Keanu Kekawa and Moanalua Na Menehune can clinch the OIA Division I No. 1 seed with a win over Jovan Gooman and the Waipahu Marauders on Friday. ScoringLive photo illustration

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The Moanalua football team has been the surprise story of the 2018 season.

Very few people would have predicted that Na Menehune would go undefeated through the first two months of the school year.

Not even Moanalua coach Savaii Eselu.

With a 6-0 overall record and a 5-0 record in league play, Na Menehune is the only Division I team left in the state without a loss in the new three-tier format. They will have a chance to lock up the top seed in the OIA D1 four-team playoffs with a win over Waipahu Friday night at Aloha Stadium.

Eselu opened up about his team's hot start when asked what he would say if someone told him during the summer that they would go unbeaten through August and September.

"I wouldn't believe them, considering the competition we have, but I think it would be close to being undefeated. Speaking in that manner, I think we made history. It's amazing to be a part of and see it unfold. It's good fun to see how the boys handle it. It definitely keeps me on my toes."

Regardless, Eselu understands that the season is not over and that no hardware has been handed out yet. A slip up this weekend against the Marauders will drastically impact their postseason footing as that would lead to a three-way tie for the divisional lead between Moanalua, Waipahu and Leilehua with one game left in the regular season.

"We are fully aware of that. (We don't want) the big rise, big rise and then boom, flat on the face kind of thing," said Eselu.

Meanwhile the Marauders (5-3 overall, 4-1 league) are looking to bounce back after getting blown out by the Mules in their homecoming game last weekend. Waipahu led 13-12 at the half, but gave up 38 straight points after the break to fall 50-20.

Mistakes and poor execution ultimately led to their downfall. The Marauders committed 23 penalties for 201 yards and turned the ball over four times in the fourth quarter, with Leilehua scoring on two defensive returns.

Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho said his team needs to be more engaged moving forward.

"(We're working on) getting the kids to focus. Last week's message was focus as well, and it was evident to see how that game plan went for us. Really just been cracking down on the guys this week. This group has a lot of potential. Just need all of them to buy-in. I don't think we played to our fullest potential yet. We need to have our best game of the season to be successful on Friday night."

In order for the Marauders to win, they'll have to find a way to crack a Moanalua defense that has recorded 11 interceptions in its past two games. Keanu Kekawa led the secondary in that span with three picks, two of which were taken back for six points.

Carvalho didn't want to say anything that might give away the game plan, but did mention that moving the ball against Moanalua starts in the battle in the trenches.

"Moanalua does a great job up front," he said. "Their front four on defense are probably one of the best in the state. They definitely have our attention and we need to make sure our offensive line is on our 'A' game to be successful."

To make that task even more daunting, the Marauders could be without star running back Alfred Failauga on Friday. Failauga ran for 144 yards and a score against Leilehua in his first game back from a hand injury, but Carvalho said he is questionable for their upcoming matchup.

Still, Eselu expects Waipahu to bring it this weekend. Eselu, a 2007 graduate of Moanalua, noted that he was from Waipahu and would have been a Marauder if he didn't attend Moanalua.

"I definitely can understand the whole 'black flag' mentality and the Marauder pride," he said. "For the most part, they are Waipahu kids. They're built strong in that neck of the woods with their never give up mentality. That's something we have to match and something we have to maintain if we want to survive."

Kickoff is slated for approximately 7:30 p.m.