Its conference coaches are calling the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West the most competitive in the state.

"Top to bottom, it's the toughest in Hawai'i," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said.

For starters, the conference has Leilehua, which won the Division I state title in '07 and was runner-up last season.

Also, Wai'anae, Kapolei and Mililani all have made the postseason the past three seasons. Waipahu made the postseason last year after its promotion from the White. Campbell was Division II state runner-up last year and had its request granted for promotion to the Red before the two-year evaluation period.

"It's a little different in the White," Amosa said. "You may not play your best and still win. In the Red, you have to show up."

Every game is crucial. Every loss has to be made up.

"It's going to be a very close race," Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "Every week coaches are going to be talking about this is a championship football game. If you take someone lightly, you'll be shocked and put yourself in a hole."

Even though Nanakuli is struggling with depth, it believes the postseason is within grasp.

"All you need is two wins," Golden Hawks coach John Lopes said.

CAMPBELL SABERS

HOME: School stadium. Parking $5

2008: 11-2, OIA White champions, state Division II runner-up.

COACH/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Amosa Amosa (Campbell '84), second season (11-3)

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Viavia Manuma

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB/SB Samson Anguay (5-8, 158, Sr.), T Mason Mau (5-8, 180, Sr.), DL Odaunus Mataio (6-2, 220, Sr.), OLB Sau Momoe (5-10, 210, Jr.), SB Christian Carlos (5-11, 185, Sr.), SB Jordan Szadkowski (5-10, 155, Sr.), S Cypress Avilla (6-0, 170, Sr.), CB Michael Sellers (5-11, 165, Sr.), QB Maika Ulufale (6-2, 195, Jr.), S Viavia Manuma (5-9, 160, Sr.), CB Jonah Hamada (5-9, 180, Sr.), ILB Togi Tupuola (5-10, 215, Jr.), ILB Tyson Tynanes (5-11, 200, Sr.), OLB Giovanni Stevenson (5-10, 195, So.), T Nofoa Laolagi (6-2, 265, Sr.), G Cory Pa (6-2, 265, Sr.), G Edward Tuvale (6-1, 320, Sr.), WR John Aiwohi (6-2, 168, Sr.), WR Tim Friend (5-9, 170, Sr.), DL Kelaiah Fonoti (6-0, 200, Sr.).

NOTES: Lost to Red East contender Farrington, 20-14, last weekend. ... The Sabers moved into the Red in the offseason before the two-year evaluation period. The move is only made possible if a team, Pearl City in this case, is willing to move to the White. "We have the numbers and the talent to be competitive," Amosa said. ... With the graduation of D II all-state QB Lalo Respicio, the Sabers are breaking in junior Ulufale, the JV starter last season, to run their four-receiver spread offense. He has a supporting cast in D II all-state picks RB/SB Anguay, who is Hawai'i bound, and Mau, who moves from center to tackle. "The offense is slowly coming together, so we'll have to rely on our defense (early in the season)," Amosa said. "When we get to be efficient (on offense), we'll be capable of striking any time." ... The 4-2 defense returns DL Mataio and is bolstered with ILB Tynanes, a transfer from Kailua.

KAPOLEI HURRICANES

HOME: School stadium. Parking free. Stadium's availability for regular season pending completion of renovations.

2008: 5-4

COACH: Darren Hernandez (Campbell '83), seventh season at Kapolei (40-28); 13th overall (72-55-3)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jon Yamada

DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS: Sam Downey and Lono Manners

PLAYERS TO WATCH: AP Shaydon Akuna (6-3, 215, Sr.), QB Noah Pascua (5-10, 190, Sr.), R/DB Kainoa Pakele (5-10, 180, Sr.), LB Ace Morgan (6-0, 215, Sr.), RB/LB Keaka Fernandez (5-11, 195, Jr.), LB/RB Dustin Elisara (6-2, 230, Sr.), DB/R Donnie King (5-7, 160, Sr.), RB/LB Onosai Faumuina (6-0, 240, Sr.), LB Tuu Lolohea (6-2, 225, Sr.), RB/LB Pouesi Togiailua (6-1, 240, Sr.), C Paul Belford (6-2, 310, Sr.), OL/DL Foi Foi (6-3, 280, Sr.), OL/DL Niko Uti (6-3, 230, Sr.), OL/DL Alex Paiva (6-2, 310, Sr.), OL/DL Nick Ulu (6-2, 305, Sr.).

NOTES: Beat Kamehameha-Hawai'i, 47-0, last week. ... The Hurricanes boast four of the state's top 20 prospects by rivals.com. Two of them are returning are all-purpose player Akuna, the state's top recruit, who plays safety, linebacker and receiver, as well as RB/LB Elisara. The other two are transfers in LB Lolohea (Radford) and LB Morgan (Damien). If fact, Kapolei has more transfers than TheBus and not just from here. Also joining the team are R/DB Pakele (Hilo), RB Brandon Vaitautolu (California) and 6-foot-7, 330-pound OL John Stark (Virginia). Vaitautolu opened eyes against KS-Hawai'i, touching the ball twice, scoring on runs of 80 and 55 yards. "He said he was going to show me something and he showed me something," Hernandez said. "He's still young (junior) and doesn't know all the plays, yet."

LEILEHUA MULES

2008: 11-3, Red West champion; Division I state runner-up.

HOME: Hugh Yoshida Stadium. Parking free.

COACH/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Nolan Tokuda ('Aiea '90), sixth season (45-19).

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: MARK KURISU

PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Fred Padrones (5-7, 160, Jr.), DB Sly Izumigawa (5-9, 170, Sr.), SB Kasey Dukes (5-9, 160, Sr.), QB Andrew Manley (6-3, 220, Sr.), RB Austin Schmidt (5-11, 200, Jr.), LB Darric Matsumiya (5-10, 180, Jr.), LB Kalua Ellis (5-11, 230, Sr.), DL/OL Nate Schuster (6-0, 240, Sr.), OL Kalawaia Jenkins (6-0, 210, Jr.), C Bronson Smithe (6-0, 240, Sr.), OL Jiniki Timoteo (6-3, 300, Sr.), DL/TE Zach Ausega Coffin (6-0, 220, Sr.), DL Chevez Ma'afala (6-2, 210, Sr.), Frazer Taua (6-2, 250, Sr.), DL/TE Charlie Tuaau (6-4, 290, Sr.).

NOTES: Beat Radford, 23-20, last weekend. ... The Mules have been to the Division I state title game the last two seasons, winning in '07 and losing in '08. They they lost two key offensive players in RB/R Rico Newman and WR Edieson Dumlao, both all-state selections, to graduation, but return reigning Offensive Co-Player of the Year Manley, who will be calling plays. Though his completion percentage didn't look great (18 of 28, two interceptions), Tokuda said he counted seven dropped passes. ... "We have this "exit drill," Tokuda said. "Before (receivers) leave the field everyday, they have to catch 20 straight passes. If they drop one, they go back to 1. That's the mental side of it. They have to focus in. Before, if the ball was thrown by their knee, they'll stick their hands out, it hits their hands and goes off the hands, right? But now, you see them diving for the football. That will make a world of difference because what you do at practice is going to translate into the game." ... Otherwise, Tokuda was pleased with Manley's first game calling plays. ... "He was able to see what happened," Tokuda said. "Part of it was him trusting his players more than his reads. If his player told him he's going to be open on this play, instead of going through his progression, he'd put a lock on it and go to that player. Later on, he realized that, 'If I just stuck to my reads, I would've been OK.' So it's a great learning experience for a kid like Andrew."

MILILANI TROJANS

2008: 5-5

HOME: John Kauinana Stadium. Parking free.

COACH/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Darnell Arceneaux (Saint Louis '96), third season (13-7)

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rod York

PLAYERS TO WATCH: S/WR/RB Taz Stevenson (6-2, 190, Sr.), MLB Zach Quines (6-4, 205, Sr.), OT Chad Bolibol (6-3, 205, Sr.), WR Hassan Richardson (6-5, 200, Jr.), WR Kama Paulo (6-3, 185, Sr.), LB Jarren Pestana (5-9, 185, Sr.), QB Trent McKinney (6-1, 185, Jr.), QB Nainoa Pihana (5-10, 175, Jr.), T Sonny Westbrook (6-3, 250, Sr.).

NOTES: Beat Moanalua, 16-3, last week. ... The Trojans have a pair of junior QBs with different skills in McKinney, a transfer from Kapolei, and Pihana. "We have different packages for both," Arceneaux said. "Both will see action and both are great athletes. I've had to design plays for them to run. Each has the mentality that team comes first. It's a great problem to have, both quarterbacks pushing each other." They each have a tall corps of receivers to pass to in Stevenson (6-2), Paulo (6-3) and Richardson (6-5). Stevenson, one of the state's top recruits by rivals.com, also lines up at RB and plays safety on defense. "We can force the ball to all areas of the field," Arceneaux said. "That makes sure (our opponents) have to cover the whole field." ... The defense, which was missing some starters for various reasons last week, is anchored by MLB Quines. "He plays sideline to sideline," Arceneaux said. "He's the base of our defense."

NANAKULI GOLDEN HAWKS

2008: 2-6

HOME: School stadium. Parking free.

COACH: John Lopes (Kamehameha '72), second season (2-7), sixth overall (9-37)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Alvin Ainoa

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Kimo Kaulula'au

PLAYERS TO WATCH: DB/RB Ryan Graves (6-0, 183, Sr.), LB/RB Kaimana Hokoana (5-8, 232, Sr.), OL/DL Devin Takahashi (5-7, 280, Sr.), OL/DL William Kaio-Tote (5-11, 282, Sr.)

NOTES: Lost to McKinley, 27-8, last week. ... The Golden Hawks' issue is depth. They have 32 on their roster with hopes of increasing to 40 by Aug. 29, a nonleague game against Pac-Five. The players need the required 10 days of practice in pads before they can play.

WAI'ANAE SEARIDERS

2008: 5-6

HOME: Raymond Torii Field. Parking free.

COACH: Dan Matsumoto (Mid-Pacific '79), 10th overall (60-41)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Anthony Sandobal.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jason Hussey

PLAYERS TO WATCH: DB Guyson Amina (5-10, 155, Sr.), R Keoni Napierala-Rose (6-0, 215, Sr.), QB Puletua Wilson (6-0, 170, Jr.), DL/FB Eleu Wilson (6-1, 315, Sr.), LB Chivas Paris (6-0, 200, Sr.), OL/DL Handsome Tanielu (6-3, 280, Sr.), OL Justin Molina (6-3, 290, Sr.), DL Chavez Kauwalu (5-9, 170, Sr.), LB Lawrence Rhoads (5-9, 210, Sr.), LB Kainoa Kauwalu (5-9, 210, Jr.), DL Kalei Hensley (6-1, 235, Sr.).

NOTES: Lost to Saint Louis, 48-25, last week. ... The Seariders' defense took a beating, finding itself down, 35-0, the first 22 minutes, 30 seconds into the season. ... "We're still shuffling around players to find the right people per position," Matsumoto said. "This weekend's going to be a difficult week for us to fill slots. I think our defensive backs and maybe even our linebacker position, even our D-line. We're trying to scramble right now because of illnesses going on and there's some grade checks. We're in the process of trying to find starters right now."

Puletua Wilson, the JV QB last season, passed for 232 yards in a catchup role with last year's QB, Napierala-Rose, hauling in four passes for 100 yards at receiver. ... But Matsumoto is proud that his team didn't give up against the Crusaders, pulling to within a TD late in the game. "The main thing is they fought to the end," he said. "We expect that from our players."

WAIPAHU MARAUDERS

2008: 5-4

HOME: Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex. Parking free.

COACH/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Sean Saturnio (Hilo '85), eighth season (34-33-2)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Victor Moananu, LB Asalemo Fruean (6-1, 230, Sr.), QB Joshua Lacar.

NOTES: Beat Kea'au, 27-7, last week.