Iolani and Moanalua are one of five Oahu teams that are taking advantage of the new three-tiered state tournament. ScoringLive photo illustration

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The creation of a three-tiered state tournament football is still a hot topic issue.

Questions surrounded it when the Hawaii High School Athletic Association put it in place three weeks into the season. Then when the seedings for each bracket came out, fans wondered why their respective team got place where they did.

Regardless of your thoughts on the format and where every team got placed, there's no denying that more teams are able to have a longer season than they would in the previous format. It's an opportunity that coaches are not taking for granted.

Five teams from Oahu make up the middle-tier, Division I eight-team tournament. We got to catch up with each of them prior to the first round games on Friday.

Perhaps the one team out of the bunch that is relishing another chance is the Iolani Raiders, who won three preseason games before going 0-7 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I. Between the four teams in the league, the Raiders were the only team not to declare for the inaugural Open Division tournament, so they received the ILH's lone berth into the Division I field.

"I think the kids are excited," said Iolani coach Wendell Look, who led the Raiders to 11 straight Division II tournament appearances from 2004 to 2014.

"They've been given this opportunity to participate in the state tournament. We're blessed and they want to make the most out of this opportunity."

Some people would say that Iolani doesn't belong there, but the Raiders are not paying attention to any chatter.

"I think they want to represent our school and themselves the best they can and play quality football," Look said on his team. "We've had a challenging ILH season, but again, they look at it as paying the dues to get to this spot. They just want to play good quality football."

Iolani's opponent on the other side of the field Friday night will be Moanalua, who is led under first-year coach Savaii Eselu.

"It's been an exciting ride," said Eselu, whose team is making its first state tourney appearance since 2009. "It's been about seven months since we arrived, but it's been good fun. The kids bought into it and I think now they're realizing that things are coming true."

Na Menehune, like the Raiders, had questions surrounding their place in the state tournament. Some even questioned if they could even field a team as injuries and illness forced Moanalua to forfeit an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I consolation game against Campbell two weeks ago.

"At the time I was very concerned because we had Influenza-B, it was flying through the whole team and I think the case count went to 13," Eselu said about the decision to forfeit his team's game against the Sabers. "We're still kind of feeling the ripple effect of it, but for the most part, everyone is trying to come back.

"I guess you can look at it as a smart (decision). I don't want to go to a game and underperform. We want to make sure that safety is primary, but yeah, now that we're back in it, it's perfect timing."

Campbell coach Amosa Amosa was ecstatic that his team got to make its first state tourney appearance since 2013.

"Since we're in it, I love it," Amosa said about the new three-tiered format. "It's a chance and opportunity for our kids to play in and strive for the D1 championship. I think looking at our team, how we played this year, it seems like it's a great place for us to be in, in Division I, and hopefully our kids are excited and are ready to get the tournament going."

The Sabers will be hosting Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I runner-up Waiakea on their newly renovated home field.

"I think the community is excited, the kids are excited, our campus is, having the first state playoff game at our field. It's just a tremendous opportunity for our program and Ewa Beach community to have a game here."

The other two OIA teams in the D1 tournament, Mililani and Leilehua, will not have the same luxury that Campbell does. The Trojans will take on Maui Interscholastic League Division I champion Baldwin on the Valley Isle at War Memorial Stadium while the Mules will travel to Hawaii Island to take on BIIF champ Hilo at Keeau High.

Mililani coach Rod York, who led his team to the Division I state title in 2014, said the opportunity to keep on playing was "new life.

"We're honored to be in the Division I, disappointed we're not in the Open (Division, but it is what it is. Looking to go and put our best performance out there."

York added that playing in the tournament is a good building block for a young Mililani team.

"Every chance we get, its more experience for the kids, the coaches and the team," he said. "It's new experiences for us in some ways. Our kids are growing, coaches are growing, our whole team is growing. We're looking forward to the state tournament for sure."

Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda echoed York's sentiments.

"We're probably in that middle tier (right now)," said Tokuda. "I think we're placed where we need to be at this point, in the Division I tourney. The goal is to get into the Open (Division) and compete at the highest level. This is a stepping stone into the right direction."

The Mules won the Division I title in 2007, which started a string of five consecutive appearances in the state tournament. It will be the team's first trip to the state tournament since 2011.

"(We're) feeling blessed," Tokuda said. "It definitely helps to have three tiers. There are obviously some questions that need to be answered regarding it, (but) the benefit is we're able to keep playing on with a 4-7 record."

OIA Division II runner-up Waipahu, who would have been in the state tournament in spite of the new tournament, is eager to redeem itself after a league championship loss to Waialua.

"The kids were a little disappointed after Friday night, but we had practice on Saturday and they were in good spirits, and just looking forward to make the most out of this. Our goal in the beginning of the season was to travel and to get into the states and try to win it. We're where we want to be, so that's good."

The Marauders will be playing against Lahainaluna in the first doubleheader game at War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.

Damien, the ILH Division II champion, will also be playing in the first game of a doubleheader when it takes on Waialua at Campbell in a 4:30 p.m. tilt.

The Monarchs are making their second straight appearance in the state tournament after not having the opportunity to do so between 2004 and 2014. 

Last year they fell to Konawaena on the road in the first round. Damien coach Eddie Klaneski is pleased that his team doesn't have to travel off island this time around.

"We're happy with where we got seeded, could have been better, but we're happy where we are," he said. "We get to stay home and host the first round, so it's going to be a benefit for us in that sense, gives us a little advantage there. We're just excited for the opportunity. Our kids are going to be used to the experience, so that's going to help us at least for the returners that played last year."