Finau (6-0, 240, Jr.); WR Michael Cabico (6-2, 195, Sr.); TB Andrew Nakihei (5-9, 165, Sr.); SS Marc Sim (5-6, 175, Sr.); DT Ofa Mamatuki (5-8, 217, Sr.); T Sosifa Pinomi (6-1, 330, Sr.); OL Brandon Nesmith (6-0, 240, Sr.); DT Patrick Martin (5-7, 185, Sr.).

Pac-Three Titans

• COACH: Kevin O'Brien, 5th season (12-30 for St. Anthony), 1st with Pac-Three
• 2002: No record. This is the program's debut (combination of St. Anthony, Ka'ahumanu Hou and Seabury Hall)
• PLAYERS TO WATCH: DB J.J. Pacheco (5-8, 160, Sr.); QB Maka'io English (5-11, 170, Sr.).