WAI'ANAE — It's not often that a football team coming off a 450-yard rushing performance is considered a heavy underdog for its next game.

But that is exactly the situation for Wai'anae, which faces Saint Louis at 4 p.m. in today's First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Championship semifinals.

The game at Aloha Stadium will be followed by Baldwin vs. Leilehua at around 7, and both semifinals will be televised live statewide by OC16.

The Seariders (9-3) had a dominant rushing performance in last week's 21-17 first-round victory at Kealakehe, but not many people give them a chance to upset defending state runner-up Saint Louis (10-0).

That's just fine with Wai'anae junior running back Danny Kekoanui, who led the way with 198 yards and one touchdown rushing on 23 carries last Saturday.

"I like being the underdog," said Kekoanui, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound tailback. "It just gives us more motivation, makes us play harder and want to prove everybody wrong."

The Seariders faced similar doubts after their offense struggled to find the end zone in three O'ahu Interscholastic Association playoff games. They defeated Kalaheo, 14-7, in the quarterfinals; edged Kapolei, 14-13, in the semifinals and were limited to one field goal in a 12-3 loss to Leilehua for the championship.

But Kekoanui and his offensive line are confident that those problems are behind them.

"We didn't communicate as much as we should have (in the OIA playoffs)," said senior guard Richard Nansen. "But we definitely changed that; we've practiced hard. I felt we communicated well on the line last week."

Kekoanui wasn't the only one who benefitted from the improvement; fullback Jonathan Abell added 95 yards on 15 carries, and quarterback Ben McQuown contributed 92 yards and one TD on eight carries.

"For me, it starts with the line," Kekoanui said. "They're the heart of our offense. When those six guys are moving like that, then the rest of us can get rolling, too."

Those "six guys" are center Viliami Namoa (5-11, 250), center/guard Leighton Pogia (6-2, 270), guard Nansen (5-10, 220), tackles Josiah Chongtim (6-0, 220) and Sunia Vaitai (6-3, 300), and tight end Justin Chongtim (6-0, 210). Guard Kekoa Afong (6-0, 230) also is in the rotation, and wingback Glenn Wain (5-6, 155) is a key blocker on perimeter runs.

"Their line is a big concern for us," said Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan, who was in Kailua, Kona last Saturday to scout the Kealakehe game. "We haven't really faced a line as big and as physical as theirs, and I was impressed with their timing and execution. I've never seen an offense revved up like that as far as dominating the running game."

The Seariders also gave Tengan lots of film to review, opening up the playbook with several new variations of their attack.

"Their offense was wide open," Tengan said. "They will keep you on your toes, mixing up the perimeter runs with the quick inside trap, the fly sweep with the option pitch, halfback options ... their halfback is a great runner, but it goes all the way around."

It was, however, a breakthrough performance for Kekoanui, who has been a steady runner the past two seasons.

He had 147 yards on 11 carries in the first half, and said the strong start was a key difference from Wai'anae's previous three games.

"We came out hard," Kekoanui said. "(In the OIA playoffs), we would have a couple good drives and then we kind of relaxed. It was the wrong mentality, like if we scored, then we would not need to score again. Last week, we came out firing and didn't stop."

Kekoanui said the offense wanted to reward the defense for its usual stalwart play.

"Our defense has been tough all season, so we wanted to help them out and do our job," he said.

Kekoanui also has been doing his job in the classroom, carrying a cumulative GPA of 3.3.

"My dad (Alika) is always getting on me about the importance of grades, so I can go to a good college," Kekoanui said. "He pushes me in school, so I try to study hard."

Kekoanui said he also wants to defy some stereotypes about Wai'anae students.

"I think people doubt us, they think we're dumb," he said. "I want to get good grades so people don't have that perception."

Today, there is more to prove.

"I never doubt our team can do it," Kekoanui said. "I think we can beat anybody."

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.