Are you ready for some football?

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu's powers better be, as one will play two games within the next six days and possibly three within 11 after defending champion Kamehameha, Punahou and Saint Louis finished the regular season with 5-2 records in Division I over the weekend.

The league will hold a two-tiered playoff beginning Wednesday with Kamehameha playing Saint Louis at 7 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. The winner plays Punahou, 7 p.m. Monday at the stadium for the championship and the league's sole berth for the Division I state tournament, which opens Nov. 18 and 19.

The compact scheduling became necessary when the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association football tournament committee awarded the Maui Interscholastic League and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champions opening-round byes. Last year, the first year of the six-team format, the ILH and OIA champions drew byes. The committee has one voting member from each of the five leagues. The voting went 4-1 to give the MIL the bye with the dissenting vote cast by the ILH, HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said.

Fifth-ranked Baldwin (11-0 overall, 10-0 MIL), the only undefeated team in the state, clinched the MIL title when it beat defending champion Lahainaluna, 21-0, Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium. The MIL plays a two-round format, and Baldwin won both.

"I think it's deserving because it's based on our record," Baldwin's first-year coach Jimmy Morimoto said. "The first thing the committee has to look at is the record."

The MIL champion has won first-round games three times in the six years of the tournament, but never advanced to the title game.

The Bears will go 20 days from their last game and their state semifinal against the winner of the first-round game between the ILH champion and OIA runner-up on Nov. 26.

Meanwhile, one of the ILH teams will be in for a marathon. But they aren't complaining.

"It's better than not playing at all," Kamehameha coach Doss Tannehill said.

"It's better than drawing a card and having your season end that way," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan added.

Administrators of the three ILH schools convened yesterday after the HHSAA committee meeting. A card draw determined which would get the bye. Administrators also determined that both games would be played with eight-minute quarters, instead of the usual 12 minutes. There was no explanation for the shortened time.

"I don't think it would've been taxing," Tannehill said. "But what the ADs might have been concerned about was that this is a lot of football in a short period of time."

Tengan said the reduced time puts an urgency on efficiency.

"You have to make sure you get on the scoreboard early," he said. "You won't have as many plays as you normally have."

According to state football coordinator Don Botelho, who also is on the national federation football rules committee, there is no federation rule regarding days of rest between games.

Meanwhile, in the OIA, Kahuku will play 'Aiea on Friday for the OIA Red title and the Division I berth that comes with a bye. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. Both have qualified for the state tournament.

Radford will meet Moanalua at 4:30 p.m. for the White championship. Both are qualified for the Division II state tournament.

Farrington will play Wai'anae for third and the OIA's final Division I berth on Saturday. A site will be decided today.

On the Big Island, defending champion Kealakehe will host Kea'au for the island's Division I title, 7 p.m. Saturday.

Konawaena will visit Kamehameha-Hawai'i at 7 p.m. Friday for the Division II title.

The winners advance to their respective state tournaments.

Kaua'i won the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation crown Friday with a win against Waimea. Kamehameha-Maui clinched the MIL Division II title several weeks ago. Both are qualified for the Division II state tournament.

STATE DIVISION I SCHEDULE

FIRST ROUND

Nov. 18—OIA 3 at BIIF champion, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 19—ILH champion at OIA 2, site TBA.

Bye—OIA champ, Baldwin.

SEMIFINALS AT ALOHA STADIUM

Nov. 26—OIA champion vs. OIA 3-BIIF winner; Baldwin vs. ILH champ-OIA 2 winner, times TBA.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Dec. 2—Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

STATE DIVISION II SCHEDULE

FIRST ROUND

Nov. 18—BIIF champion at OIA 2 site, 7:30 p.m. and Kamehameha-Maui vs. Kaua'i at Hanapepe Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Nov. 26—Iolani vs. BIIF champ-OIA 2 winner, 7:30 p.m., site TBA; and OIA champion vs. Kaua'i-KS-Maui winner, 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Dec. 2—Semifinal winners, 5 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.