Rematches highlight today's O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red tournament football semifinals at Aloha Stadium.

Defending Red champion and No. 1 Kahuku (9-0) takes on No. 8 Castle (6-3) in the 4:30 p.m. opener. The Red Raiders ruined the Knights' homecoming Oct. 10, 30-6.

Division I state runner-up and No. 4 Leilehua (7-2) plays No. 3 Farrington (8-1) at 7:30 p.m. The Governors beat the Mules, 26-24, in last year's semifinals.

Both games will be televised on OC 16.

The winners advance to the Red championship Nov. 6 at Aloha Stadium and secure berths for the Division I state tournament. The losers play for third place on Nov. 7 at a site to be determined with the winner getting the OIA's third and final state tournament berth.

Castle is the only one of the four that didn't reach the semifinals last year. The last time it did was 2004, when it lost to Mililani, 21-9. The Knights last reached the championship in 2002, when it beat Kailua, 25-0.

Kahuku is the only undefeated team left in the state in Division I. The Knights know they face an uphill battle.

"If you look at it on paper, we don't match up that well," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "They've got talent and size at all positions. We have a few good people here and there, but overall, we count on the team play to take us beyond what we can do individually. We're hoping we can, as a team, be disciplined, control the ball and not mistakes and fight, claw, slash — whatever we need to do to get yards and points. And try to slow them down, of course."

In their last meeting, a downpour made for poor playing conditions. Shotgun snaps sailed over quarterbacks. But today's game is on FieldTurf.

"The rain and the mud negated their speed," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "On turf, we know they'll be faster. They'll be a lot better when it's not muddy."

Inclement weather or not, the Knights still have to battle possible attrition, as they have six players going two ways in WR/S Shaydon Kehano, LB/RB Garrett Paredes, CB/SB Hans Reppuhn, SB/CB Lowen Rogers, DB/SB, OL/DL Isaac Makekau and OL/DL Dustin Telefoni. Moreover, injuries and academic casualties reduced the roster from 50 to about 35 players, Maeda said.

The Governors and Mules are another story. They have met in the previous two OIA semifinals , splitting two close games. The Mules won in 2006, 7-3.

Mules coach Nolan Tokuda describes the Governors as "relentless."

"They bring it for every single snap," he said. "It's going to be a war. It's going to be a great test for our kids."

Scoring opportunities could be few for the Mules, as they face the Governors' ironclad defense, which has allowed 14 scores (11 TDs, 3 field goals) in nine games.

"As far as relentless, getting 11 guys to the ball, that's the goal of a defense," Tokuda said. "(The Governors) meet that quota. Every time I watch the film, there's like 10 guys around the ball."

But when the Governors do allow a score, it tends to be through the air. Of their 11 TDs allowed, eight were by passing, the Mules' strength.

"We cannot give up the big plays because that's the kind of offense they have," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said.

Offensively, the Governors are capable of holding the ball for long periods because of a prolific running game that averages 5.2 yards per carry. Running back Harry Tuimaseve leads the state's Division I rushers with 1,027 yards.

With the Mules' JV eliminated from the playoffs last week, Tokuda said he promoted 20 to the varsity, adding that some will see playing time. He was forced to bring up kicker Timothy Momiyama last week to replace the injured Sly Izumigawa (ankle), who replaced Tyler Boone. Boone returned to the Mainland midseason because of a family emergency.

OIA RED SEMIFINALS

Today at Aloha Stadium

KAHUKU VS. CASTLE, 4:30 P.M.

Series: Kahuku leads 51-10-1; Kahuku beat Castle, 30-6, in regular season.

Kahuku (9-0), East first seed

Offense: Averages 297.4 yards per game. The Red Raiders' prolific running game has enviable depth. Viliami Pasi entered last week's game against Mililani as the team's leading rusher, but sat out with an injury. Tyrone Brown picked up the slack with 122 yards and now leads the team in rushing. Still, look for LBs Ben Mamea and Johnny Tupuola to get some rushes, as they did last week.

Defense: Allows 173.1 yards per game. Mililani amassed 431 yards of offense last week. Despite muddy conditions, Castle racked up 235 yards in their last meeting with Kahuku, which was the most allowed at the time. Kahuku's defense has scored five TDs, two by interceptions, three by fumble returns.

Castle (6-3), East third seed

Offense: Averages 277.3 yards per game. The Knights take what the defense gives. While Wai'anae looked for the deep threat, Castle went with the run and underneath pass routes. QB Jaymason Lee, who had thrown three interceptions entering the Wai'anae game, was picked off three times by the Seariders last week. WR Shaydon Kehano is the "go-to" guy, as he leads Division I in receiving yards with 879.

Defense: Allows 250.4 yards per game. The Knights have six players going two ways, which could take a toll because the Red Raiders are deep in running backs, pretty much assuring fresh legs on the attack.

LEILEHUA VS. FARRINGTON, 7:30 P.M.

Series: Tied at 10-10-1; teams played in last two OIA semifinals, splitting the games.

Leilehua (7-2), West first seed

Offense: Averages 368.2 yards per game. QB Andrew Manley looks to be in postseason form, although he was intercepted twice last week. WR Kamana Akagi leads the team with eight TDs, all via receiving.

Defense: Allows 245. 6 yards per game. It will have to contend with Farrington RB Harry Tuimaseve (1,027 yards, 9 TDs), who will get the bulk of the touches.

FARRINGTON (8-1), EAST SECOND SEED

Offense: 253.7 yards per game, 183.4 on the ground. Tuimaseve accounts for 63 percent of his team's rushing yardage.

Defense: Allows 130.2 yards per game. Incredibly tough to score on. The Governors have not allowed more than two TDs in a game. The defense has contributed four TDs.

ILH

Eliminated from contention, No. 5 Saint Louis will play No. 2 Kamehameha, 7:45 p.m. tomorrow in the nightcap of an Interscholastic League of Honolulu doubleheader at Aloha Stadium.

All the Crusaders (7-3 overall, 4-3 ILH) can do with a win is force the Warriors (8-1, 5-1) to play a winner-take-all game next week for the league's Division I title in the regular season finale against No. 6 Punahou (5-4, 5-2), which has a bye this week.

If the Warriors win, the Buffanblu must win next week to pull into a tie and force a playoff for the DI title.

In tomorrow's doubleheader opener, Pac-Five plays Damien at 5 p.m.

No. 7 'Iolani hosts Word of Life at 3:15 p.m. today.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

In the Maui Interscholastic League, Baldwin (5-1) can clinch the league's DI title with a win against Kamehameha-Maui (1-5) tonight.

On the Big Island, Honoka'a (3-0) plays at Kealakehe (2-0) tomorrow for the Division I second-round title. If the Dragons, champions of the first round, win, they clinch the overall title. If not, there will be a playoff Nov. 13 or 14.

Also, Division II first-round champion Hawai'i Prep (2-0) hosts Konawaena (2-0) tomorrow. If HPA wins, it clinches the second round and the overall crown.

Five of six Division II state tournament berths have been claimed: 'Iolani (ILH), Kaua'i (KIF), Lahainaluna (MIL), Moanalua (OIA) and 'Aiea (OIA).