The Trojans will be on the field for the first time of the season as they host the Mules Friday night. Steve Erler | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

If last season's three meetings between Leilehua and Mililani is any indication, one can expect a whole lot of points on the scoreboard when the rivals square off this weekend.

The fifth-ranked Trojans (1-0) will host the eighth-ranked Mules (1-1 overall, 0-1 league) in a key Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Red Conference game at John Kauinana Stadium Friday night.

Mililani has yet to suit up for a game this season. It visited top-ranked Kahuku for a scrimmage on Aug. 4 and then saw its scheduled opener (against Kaiser last Friday) go down as a forfeit.

Meanwhile, Leilehua has split its two games so far, hanging on for a 13-9 non-league win over Saint Francis before falling to Kahuku, 24-0, in a road game last Friday.

The Trojans swept all three games against the Mules en route to the Division I state crown last season. The teams combined for an average of more than 92 points and 871 yards in each of those games.

We caught up with Leilehua coach Mark Kurisu and his counterpart, Mililani's Rod York, a few days before their teams do battle Friday night.

ScoringLive: What have you learned about your team so far?

Mark Kurisu, Leilehua coach: "We've got great character. We may not be doing as much (on the field) as we know that we could be doing, but these kids have learned to trust in each other and play hard for each other and it shows in the type of games that we've been in and against teams that I think everybody thinks should be blowing us out. I love how they block out the negativity and I love how they take care of what they need to take care of. Even when there's tough spots in games, they try. They're humans and they're not always going to be able to do it, but they try and they have character. Everybody plays with that desire and I hope everybody sees that when we play."

Rod York, Mililani coach: "I learned that when we play together we can be a top-three team. We can play a top-three team, we can be that team, but at times we look like we just learned football yesterday, so we have potential but we also show glimpses of being horrible, but we'll find out Friday night."

ScoringLive: What, or who, do you consider to be the heart of your team?

Kurisu: "I know some people like to call certain people the heart of the team, but right now I think our defensive unit is carrying our load for now until we can start rolling on offense. We have a bunch of returnees coming back so we have some leadership, but the hard part is you can't lose a four-year player like a DeShayne Stephens and not lose something. But, we also have guys like Marcus Spencer and Donavon Ugalino coming back and he's had a real good couple of games. Ugalino was a first-team (All-OIA Red) all-star for us and he's willing to step outside the box and play another position for us, we have a young guy like Richard Shimasaki stepping in and Sunny Kanamu playing roles and just doing their jobs and I think they've been able to lead by example. They come to practice, punch in, bring high intensity, high energy, but at the same time they give high praise and encouragement for their teammates and a lot of their teammates are picking up on that. I still feel the offense is right around the corner from doing what we need to do. We've got to be a family and we've got to carry each other like a husband and wife do when things are rough and pick each other up."

York: "It would have to be the o-line, hopefully, with all five guys returning. We're coming in with experience, we're pretty stout, we're smart, but like anything else it's the same with the o-line; when we're on it as far as focus, we play well, but when one or two guys are lazy then we look like we haven't practiced at all."

ScoringLive: Where has your team made the most gains since the end of last season?

Kurisu: "I think the biggest gains would be in expectations. Knowing the expectations and what it takes to be successful. I always harp about 3.0 (grade point average), but I think the (OIA minimum required) 2.0 rule sets a real bad taste in my mouth because it's telling kids that it's okay to have Cs, which is like saying it's just okay to have an average life and it's just okay to skim by. We're trying to teach them to be above a 3.0 so that they have can have an above-average life, which they have to work for to get it. You cannot just hope to be entitled because of who you know, you want them to think that they have to earn it and they will appreciate it once they achieve rewards or awards, but this they'll know that ‘this only happened because I put my heart and soul in it.' This generation is about entitlement; our goal is to help them realize it ain't like that in the real world and they have to work for it."

York: "Just the cohesiveness. This team is a lot tighter than a lot of the past teams. They'll hang out together, we did some things in camp, team bonding activities that without giving away too much, was real good. Things that we haven't done in the past that has made a big difference and we'll see if that equals out to wins."

ScoringLive: Last season your team faced this week's opponent three times. Did that prove to be beneficial or detrimental, and in what ways?

Kurisu: "In order for you to be the best, you've got to beat the best and Mililani proved to be the best in D1. That's one hurdle that we couldn't get over. That's the standard. Everybody wants to beat Mililani — not because they're right down the road from us — but because they're the best. Coach Rod has built that program into a perennial state contender and when we play them, we know that if you want something, you have to go through them. Just like in school, you have to go through academics and get your test scores, then get yourself off into college, then find a way to pay for college, then get your degree, then figure out where to life, so those are just examples of going through things to get what you need and Mililani was our hurdle that we couldn't get through last year, so we're hoping we get to do enough to get to where we need to be, but the good thing is it's a young season and we're just going to go out guns blazing and enjoy the moment."

York: "Honestly, I don't think it matters, because it's a new team, new year. They have a new coach, they have a new coaching staff and I know they have new energy, so for us, even if we lost three games in a row (to Leilehua), I would be telling you the same thing. We just have to come out and execute and that's why we play the game. Whoever plays the best on Friday and executes together will come away happy."

ScoringLive: What are your thoughts on your opponent this week?

Kurisu: "They have a lot of skilled guys coming back. I think everybody only looks at their skills, but coach Rod and their staff spend a lot of time on their o-line and also their d-line and that makes them so successful. They can protect with five and get a rush with just four, and when you can do that, you will be very successful. With all of that going on, they have skill at receiver, they have a talented quarterback who already has a UH offer and that just adds to their potential to be successful, but again what it does for us is it tells us that's the standard and we've got to raise our standard while Mililani does and once we're out there, we've got to compete. The kids are learning to compete at a high level and this is just another opportunity to go against a great team and great coaching staff and show our ability to compete with them — both players and coaches. It's a great chance to play a football game with so much going on in the world, in the nation and in the kids' lives. It's not just about football, it's about these kids and what they're going through and having them overcome, so it's not just about winning, but also the kids' sacrifice and just the opportunity to play this game."

York: "I think Leilehua is dangerous. Their offense hasn't been clicking, which means they're about to click soon and they're about to explode — and they have fire power. Their defense has been playing well-disciplined on their angles to the ball, reading their keys and you can tell they're coached very well on rallying to the ball. It doesn't matter if a guy is 5-(foot)-1 or 6-1, they play like they're 6-3, 250 (pounds)."

ScoringLive: What are your expectations of the OIA D1 Red this year?

Kurisu: "Right now it seems like there's a lot of young teams. Even among the upper echelon teams, there's a lot of young teams, but a lot can happen if you can get your kids to play together and as a unit and at a high level. We know we give up some size to some people so we've been doing our part to prepare. I think both conferences are solid, I just know there's some teams struggling when it comes to personnel and some of our opponents are losing out on games so it's sad to hear about those things and we have compassion for those schools. Everybody knows they're trying to do what's best and we're here to support them and let them know that."

York: "Honestly, we're not worried about anything else than ourselves. We preach, one, attitude, two, execution, and three, ‘do your job.' We're more worried about that: our attitudes toward blocking, catching the ball, making corrections, throwing to the right reads, and then hopefully we can be up there at the end of the year. We understand that it's a long season — a long, short season — so we just want to improve on every game and we don't really talk about championships, we just talk about the few things I mentioned. If we just execute and focus on those things, then hopefully we can be there in the end — and we hope to be there."

Kickoff between the Mules and Trojans is slated for approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday.