Without top-ranked Kahuku in the First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Tournament, there will always be the 'What if?' question attached to it in years to come.

The Division I tournament opens Friday with Leilehua taking on Baldwin 6 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku and the Big Island's Kealakehe visiting Wai'anae 7 p.m. at Raymond Torii Field.

The Mules-Bears game will be televised on OC16, while the Waveriders-Seariders game will be broadcast on ESPN1500 AM.

Top-seeded Mililani and second-seeded Saint Louis have first-round byes.

"No doubt about it," Baldwin coach A.J. Roloos said. "You want to beat the best team to win the whole thing. It's sad for the school, the players, the coaches. It does take a toll on the state tournament."

The Red Raiders� were 10-0, dominated their opponents and ranked first in the ScoringLive-OC 16 Power Rankings before the O'ahu Interscholastic Association ruled they had used an ineligible player and had to forfeit a still to be disclosed number of wins. The ruling became official about seven hours before the Nov. 5 title game.

Kahuku has been in nine of the previous 11 tournaments.

Still, without Kahuku, coaches feel this year's champion should not be any less deserving.

"As a competitor, it doesn't matter who you play," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "You just want to go in there and do your best. With Kahuku not being there for whatever reason - no matter who is not in there - you just want to lineup against the other person and do your best and things will be settled on the field."

Mililani was a beneficiary of its first OIA football title because of the forfeit, but "we would have liked to have played on the field, earn it on the field." Trojans coach Rod York said.

But the six teams in the tournament shouldn't have to apologize for any forthcoming success.

"There's always going to be that question mark, but I don't think it lessens (the title)" York said. "The thing is there are other teams here who are deserving and it's going to be a great tournament."

Added Roloos: "You still have to go through everybody. I don't think it lessens it (without Kahuku), but a lot of people are going to talk about it."

All three coaches said they sympathize with Kahuku. Tokuda said he made a $100 donation for the team to use for its post-season party.

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