The Moanalua High football team stared at the toughest situations all season.

Fourth down with the season on the line.
Trailing with less than two minutes to go.
Going into overtime twice.
Grounded in resiliency and mental toughness, Na Menehune overcame all of those situations on their way to an undefeated regular season and an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White title.
Now, third-seeded Moanalua (10-1) is yearning for more as it hosts Friday's quarterfinal game of the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division II State Football Championships against Hawai'i Prep (10-0), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion.
"We have been in games where we've been ahead, been behind, won in overtime at home, and won in overtime on the road, and I think again, that said a lot for a team — professional, college, whatever," Moanalua coach Arnold Martinez said. "When you can gut it out and find ways to win and stay in it till the bitter end, you have good mental toughness."
Their toughness and their closeness — Martinez said this is the closest team he's coached in 17 years — have Na Menehune in their first state football tournament since 2005. Moanalua is hungry for more, even after winning the OIA championship.
"I'm pleased because many times, kids feel like they reach the top of the mountain and they're not as hungry," Martinez said. "Hopefully, this team — and they have all year — can stay hungry each week."
Ka Makani aren't satiated with their league title either. Hawai'i Prep is making its first state tournament appearance since 2004.
"It means a lot to our seniors, especially," said first-year Hawai'i Prep coach Jordan Hayslip. "It was a goal for us going into the season. We had all discussed it and the seniors made it a team goal, so they're excited about it. At the same time, they want more."
Hayslip saw the broadcast of the OIA championship game and Martinez has seen Hawai'i Prep as well. What he saw was a squad that looked similar to his.
"They're balanced and they're gritty and they kind of remind me of us," Martinez said. "They're going to get after it and keep going and going, so we look for a tough game."
Ka Makani senior Keoni Colson (5 feet 8, 160 pounds) has run for 791 yards on 179 carries with seven touchdowns, and junior Isaiah Adams (5-9, 160) has 65 rushes for 681 yards and nine TDs. Sophomore quarterback Keanu Yamamoto (5-10, 165) has run for 326 yards and six TDs behind a well-tutored offensive line.
"Bern Brostek is our O line coach, he played for 'Iolani and the (Los Angeles and St. Louis) Rams and he does a great job working with our offensive line," Hayslip said.
Brostek's son, Shane, a 6-3, 300-pound sophomore who plays offensive and defensive tackle, has also powered his way for five TDs.
Junior Nathaniel Adams (5-9, 160), Isaiah's twin, has 12 receptions this year for 277 yards and four TDs. JJ Higginson (5-10, 155) also has 12 receptions for 159 yards and fellow seniors Bobby Stomski (5-11, 170) has nine catches for 178 yards.
Moanalua brings a great running game in senior Tahje Canyon (5-9, 176), who has several game-winning TDs this season and has amassed 1,439 yards on 196 rushes. Rich Villasenor (5-10, 230) has 13 receptions for 146 yards, fellow junior Michael Egami has nine receptions for 184 yards and four TDs, and senior Essaye Villaver has eight catches for 360 yards and five TDs.
Senior QB Adam Francisco (5-10, 215) directs the option and anchoring the offensive line is senior Frank Loyd (6-3, 253).
"They run that option and we need to be disciplined and shut down their option and misdirection plays," Hayslip said.
"And then just being able to establish some run game for our offense and be able to run the ball and keep their offense off the field."
Moanalua's key defensive players are senior defensive back Xavier Peterson (6-0, 200), junior defensive tackle Jordan Tanioka (5-9, 250) and senior linebacker Lasi Eselu (6-1, 205).
Talent and resilience can carry any team. But more is needed to move beyond, and Moanalua hopes to do it together.
"They know they have the talent and athletic ability to get it done," Martinez said. "To surpass that is their belief in each other. That's what they've done and it's been great."