When Saint Louis takes on defending state champion Kahuku in tonight's First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football championship, special teams — punt, kickoff, return and place-kick units — might be the difference, as both teams have defenses that making scoring a rarity.

Kickoff is 8 o'clock at Aloha Stadium.

The No. 2 Red Raiders (10-2), the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red champions, are looking for their fourth state crown in the eight-year history of the tournament, while the top-ranked Crusaders (11-0), the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champions, are seeking their third, but first since 2002.

Offensively and defensively, both teams are expected to pound each other into submission, except neither will submit. Opportunities to score will be limited. But those few opportunities might be sprung from special teams play.

"In these types of games, when you have two excellent defenses, you're not going to get too many opportunities to score," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "When you get good field position, you gotta take advantage of it."

Kahuku coach Reggie Torres echoed the same sentiment.

"We haven't had good field position the last couple weeks," said Torres, whose team has averaged 14 points per contest in the last three postseason games after averaging 32 per game during the OIA regular season.

Special teams can increase and decrease the length of the field for offenses. Both teams have punters who can force offenses to start deep from their own territory.

Saint Louis punter senior Jacob Barit can boot for height and distance. And because he is a linebacker, he gives the Saints another sure tackler on the punt team. He has been the punter since his sophomore year.

"He has a good presence," Tengan said of Barit. "He can feel the pressure and and take his step and get the ball off. Timing is a key; we work on that everyday. The fact that he's not just the punter, he has a good feel for the game. He doesn't just go out there on fourth down."

Kahuku's punter Ian Rigterink injured his foot in the Baldwin game last week, but is being replaced by Gary Nagy. Don't expect a decline in performance. In last year's title game, it was Nagy's 46-yard punt that pinned Punahou to its 1, setting up Kaniela Tuipulotu's tackle of Kainoa Carlson in the end zone for a safety that gave Kahuku a 22-21 lead, en route to a 28-21 win. Nagy plays defensive back and also is a sure tackler.

Both have kickoff and punt returners who can shorten the field for the offenses. Kahuku's Shiloah Te'o and Nagy, as well as Saint Louis' Shane Ahlo and Chase Alcott, are always capable of a long return. Ironically, both teams' kickoff and punt coverage teams are about the only ones in the state that can stop each other from breaking a long return.

Place-kicking used to be one-sided between the two teams. The Crusaders' Kenton Chun is tied for the state lead with 64 points with two others in scoring derived from PATs and field goals.

Unlike past Kahuku teams, the Red Raiders have some consistency on PATs with Kaika Sasaoka. However, he does not have any field goals, which might have more to do with Kahuku's success in scoring TDs than having to settle for three points.

OFFENSE

Still, the offenses have to take advantage of what their special teams give them.

Kahuku will run often. That's its history. While there have been individual game-breakers like Mulivai Pula and Malosi Te'o in the past, the Red Raiders have a collaboration of different styles of runners this year. Lehi Aumua (891 yards, 8 TDs) has the speed, Neal Lokotui (298 yards) has the power and Junior Mata'afa (572 yards, 5 TDs) has a little of both. No matter the style of runners, they complement the elusive Richard Torres (471 yards, 4 TDs) at quarterback.

The Red Raiders throw only 10 percent of the time, so when they do, it catches defenses off-guard. They sold Leilehua the run by lining up in the power-I, only to have Richard Torres fire a look-in to the tight end for a TD in the OIA semifinals. The double pass froze Baldwin long enough to get Pelefoni Soliai open for the game-winning TD in last week's semifinal.

But the Red Raiders must protect the ball better than last week, when they fumbled seven times, losing the ball twice. A number of loose balls came from the center-quarterback exchange. Kahuku started Anthony Siilata at center because starter Benji Kemoeatu has some leg problems. Kemoeatu ended playing anyway to help cut down on the fumbles. Coach Torres said either Kemoeatu will start or guard Ross Salanoa will move over to center.

Saint Louis' hybrid offense gives new meaning to the option. Besides running the conventional option, the Crusaders also have the option to pass. But the Crusaders are without quarterback Micah Mamiya, who sustained a fractured left collarbone in last week's semifinal win against Wai'anae. He had accounted for 2,093 yards in total offense, or 60 percent of Saint Louis' total yardage. The Crusaders will start Tamatoa DeMello, who has more touchdowns receiving (two) than TDs throwing (none).

"We look at their offensive schemes," coach Torres said. "And this quarterback (DeMello) poses a threat. He's good, too."

While DeMello had an interception that led to a Wai'anae TD, he did engineer the drive that led to Chun's field goal that turned out to be the difference.

"He's been taking reps all season long," Tengan said of DeMello. "Now it's his turn to see if he can execute the offense. We feel comfortable with Tamatoa being our quarterback and doing a good job."

Saint Louis running backs Lene Auelua, Keani Nishigaya, Austin Wakinekona and Devan Essner shared the load of rushing attempts, as the quarterback was the primary carrier.

Saint Louis starts four underclassmen on an offensive line anchored by senior Ana Tuiasosopo.

"Our O-line is up to the challenge," Tengan said. "They look forward to playing against a great Kahuku defense, just like they did against Wai'anae."

DEFENSE

Where Saint Louis knows Kahuku will run most of the time, Kahuku must be prepared to defend the run and pass against the Crusaders' offense. DeMello has thrown only 15 passes all season, so Kahuku or anyone else for that matter, really doesn't know his passing capability. That in itself could keep Kahuku's defense honest.

Kahuku will show different fronts throughout the game. It doesn't matter much because the Red Raiders' front seven is active. Tuipulotu anchors the middle, but there are flexible guys like Paipai Falemalu, an outside linebacker who occasionally sets up as a down lineman at end. Kahuku's secondary is always athletic with good leapers who can defend fade passes. Among them is Nagy (6-2).

Saint Louis' defense outscored its offense in last week's 10-7 win against Wai'anae. Barit's interception return for a touchdown was the only TD of the game for the Crusaders. Pressure on the quarterback comes from their tall and agile ends, Solomona Aigamaua (6-3, 205) and Scott Smith (6-7, 245). It was Aigamaua who got his hands on Wai'anae quarterback Ben McQuown to cause an the errant throw that Barit intercepted for a TD.

"Attacking Saint Louis' defense is going to be tough," Coach Torres said. "We hope we can be successful with the run and hopefully that will open the pass, our play action."

Because Kahuku has a bruising running game that can slowly wear down defenses, Saint Louis will likely rotate players on defense, Tengan said. Back in the middle is tackle Geordan Hanohano, who sat out last week's semifinal from facial lacerations from a car accident two nights before the game.

"He adds a body to our rotation," Tengan said. "We have to keep fresh bodies out there because it's tough to play every down. They throw fresh bodies at their running back position. We have to off-set that."

Securing the middle with Hanohano is Ryan Eastman, Loren Abiva and Tyler Roberson. The interior linemen keep linebacker Barit free to pursue ball carriers.

"It's the defense that will keep you in the game," Coach Torres said. "But it will come down to the special teams and field position."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.