While some O'ahu teams begin league play tonight and others square off in big nonleague games, one of the weekend's most intriguing matchups will take place a few hundred miles away on the Big Island's Kona Coast.

That's where Kealakehe will host California powerhouse Santa Margarita tonight at 7. Santa Margarita's all-time winning percentage of .709 ranks third among Orange County's 75 high schools, and the Eagles are ranked No. 14 in the West Region by Students Sports, a national magazine and Web site.

Santa Margarita, located in the town of Rancho Santa Margarita, features an 8,500 square-foot campus football complex that includes state-of-the-art video equipment, two film libraries, weight rooms, coaches offices, conference rooms, a team room and memorabilia displays.

The program is perhaps best known for producing 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer and Florida State quarterback Chris Rix. This year's quarterback, Jon Daniels, completed 144 of 250 passes for 1,763 yards last season, with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

He was named a first-team all-star in the Serra League, which includes California powers Mater Dei and Los Alamitos.

"It'll be a big test for us," Kealakehe coach Sam Papali'i said. "But we want to represent Hawai'i well and we're very excited about this game."

Kealakehe, in just its seventh varsity season, has been one of Hawai'i's fastest-growing programs. The Waveriders qualified for their first state tournament last year, losing to Leilehua in the Division I quarterfinals.

This year's team features quarterback/safety Tai Papali'i, running back Shaun Santiago and wide receiver Matt Orvis.

Here is a closer look at two other key games this weekend:

CAMPBELL VS. MOANALUA

When: Tonight, 7

Where: Mililani Stadium

TV: Live on OC-16

Records: Campbell 1-0, Moanalua 1-0

Last week: Campbell defeated Castle, 49-30; Moanalua defeated Pearl City, 32-13

Notable: Campbell is the defending Division II state champion. The Sabers feature a power running game out of the unique "Delaware Winged-T" formation, which is difficult to simulate in practice. Running backs Quinton Richards, Isiah Smith and Jesse Lee return from last year, but they will be working behind a new quarterback in sophomore Obadiah Mataio. ... Moanalua has two standout returnees in running back/linebacker Quinton Tang and quarterback/safety Stanford Leti. Tang was the 2004 White Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and Leti rushed for 553 yards and seven touchdowns.

KAMEHAMEHA VS. MILILANI

When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.

Where: Aloha Stadium

Records: Kamehameha 0-1, Mililani 1-0

Last week: Kamehameha lost to Kahuku, 16-0; Mililani defeated King Kekaulike, 27-0

Notable: This is the teams' first meeting since 1983, when Kamehameha won, 35-0. ... Kamehameha was held to 18 yards of total offense vs. Kahuku, but also allowed only one offensive touchdown. The other points came on a safety and fumble return. ... Mililani quarterback John Abreu was 7 of 8 for 122 yards and one touchdown last week, without an interception. Receiver David Rivers, a transfer from Roosevelt, caught four passes for 65 yards and one TD.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.