Three of the perennial contenders in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Red Conference Eastern Division —Kahuku, Castle and Kailua — are a combined 0-3 after last weekend's nonleague openers.

The division's two newest teams — Kalaheo and Moanalua — each won their season debuts after being promoted from the White (Division II) Conference.

So what to make of the 2006 East title chase?

Everyone will get a clearer picture this weekend, when regular season play begins and the games start to count in the league standings.

In a huge East opener on Friday, Kailua travels to Kahuku at 6:30 p.m. for a game that will be televised live statewide on OC-16, the first-ever TV game from the North Shore. On Saturday, Kalaheo pays Windward rival Castle a visit and Moanalua takes on Farrington at Roosevelt.

Kalaheo, for its part, is not shying away from the challenge.

"We would have it no other way," said Chris Mellor, the Mustangs' first-year coach. "We're going into this fresh and energetic, and we expect to compete."

Kalaheo defeated Kalani, 74-6, on Saturday after leading 61-0 at halftime. Moanalua opened with a 41-0 victory over former Red East member Roosevelt.

Defending champ Kahuku, which has won four of the past six state titles, has a new coach in Reggie Torres and lost its opener to Punahou, 20-18. But the Red Raiders played many reserves in that game, and Castle coach Nelson Maeda doesn't expect Kahuku's program to slip.

"The road to the East title always goes through Kahuku," Maeda said. "Every North Shore boy wants to be a Red Raider, so that's not going to change."

One team looking to challenge Kahuku's supremacy is Farrington. The Governors, led by returning starting quarterback Elijah Filifili's four touchdown passes, raced past Wai'anae, 37-0, in its opener on Friday.

Farrington returns seven other starters on offense and six on defense.

"This group worked hard in the offseason, even on their own," Govs coach Randall Okimoto said.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.