Meanwhile, Kealakehe High School is one of the state's newest, having opened its doors in Kailua, Kona in 1997. The Waveriders are in only their sixth varsity football season and started playing in their new stadium just last year.

Yet the two programs with contrasting histories have one thing in common: They both are in this week's Division I state tournament, where hardly anyone predicted either to be.

The two will collide in Friday's first round, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. at Kealakehe.

"Nobody ever thought we'd make it, because our team is small," said Leilehua senior running back/linebacker BJ Fruean. "But every day, our coach (Nolan Tokuda) tells us to be mentally strong, and by doing that, that's how we've won."

Despite its storied past, the Mules (9-2) had recently suffered through six straight seasons without a winning record. Not much was expected this year, either, with Tokuda taking over as a first-time varsity head coach.

But Leilehua quickly became the surprise team of the OIA, jumping out to a 6-0 start until a 35-14 loss at arch rival Milila-ni. The Mules then nearly pulled off the upset of the year in a 12-6 league semifinal loss to defending state champ Kahuku two weeks ago.

Leilehua was driving for the potential winning touchdown when it lost the ball on downs on the Red Raiders' 45-yard line with 52 seconds remaining.

"I watched them on TV, and I was impressed," Kealakehe coach Sam Papali'i said. "They're a disciplined team and very competitive. They know how to hit."

Fruean and fellow linebacker Guyes Galdeira lead a scrappy, sure-tackling defense that prevented Kahuku's big-play offense from breaking loose and held the Red Raiders to their second-lowest scoring output of the season.

The effort was more impressive considering many Mules must play offense and defense.

"Depth-wise, we don't have the flexibility (to platoon), so we just put all of our best guys on the field," said Tokuda, a 1990 'Aiea graduate. "All the kids know that, so they're OK with it."

Most of the Leilehua players are very familiar with Tokuda since he was the Mules' JV head coach the two previous seasons, going 7-3 in 2002 and 10-1 last year as the OIA runner-up.

"I knew we'd do well this year, because these kids have tasted success," Tokuda said.

Leilehua's offense is led by quarterback Bryant Moniz, who has big stats but also uncanny poise and leadership skills not seen in many sophomores.

"He's a born leader; I call him, 'Gen. Bryant,' " Tokuda said. "He's always the first one on the field and the last one off, and he's one of the toughest kids I've seen."

Moniz left Saturday's 14-10 victory over Castle after suffering what was thought to be broken ribs late in the game. He was taken to the hospital, but the ribs were found to be badly bruised and he expects to play Friday.

If he plays, he will face a Kealekehe team that waited two years for this opportunity. The Waveriders (8-4) were favored to win Big Island Interscholastic Federation championships in 2002 and 2003, only to fall short in the title game each time.

"Last year we started 8-0 (in the BIIF) and were on a roll; most of the games weren't even close," said Papali'i, a former NCAA Division I-A assistant. "We felt that was the team that would win it."

Instead, it was this year's team that won the school's first BIIF crown with a 41-21 upset over defending champ Hilo last week.

Kealakehe has been led by 5-foot-5, 155-pound running back Jinho Tohara, who had an amazing four-game stretch this season in which he rushed for 995 yards and six touchdowns.

"He has that extra gear, and he'll gain yards even after getting hit," Papali'i said.

The Waveriders' defense is led by linebacker Jared Hao, (four interceptions, six fumble recoveries, team's leading tackler).

Kealakehe started the season 0-3, but its only loss since then was a 17-0 defeat at Hawai'i Prep on Oct. 16.

"We built some momentum, and then peaked in the playoffs," Papali'i said. "We stayed patient, and it was sweet redemption."