After listening to Campbell coach Tumoana Kenessey enthusiastically describe how National Principal of the Year Gail Awakuni "grabbed the bull by the horns" and turned that campus around, I can't help but cheer for the Sabers, right?

And after covering Leilehua for five years at Sun Press Newspapers (as you did before me) and sneaking into the Mules' 15-car parade through Wahiawa last Saturday — watching how they have brought alive a community recently hit hard by military deployments and a growing crime problem — how dare I not root for the green and yellow?

ILH football is one of the main reasons I do what I do for a living. It reaches back to my roots as a sports fan — from being a toddler holding my dad's hand as we crossed King Street into Honolulu Stadium, to playing touch football with my friends in the bullpen area at Aloha Stadium, to sitting through tripleheaders in the blue section watching rolled-up newspaper streamers unfurl and fly down to the turf after every touchdown.

The first game I clearly remember? Iolani 40, Kamehameha 13, in 1976. Iolani quarterback Randy Camat throwing to receivers Derek Yamada and Dave Sevey, and punter Curt Otaguro returning a fumbled snap for a score. Kamehameha had bruising fullback David Hughes and nose guard Casey Kunitomo that year and went on to win the Prep Bowl 46-6 over Radford, so it was a big upset by the Red (yes, Red) Raiders.

The next few years, I spent countless Friday nights at the stadium captivated by guys like Punahou quarterback Darryl Gabriel, Saint Louis tight end Wayne Apuna, Damien running back Reagan Ka'anoi. I learned all the alma maters ("Uh-pawn Kalaepoha-ku's rug-ged slope, Saint Louis College with her noh-ble aim ...") and fight songs ("E lawe li-LO! Kaha'a-he-O! No Ka-me-ha-me-ha EH!").

Ah yes, public address announcer Fred Antone's echoing voice — "That's Kaulana Park with the baw-awwl ..." — was music to my ears.

Yup, tonight's games, with Iolani and Kamehameha back in the limelight, stir up too many powerful memories for me. The last time Iolani played in a game of this magnitude, a 7-7 tie with heavily favored Wai'anae in the 1980 Prep Bowl, it was in front of the second-largest crowd (31,484) to see a high school game in Hawai'i.

I know, because I was there, waving my "Raider Rag" and losing my voice cheering from the orange section.

But to this day, my favorite ILH season was 1979, the last time Kamehameha was in a Prep Bowl. Punahou had all-purpose star John Kamana, who went on to start at Southern California, Pac-Five's top receiver was Leroy Lutu, who went on to start at Washington and Kamehameha featured Park, a 6-3, 220-pound running back who went on to start at Stanford.

Unreal talent, unreal games.

FAMILIAR REFRAINS

This year's Iolani team does not look much like the 1980 ILH champs. Those Red Raiders relied heavily on a defense led by the Tufono brothers (nose guard Junior and linebacker Albert) and defensive backs Ken Yonamine and Derek Watanabe.

The offense came to life only after a midseason switch, inserting Matt Bright at quarterback and moving Dirk Apao to receiver. The fullback was bulldog Randy Kobayashi.

This year's running back is Michael Hirokawa, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound jitterbug who also serves as an effective fifth receiver. The other four (Kekai Kealoha, Micah Kalama, Travis Nishioka and Blaine Yama) are small but quick and dangerous in the open field, providing many options for strong-armed quarterback Kiran Kepo'o.

There are no Tufonos on this team's defense, but linebacker Jon Takamura is a ball hawk like Albert T. and safeties Milo Kalama and Landon Patoc make a good comparison to the reliable Yonamine and Watanabe.

Like the 1980 team's upset of Kamehameha, the Raiders' 36-31 upset of Saint Louis seven weeks ago sent shock waves across the state. And of course, at a school where 40 percent of the senior class is taking at least one advanced placement course for college credit, these guys play smart, as did the 1980 team.

This Kamehameha squad, meanwhile, is very similar to the 1979 Warriors. Running back Jayson Rego (5-8, 160) is not as big as Park, but is durable just the same. Quarterback Pono Kam is efficient and mobile, as Derek Clark was 25 years ago. And receiver Ikaika Hardie, like Nathan Lorenzo in 1979, always is a threat to go all the way.

Offensive linemen Tyler Williams, Hayden Kahele and Kepa Gaison follow in the tradition of Tim Clark, Robin Santos and Wayne Wills in 1979.

On defense, linemen Chaz Barit and Mika Kane evoke memories of 1979's John Haina and Vincent Joy, while linebackers Gerritt Vincent, Kaipo Sarkissan and Mana Lolotai can remind some of Nathan Dudoit and Spencer Mello from a quarter-century ago. And in 1979, the Warriors had a tall, fast defensive back in Carter Kamana, who went on to start at Michigan State. Tonight, they will have corner Travis Uale (6-1, 165).

So you see, Stacy, we are dealing with a higher power here. The ILH, at almost 100 years old, is one of the country's oldest leagues with unflappable tradition. And after waiting a generation, Iolani and Kamehameha are extremely hungry for a title.

Campbell and Leilehua are strong programs with heartwarming stories, but I'm afraid only two familiar refrains will be heard at games' end tonight:

I mua, Kamehameha.

Iolani No Kai Oi.

Predictions: Iolani 35, Campbell 28 (Kepo'o throws four TD passes in a shootout); Kamehameha 24, Leilehua 21 (Kepa Gaison's field goal wins it).