Divisional rematches are the theme of tomorrow's O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red football semifinals at Aloha Stadium.

Top-ranked Kahuku (7-1) will play No. 10 Farrington (5-5) at 7 p.m. in a battle of Eastern Division powers, while No. 6 Wai'anae (7-2) will play co-No. 7 'Aiea (7-2) in a match of Western Division rivals at 4:30. The winners advance to next Friday's OIA championship and secure Division I state berths. The losers play for third place on Nov. 12, with that winner receiving the OIA's third and final state berth.

Kahuku, which has won five in a row since suffering its only loss to Castle in September, took advantage of mistakes by Farrington early in the game in a 43-0 win at Kahuku on Sept. 30.

"Penalties killed us," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto recalled. "A penalty after the opening kickoff gave them good field position and they scored on their first drive. Our offense then turned over the ball on our ensuing drive (leading to another Kahuku score)."

The Governors, on a roll themselves after beating last year's state runner-up Leilehua and West champion Mililani on successive weekends, need to beat Kahuku to the punch, Okimoto said.

"We have to get up on them early," he said. "We have to make the first move, then hopefully, we can hold them off."

Scoring against Kahuku has proved to be a tough task. The Red Raiders have allowed scores only against two teams: A 23-6 loss to Castle and last week's 47-7 win that eliminated Kapolei from the playoffs.

Among the key players on defense for Kahuku is lineman Joe Faifili. Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said Faifili will be honored tomorrow as Hawai'i's first selection to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl set for Jan. 7 at the Alamodome. According to a U.S. Army All-American Bowl press release, the player also is being considered for the Parade All-America High School Player of the Year award.

Okimoto said Kahuku's defense is effective because it is big and quick.

"We need to match up to their speed," Okimoto said.

The Governors have improved significantly since the loss to the Red Raiders. They showed an effective passing attack in a 20-19 comeback win against Mililani last week with quarterback Elijah Filifili's 335-yard performance.

"They're coming off two big wins," Livai said. "That counts for something. We have to ignore that first game (that we won). This is a brand-new game."

Meanwhile, 'Aiea also needs to correct problems it had in a 25-6 loss to Wai'anae on Sept. 18.

"They beat us with some passes," Na Ali'i coach Wendell Say said. "Their receivers got over the top on play-action that caught us off-guard because they run a lot and do it well. We have to try not to let that happen again."

Because that game came so early in the season, 'Aiea was still trying to find its beat. After winning two nonleague games, Na Ali'i opened the regular season with back-to-back losses to Kapolei and Wa'anae. Since then, 'Aiea has reeled off five consecutive wins (not counting the forfeited first-round playoff).

"We were still trying to find ourselves," Say said.

Kali Kuia, a three-year starting quarterback for 'Aiea, threw for 335 yards and four TDs in a 52-31 quarterfinal win against Castle on Saturday. Kuia is among the state's leaders in passing yards and passing efficiency. Lofa Li'ili'i and Josh Blakemore have been his frequent targets.

The Seariders have a talented quarterback of their own in Henry Keomalu, who also does the kicking chores.

The White division does not play this weekend. Next week, Radford will play Moanalua for the White title. Both have qualified for Division II state berths.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.