Ali-Frazier.

Yankees-Red Sox.

Michigan-Ohio State.

The mere mention of those rivalries ignites passion, vivid memories and a rise in blood pressure.

In Hawai'i high school football, it's Kahuku-Saint Louis.

"Aw, man!" University of Hawai'i receiver Jason Rivers, a former Saint Louis standout, said yesterday as soon as the subject arose. "Kahuku-Saint Louis. It's the best against the best."

The two schools, which meet in Friday's First Hawaiian Bank State Championship game, have been the dominant programs here for the past 21 seasons. One or both has been in the Prep Bowl/state title game in 20 of those years.

Friday will be the 10th time the Crusaders and Red Raiders face each other with the title at stake.

Like any great rivalry, this one has had many dramatic twists, turns and unexpected subplots.

And years after its origin, the intensity is just as strong.

THE BEGINNING

The rivalry's true roots can be traced to the 1989 Prep Bowl.

The three-time defending champ Crusaders were on a 53-game win streak, while Kahuku won its first O'ahu Interscholastic Association title in 17 years.

Saint Louis ended up winning, 35-18, with John Hao throwing for 330 yards and four touchdowns.

Besides Hao, the Crusaders' offense that year featured running back Tupu Alualu, receiver Kaipo McGuire, right tackle Roy Ma'afala and right guard Tasi Malepeai. Their defense was anchored by nose guard Silila Malepeai, right tackle John Higgins and outside linebacker Nalei Cox.

All went on to play for NCAA Division I programs.

"Saint Louis was just great," said former Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai, who was an assistant in four Prep Bowl losses to the Crusaders. "They had everything: offense, defense, coaching staff ..."

But the Red Raiders showed they had talent, too, with running back Mark Atuaia, receiver Itula Mili, right tackle Tanoai Reed and outside linebacker Datsun Nihipali. In the next decade, Kahuku proved a legitimate threat to knock the Saints off their perch.

OH, SO CLOSE

The rivalry was solidified in the mid-1990s, when the teams faced each other three straight times in the Prep Bowl.

Each time, it appeared the Red Raiders were getting closer to ending Saint Louis' streak. But each time, the Saints prevailed.

In 1993, Kahuku led at halftime but sophomore quarterback Darnell Arceneaux came off the bench to lead Saint Louis to a 37-22 victory.

The following year, elusive slotback George Ornellas, Arceneaux and three future NFL players — fullback Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, and offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Dominic Raiola — helped the Crusaders overcome Vai Notoa's 211 rushing yards to win, 26-20.

And in 1995, the lead changed five times before Saint Louis hung on to win, 27-26. The Red Raiders went for two-point conversions after all four touchdowns, succeeding once.

"We came so close, but we just couldn't get over that hump," Livai said.

Livai took over the program after that 1995 season, and Kahuku lost twice more to the Crusaders in 1998 and '99. Saint Louis' Prep Bowl/state championship streak was now at 14, including six over the Red Raiders in a 10-year span.

TABLES HAVE TURNED

Kahuku finally broke through in 2000, beating the Crusaders, 26-20, after recovering three of its own fumbles for positive yardage.

But Livai said the key for the Red Raiders was finally shedding the underdog role.

"It became like challenging Mike Tyson — you don't really expect to win, you just want to see how long you're going to last," Livai said. "We had to gain the confidence and play not just to show up, but to win. We had to believe it as players and coaches, that we had just as much a right to win as they did.

"To me, that was the biggest difference."

Kahuku won again in 2001, holding off Saint Louis, 21-14, to finish a 14-0 season.

The Red Raiders then won a 27-26 thriller in 2003, the last time the teams have met with a title on the line.

Rivers and UH teammates Timo Paepule and Aaron Bain are part of a "new generation" of Crusaders who have never beaten Kahuku.

They don't know many of the players in Friday's game, but still have strong feelings about the outcome.

"It's a big game," Paepule said. "We never want to lose to Kahuku."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.