Most title-seeking high school teams have all-stars leading them to the championship game.

Wai'anae is the exception.

While the third-ranked Seariders (8-2) have rushed for 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, no single ball-carrier has more than 500 yards or five touchdowns.

"We don't really have a go-to-guy," said head coach Dan Matsumoto. "If we can block our scheme, it doesn't really matter who has the ball."

It's that kind of selflessness that has helped the Seariders get to this point. They finished the rigorous O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West season 6-1 and received a first-round bye as the West's second seed.

Tonight, they play for the OIA title against Leilehua, 8 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

Wai'anae used a stable of backs to carry the load.

Ben McQuown was the closest thing to a workhorse. He was the team's leading rusher with 446 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries.

BJ Jelf (60 carries, 373 yards, five TDs), Justin Kauwalu (85-341-5), Danny Kekoanui (76-329-3) and Johnathan Abell (55-264-2) also share the load for Matsumoto and offensive coordinator Bryant Ginoza.

Even more surprising is that the success has come despite a major position change midway through the season.

McQuown moved from quarterback to slotback and Jelf assumed the reins under center.

"I didn't like it at first, but obviously our offense is better," said McQuown. "Whatever's best for the team."

In the Seariders' offense, the slotback is often used on wide sweeps, which opens up the middle of the line of scrimmage.

"I think Bryant Ginoza has been trying to open it up a lot more," said Matsumoto. "He's been real innovative making use of the strengths that we have."

One of those strengths is the speed of McQuown, who also is a star on the baseball team.

"He's one of a kind," said his baseball coach, Kekoa Kaluhiokalani. "Speedwise, not too many in the state have that kind of speed."

On the diamond, McQuown led Wai'anae "in all categories," said Kaluhiokalani. "(Batting) average, extra-base hits, stolen bases, everything."

The 5-foot-9, 150-pound senior patrols center field when he's not pitching and was team MVP last season.

"He's a fierce, fierce competitor," said Kaluhiokalani. "He refuses to get beat, just very mentally tough."

McQuown and the Seariders are looking to extend a three-game win streak tonight.

A win would give the school its first OIA title since 1997.

"I didn't realize until last week when coach Ginoza brought it up," said McQuown. "Once we heard that, we knew we had to take care of business against Kapolei."

McQuown ran for 135 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 14-13 semifinal victory over the Hurricanes to lead his team back to the title game, where it lost to Kahuku last year.

"They were the defending state champs and it was my first year playing football at the high school level," McQuown recalled. "On the first play, my facemask was bent. The second play, I was sacked ... after that I knew it was going to be a battle."

But McQuown and the new-look Seariders are hoping for a different fate against Leilehua, which handed them one of just two losses on the year: an 8-0 shutout on homecoming night at Raymond Torii Stadium.

"It's sort of a revenge match," said McQuown, who left in the third quarter with an injury. "I felt like I let my teammates down."

The Mules' defense gave up just 124 yards (67 rushing) and the Seariders did not gain a first down until midway through the second quarter.

McQuown was held to 27 yards on six carries in the loss, but knows he won't have to shoulder the load this time.

"Everybody works as a team, nobody depends on one guy," he said. "Everybody knows each team member can get it done. We rely on each other, we trust each other."

Said Matsumoto: "It's good to be able to go to anyone. That's been real nice this year. All the running backs have enough skill where we can count on all of them. They're not the best in the state, but they're good enough for our offensive scheme."

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.