Does Leilehua repeat as state football champion or does Punahou continue its roll?

The Mules might be defending champions of the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Division I tournament, but the Buffanblu have made more headlines the past year. It's just that not all of it dealt with football.

During the spring, Punahou's athletic program was named the best in the country by Sports Illustrated. During the summer, Manti Te'o was on just about everybody's preseason All-America team. Of course last month, an alumnus became President elect.

Could the school's first state football title be next?

Find out tonight. Kickoff is 7:30 at Aloha Stadium.

HISTORY

Both teams are originals of their respective leagues. They last played in nonleague last season with Punahou prevailing, 28-19, in a game that RB Dalton Hilliard and LB Te'o did not participate because of injuries.

Otherwise, these teams go back generations. Before the formation of what is the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, Leilehua participated in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu from 1936 to 1938. In their three meetings, the schools were dead even at 1-1-1.

This is Punahou's second state appearance in the final. The Buffanblu lost to Kahuku, 28-21, in 2005.

Leilehua is making its third appearance in the title game. It lost to Kamehameha, 28-7, in 2004 and beat Saint Louis, 20-16, last year.

OVERVIEW

Leilehua is the OIA's third state berth, but it matches up well with ILH champion Punahou, making for a competitive game.

The top-ranked Buffanblu (11-1) and No. 2 Mules (11-2) practically split the first-place votes (6-4 in favor of Punahou).

"I think it's going to be a hell of a matchup," said AM 1500 The Team radio analyst Delbert Tengan, the former Saint Louis coach who faced both teams just last year.

"If anything, the pressure's on Punahou. They're expected to win it. Leilehua has that chip on their shoulder. They're the defending state champions, yet nobody outside of Wahiawa gives them a shot at winning this thing. They want to prove last year wasn't a fluke."

The Mules have familiarity.

"They've been on this stage before," Tengan said.

"Any time you're tested like that, it helps," Punahou coach Kale Ane said.

Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said the experience might help in a close game.

"We had a lot of close games we won and lost," Tokuda said. "I think that plays a factor because our kids have been there and done that."

PUNAHOU'S BALL

There's no secret who's getting the touches. Buffanblu QB Cayman Shutter will pass or hand off early and often to WRs Robert Toma and Kimo Makaula, and RB/WRs Dalton Hilliard and Manti Te'o. The four have accounted for 43 of the offense's 53 TDs. (They also account for four of 11 miscellaneous TDs.)

Hilliard (6-0, 190) said he worked on his strength during the offseason to better utilize his size. While he doesn't break long runs from scrimmage, he gets the tough inside yards, resulting in first downs in short-yardage situations or goal-line area TDs.

"Punahou's very unique and similar to us," Tokuda said. "Dr. (Darryl) Kan (Punahou's offensive coordinator) does an excellent job in preparing his offense, mixing the run-and-shoot with the West Coast concept."

The Mules' base defense is 4-3. The front four is anchored by veteran Brad Iaualualo. Although all-state LBs Robert Siavi'i and Art Laurel graduated, Kalua Ellis, Alii Tuitoelau and Nate Hall have picked up nicely.

"Leilehua has to rally to the ball (to contain the open-field speed of Punahou)," Tengan said.

The 6-foot-3 Makaula can create mismatches against the Mules.

LEILEHUA'S BALL

Tokuda said the Mules need to control the ball "to keep the five scholarships on the sidelines," referring to Punahou's aforementioned skill-position players, who also have Division I offers.

It doesn't necessarily mean they have to frequently run RB Rico Newman. The Mules can still keep control by passing.

"Any time you can run the ball it's a big advantage," Ane said. "Their bread and butter is passing; they'll get back to that at some point. They may throw short, try to move the chains that way, but I think what brought them to the dance is what they're going to do."

The run also is a ploy to force the Buffanblu to loosen their eight-man secondary. Punahou had to bring players closer to the box to contain Farrington RB Apelu So'oalo, opening up the deep pass to the wideouts.

Punahou has been rushing three linemen because its secondary is capable of playing a very tight zone coverage. Mules QB Andrew Manley has the arm strength to thread passes into tight spots.

"Kale has to see if Manley comes out hot against the zone," Tengan said. "If he does, they have to put pressure on him some way."

Punahou also uses Hiiliard and Toma as DBs, improving an already strong secondary. But how often they are used on defense could affect their stamina when they return to offense.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The coaches of both teams had nearly identical messages for their players on the eve of the big game.

"It's just seizing the moment," Tokuda said. "One last practice, this is our last time wearing our game uniforms at school. We'll have our last pregame meal together. We're just going to capture the moment."

Said Ane: "We'll tell them to relax, play their game, enjoy the moment. It doesn't happen that often. We're excited and just want to enjoy it."