Sure, the adrenaline is flowing for tonight's nonleague football opener between Kahuku and Punahou. After all, it's a rematch of last year's Division I state championship won by the Red Raiders.

But leave it to the coaches to keep their players grounded.

"It's a preseason game," said Punahou coach Kale Ane, entering his eighth season. "We want to win, but we also want to be smart and use it as an opportunity to get better for the season."

Even rookie coach Reggie Torres, who succeeds the program's winningest coach, Siuaki Livai (102-20 and four state titles), isn't getting caught up in the hype.

"It's a game the kids are excited about," Torres said. "It's the state championship game again. But as a staff, we're keeping it under perspective. We can use this to judge our kids better."

Both teams will contend in their respective leagues, but both have questions to answer. Kahuku, all 95 or so players strong, is still auditioning for starting quarterback. Punahou lost nine returning starters to graduation on defense. That combination could make for an interesting game.

For starters, Torres' son, Richard, who also will play cornerback, will start at quarterback for the first time since his freshman year in JV. But three others are expected to take some snaps, too.

"Every quarterback will play," Torres said. "You can't really test them until you get 'em in a game."

The Kahuku QBs will face a Punahou defense that returns only linebacker Adam Morris and cornerback Dane Nishikawa.

It's just the opposite for Punahou's offense. Back is third-year starter Brett Kan at quarterback, along with all-state wide receiver Miah Ostrowski. Kan is proven, having thrown for a state-leading 2,782 yards with 25 touchdowns. So like Coach Torres, Ane said he also will give others a chance at QB.

"We want to see the other guys play in pressure situations," he said. "The game will dictate when and where they go in, but we want them to go in when the game's on the line."

Whoever gets in will be tested because Kahuku again appears to have a stellar defense, starting up front. Torres said linemen Kaniela Tuipulotu, Malone Fiso and Nai Fotu are Division I prospects. Tuipulotu is considered the top recruit in the state by Rivals.com.

Game time is about 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. A JV game between the two schools starts at 5 p.m.

In a rematch of last year's Division II state championship, Iolani will play Radford, 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the stadium in the annual Father Bray Classic. Pac-Five and Kaiser play in the 4:45 p.m. opener.

The Raiders were hit hard with the graduation of quarterback Kiran Kepo'o, running back Mike Hirokawa and receiver Travis Nishioka, all all-state selections last season.

Also, Kalani has withdrawn from JV competition in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association because of a lack of players, league football coordinator Harold Tanaka said. Tomorrow's Kalaheo-Kalani varsity game has been changed to 6 p.m. at Kaiser.

Also, Nanakuli's JV will not play tonight's game at Kamehameha, so the varsity game between the two teams has been changed to 7 p.m. The JV Golden Hawks don't have enough players for this game, but are not expected to drop the sport, Tanaka said.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.