Waianae RB Rico Rosario runs the ball against Mililani in a 2016 OIA Division I quarterfinal game. Crizalmer Caraang Jr. | SL

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For the second consecutive year, Waianae and Mililani will meet in a postseason football game.

One season after the Seariders relegated the Trojans to the consolation semifinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I tournament, the teams will square off once again when they cross paths in Friday's league championship semifinals.

Last year, Waianae built a 29-6 lead by halftime and survived 27 second-half points by Mililani to escape with a 36-33 win. Consequently, the victors qualified for the inaugural Open Division state tournament, while the Trojans ended up running the table the rest of the way en route to the D1 state crown.

This time, with no berths in the D1 tournament at stake for the OIA, both teams are hoping to lock up one of three league berths for the four-team D1-Open field. A win Friday assures that, while the loser will have to win the third-place game to extend its season.

Mililani coach Rod York said the loss to Waianae last year is a thing of the past, but did admit that it still gets to him here and there.

"We turned the page on that a long time ago, but that game did help set our attitudes in the offseason toward this season," York said. "In that game we had how many personal fouls and that part of it still haunts me personally. We had them third-and-forever and they throw an incomplete pass, but our linebacker went helmet to helmet, just not understanding the situation, and that gave them new life and they made us pay. But Waianae earned it and definitely that loss and the way we lost has changed our attitudes."

The Trojans (9-0), ranked third in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, are one of just two D1 teams statewide that are undefeated (No. 1 Saint Louis being the other). Their offense — which averages nearly 42 points and 461 yards per game — has been prolific, to say the least.

Junior quarterback Dillon Gabriel leads all of D1 with 2,104 passing yards. He has completed 65 percent of his passes and thrown for 22 touchdowns against five interceptions and has also run in five scores.

"They're real good. Their quarterback is good, their receivers are good, their o-line protects him real good," Waianae coach Walter Young said.

"How do you slow them down? You go out there and you try to prepare for them throwing the ball around, and on defense you gotta be aggressive, you gotta be fast, you gotta create opportunities and you gotta capitalize on some of those mistakes that they present — if they do — but they're big, they've got speed and we gotta match their intensity and play the game."

Defensively, Mililani has posted three shutouts on the year and is allowing fewer than 12 points and 158 yards per game — including a minuscule 32.1 rushing yards.

The sixth-ranked Seariders (6-3) are coming off a 27-21 quarterfinal win over Farrington that saw them run for 286 of their 367 yards of total offense. Senior running back Rico Rosario posted 171 yards and two TDs on 29 carries in the victory.

"They run the ball well, so that will be tough, and then on the play-action, we've got to make sure we're not caught sleeping," York said. "We've been getting used to the wing-T, but trying to simulate that in practice is pretty difficult."

York said the key will be controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

"Up front, both our offensive and defensive lines, we need to make sure we keep coming and win it up front. That's no secret for us that when we win up front, we have a much better chance of winning, and then definitely taking care of turnovers," York said.

Leading the Waianae defense will be senior linebacker and USC-commit Kanai Mauga, who has five takeaways (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries) and three defensive TDs on the year.

"It's going to be a tough matchup. They've got athletic ‘backers, their defensive line is solid and they've got good (defensive backs)," York said.

Since dropping their first three games of the season, the Seariders have reeled off six consecutive wins.

"Our kids know the task at hand. They understand that this is a good team, but they believe that we are a good team, too," Young said. "Mililani is good all-around, so every matchup will be a great one, we've just got to bring our A-game and hopefully our A-game is enough. The team that makes fewer mistakes and executes the most usually comes out on top, so we look forward to a great game on Friday."

Kickoff is slated for approximately 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium and will follow the early semifinal between No. 7 Campbell (7-3) and No. 2 Kahuku (8-1) at 5 p.m.