The Mules and Trojans share the division lead with 4-0 records in league play and 6-0 overall. There are two regular-season games left before the playoffs.

Since the schools started playing each other in 1975, the series has hardly been a rivalry with Leilehua owning a 16-7-1 lead. But Mililani has won the last four meetings and drew the tie five years ago.

Each team has a player with a different sort of rivalry. Sibling rivalry.

Trojans junior running back/special teams returner Kekoa Perbera and Leilehua junior receiver/safety/special teams returner Chustin Senas appear to be emerging from the shadows of older siblings, who also excelled in athletics in high school recently.

Perbera's brother, Keali'i, led the Saint Louis Crusaders to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship last season at quarterback. Keali'i is a freshman backup quarterback at Western Montana. Kekoa is among the state leaders in rushing with 488 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He averages eight yards per carry.

Senas' sister, Charity, was an all-state softball shortstop for Mililani — yes, the Trojans — and is projected to be the starting shortstop for the University of Hawai'i-Hilo as a freshman this season, according to UHH coach Callen Perreira. Chustin is among the state leaders in receiving with 431 yards and six TD catches, averaging 17.2 yards per catch.

"I'm cheering for my brother, even though I graduated from Mililani," said Charity, who can't attend the game because she has practice Saturday.

Kekoa and Chustin each said they drew inspiration from their older siblings.

"We try to beat out the other in every sport," Kekoa said of his relationship with Keali'i. "We have a lot of competition at our house."

Charity said when she and Chustin watched each other play, each wanted to impress the other.

"It's like a little competition," she said. "It's always about who does better."

But the younger brothers are proud of their siblings' accomplishments.

"I'm glad he made a name for himself at Saint Louis," Kekoa said of Keali'i.

Chustin said his sister's achievements made him set the bar higher.

"It made me want to strive more to be like her," he said.

KEKOA PERBERA

Kekoa played most of last season on the JV, but was promoted to the varsity for the state tournament. Millwood said Kekoa could have played varsity from the start last year, but the varsity was already deep with running backs.

"He got the reps (repetition of plays) he needed at JV," Millwood said.

Chustin played JV as a freshman and sophomore. His freshman season was his first in organized football and he played sparingly, said first-year varsity head coach Nolan Tokuda, who coached Chustin in JV. Last season, Chustin did what he does now: Playing nearly all 48 minutes. He scored 17 touchdowns for the JV.

"He never played football until his freshman year," Tokuda said. "I asked him to come out. He said he never played before, 'I don't know how to play the game.' I told him, 'It's my job as a coach to teach you. Give it a shot.' "

How Chustin and Kekoa ended up at different schools from their siblings is another story. Kekoa said his parents asked him if he wanted to attend Saint Louis, but he declined, preferring to play with teammates he grew up with since Pop Warner. Charity said she lived with her grandparents in Mililani.

Because of time differences, Kekoa said he doesn't get to speak to Keali'i as much. But Chustin isn't shy about reminding his sister of their rivalry. She said her aunt sends her clippings of Chustin's games. Charity said she also surfs the Internet for Leilehua scores. And, of course, cell phones have made gloating easier.

"He calls me all the time," she joked. "He likes to brag about himself."