Moanalua SB Rudy Kealohi fights for yardage in Na Menehune's season opener against Iolani. CJ Caraang | SL

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Moanalua SB Rudy Kealohi fights for yardage in Na Menehune's season opener against Iolani. CJ Caraang | SL

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No. 10 Iolani and No. 8 Moanalua have vastly improved since their first meeting over two months ago, but this time, a trip to the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships Division I title game is on the line.

In a game that featured two evenly matched teams in personnel and scheme, it was Moanalua that came away with a one-point win off Griffin Motas' 27-yard game-winning field goal as time expired back on Aug. 10 to open Division I play.

"We are who we are and we're not going to overhaul what we do with the time off. We have to play smart and perfect to compete," Iolani coach Wendell Look said of the playing Na Menehune again.

Since dropping their opening league loss to Na Menehune, Iolani rolled off six-straight wins before falling to Leilehua. The loss to the Mules set up a tie breaker game against Damien and the Raiders pulled through with a 21-14 to make it to the state tournament.

"We're a different team. We understand what our strengths and weaknesses are. And we have a better understanding of who we are since the first game," Look said.

Jonah Chong leads the no-huddle passing attack with 1,558 yards, 21 TDs and six picks on the season.

The Raiders, despite lacking size on the offensive line, have been able to create running lanes for Brock Hedani (630 rush yards, 10 TDs) and Brody Bantolina (514 yards, 10 TDs).

With Carter Kamana missing a chunk of the season due to injury, Wailoa Manuel stepped up to lead the team in receiving with 769 yards, four TDs and Cole Ichikawa and Hedani added six receiving touchdowns each to keep the Iolani offense moving without missing a beat.

"We're healthy as best as we can be," Look said of his team's health heading into Saturday.

Na Menehune had six games decided by seven points or less enroute to an unbeaten OIA season. Moanalua is no stranger to adversity and tight games. Everything seemed to be stacked against Na Menehune in the OIA title game. Moanalua lost their starting and back up quarterbacks to injury and had to rely on their defense to hold off a potent Leilehua offense. But somehow, fortuitously, the ball bounced Moanalua's way to clinch their first Division I league title. 

"That's been their season," Look said of Moanalua pulling out tight wins. "They won on a last second field goal against us and last-second victories against OIA teams. They have shown a lot of resiliency. You have to admire them for not giving up and playing until the last whistle blows."

Moanalua's prolific QB RJ Javar passed for 318 yards and two scores in the first matchup, has 2,891 passing yards, 28 TDs and nine picks to date to lead all passers in Division I.

Jensen York, a transfer that came along with Javar, and Rudy Kealohi have 1,113 and 902 receiving yards respectively and nine TDs each to lead the state in receiving in Division I.

Iolani is seeking their first title game appearance since 2016 where it lost to Mililani, 31-20.

If Moanalua wins, it will be their first-ever state title game appearance in school history.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Na Menehune's field on Saturday, Nov. 23.