In its biggest shakeup since 1999, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's White Conference will open regular season play this weekend with five new teams.

Kaimuki, Nanakuli, Pearl City and Roosevelt have moved down from the Red and 'Anuenue is in its debut varsity season.

A doubleheader at Kaiser on Friday will feature Anuenue vs. Kaimuki at 4 p.m. followed by Kalani vs. Roosevelt at around 6. On Saturday, Waialua travels to Waipahu and Pearl City faces Nanakuli at Mililani in a game that will be televised live statewide on OC-16.

Both of Saturday's games are set to kick off at about 6:30 p.m.

By all accounts, the new faces will make for a wide open race.

"I expect exciting things in the White," said Pearl City's first-year coach, Mel Bicoy.

Two of the returning White teams, Kaiser and Waialua, each return nine starters on offense and promise to put points on the board. Roosevelt and Kaimuki are looking forward to better matchups after taking weekly physical poundings from teams like Kahuku, Farrington, Kailua and McKinley.

"That's one thing I'm not going to miss about playing in the Red," Kaimuki coach Daniel Mafua said. "With our numbers, we were just hoping our guys could finish all four quarters. Right now, we're pleased to be where we're at, in the White."

Roosevelt coach Les Parrilla agreed that depth probably is more of a factor in the Red.

"It was tough to play Kailua, Kahuku, McKinley all in a row," Parrilla said. "Our goal was to stay in the Red, but this is where we are now, so we'll do the best we can with it."

But even 'Anuenue, with less than 30 players on its roster, has shown that the White will not be a cakewalk for anybody.

Na Koa, with only 21 players suited up in its debut last Friday, lost to Pearl City, 7-6, only after bobbling the snap on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:50 remaining.

"Our boys battled to the end, and they know we could have won," Anuenue coach Kealoha Wengler said. "That gives them confidence."

OIA WHITE CAPSULES

'ANUENUE NA KOA

History: Inaugural season

2005: JV (2-6)

Coach: Tim Kealoha Wengler, first season

Players to watch: OL/DL Keli'i-Pio Adams (6-0, 275, Jr.), OL/DL/LB Maka'ala Donner (5-7, 200, Jr.), WR/CB Makaio Liua (5-8, 165, Jr.), RB/DE 'Olu'olu Naone (5-9, 190, Jr.), QB/S Ka'ehukai Nauka (5-10, 170, Jr.), RB/DE Kawaika Po'aha (5-7, 160, Jr.), WR/OLB Kawika Sherman (5-9, 165, Jr.), OL/WR/DL Kawika Wise (6-2, 215, Jr.).

Outlook: With only 24 players on the roster — only five with more than one year of football experience — and zero seniors, 'Anuenue is by far the youngest team on O'ahu. But Na Koa had an impressive debut against Pearl City, shutting out the Chargers after the opening drive. "Even the umpire came up to me after the game and congratulated us for playing hard and showing good sportsmanship," Wengler said. "That made me feel good about what we're doing."

KAIMUKI BULLDOGS

History: Started 1944 (248-332-24)

2005: 2-6, Red East fifth

Coach: Daniel Mafua, third season (2-17)

Players to watch: RB/LB Dolly Ainu'u (5-10, 200, Sr.), WR/DB Chris Etuale (5-6, 148, Jr.), QB/DB Stephen Harris (5-9, 160, Sr.), OL/DL Nicolas Isamo (5-10, 225, Sr.), OL/DL Brian Miyamoto (5-8, 200, Sr.), OL/DL Keone Reyes (5-11, 250, Sr.), OL/DL Dustin Uyeda (5-10, 200, Jr.).

Outlook: The Bulldogs again are small in numbers, with only 32 players on the roster. But they return four of their five starting offensive linemen, and should match up better physically in the White. Kaimuki returns five starters on offense and three on defense, but that includes three who played both ways. Reyes is an Advertiser All-State first team basketball player.

KAISER COUGARS

History: Started 1972 (158-168-9)

2005: 4-5, White fourth; eliminated in White semifinals

Coach: Pat Samsonas, second season (4-6)

Players to watch: DL/FB Tukia Aholele (5-9, 265, Sr.), DB/WR Kalani Calizar (5-7, 150, Sr.), QB Skyler Chan (5-11, 155, Sr.), LB CJ Criado (5-10, 195, Sr.), LB Dustin Dela Pe?a (5-10, 155, Jr.), DB/WR Jake Esteban (5-11, 160, Sr.), OL Bryce Kahalewai (6-0, 265, Sr.), RB Keli'i Maikui (5-9, 170, Sr.), K/P Kyle Niiro (5-11, 200, Jr.), RB Isaac Saffery (5-9, 195, Sr.), WR Sid Slom (5-7, 150, Sr.).

Outlook: With nine starters back each on offense and defense, the Cougars have the most returnees of anyone in the conference. Saffery, Slom, Criado and Dela Pe?a are three-year starters. "We're looking for a lot of leadership from the seniors," Samsonas said. Saffery is a solid runner who has the strength to get the tough inside yards and the speed to break outside and into the secondary. Esteban has the talent to contribute on offense, defense and special teams. Niiro is a threat from long field goal range and as a punter who can pin opponents deep into their own territory.

KALANI FALCONS

History: Started 1960 (89-338-8)

2005: 0-8, White eighth

Coach: Glenn Oshiro, first season

Players to watch: DL Patrick Akau (5-11, 245, Sr.), RB/DB Dustin Kimura (5-5, 155, Sr.), DB Terrence Lum (6-0, 150, Sr.), DL Sam Tupou (6-2, 285, Sr.).

Outlook: Having canceled its JV season, the Falcons have 49 players on the roster — their biggest in several years. But it includes 19 sophomores and one freshman, most of whom would have been on the junior varsity. "We're a young team," Oshiro said. "But we have a good core of dedicated players, and there are some underclassmen who could contribute."

NANAKULI GOLDEN HAWKS

History: Started 1970 (118-209-16)

2005: 0-8, West seventh

Coach: Tai Apisa, first season

Players to watch: RB/DE Chad McGill (6-1, 220, Sr.), QB/LB Chase McGill (6-1, 205, Sr.), TE/DE Ritchie Rosa (5-9, 285, Sr.), RB/WR McShane Sausi (5-9, 200, Jr.), WR/DB Julius Seabrooks (6-0, 170, Sr.), RB/LB Bradley Tolentino (5-10, 175, Jr.), WR/LB Sateki Toli (5-11, 160, Sr.).

Outlook: Apisa and most of his staff come from ILH backgrounds, so they are new not just to Nanakuli, but to the OIA as a whole. He said the first challenge — besides getting kids to join the team and stay eligible — is to shake off the effects of losing seasons in the Red. "Our numbers are growing, but the hardest thing has been getting everyone to believe in the system," said Apisa, a nephew of former Farrington and Michigan State standout Bob Apisa. "A lot of the kids here are so used to the negatives." The McGill twins are big and athletic. The Golden Hawks will run multiple formations on offense and a flex defense.

PEARL CITY CHARGERS

History: Started 1973 (111-195-6)

2005: 1-7, West sixth

Coach: Mel Bicoy, first season

Players to watch: MLB Nathan Ancheta, OLB Troy Antoque, QB Kawika Borden, FS Bryson Costales, TB Micah Dela Cruz, S Jeremiah Drumeller, DT Shane Gasper, FB Chris Gittens, WR Francis Hewlett, CB Jordan Jardolin, OL Tyler Lauifi, DE Isaac Naehu, QB/WR Alfred Paclib, WR Matt Tanaid, CB Gavin Tanaka.

Outlook: Bicoy, a longtime former assistant at Campbell and Pearl City, joked that "a lot of teams scheduled us to play on Homecoming" in the Red. But the Chargers expect to be competitive in the White. They had a big turnout of 65 players, with about the same number on the JV. "If we believe in each other and play as a team, we'll fool some people," Bicoy said.

ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS

History: Started 1931 (332-349-26)

2005: 3-5, East tied for sixth

Coach: Les Parrilla, 11th season (31-60)

Players to watch: WR Daniel Arruda (5-10, 160, Sr.), OL Kennedy Augafa (6-3, 250, Sr.), C James Aoki (5-8, 226, Sr.), DL Kaulana Colburn (6-0, 165, So.), MLB Tony Fautanu (5-8, 190, Jr.), DL Chaz Fransico (6-0, 165, So.), DB Darin Fujii (5-6, 135, Sr.), CB Zach Hamasaki (5-1, 120, So.), OLB Lee Inouye (5-9, 140, Sr.), QB Lowen Kaho'oilihala (5-8, 140, So.), SB Kaui Kauolulo (5-7, 160, Sr.), DL Asipa Manu (6-0, 185, So.), CB Sean Matsumoto (5-6, 145, So.), WR Kenese Ola (6-0, 188, Sr.), DL Colin Ta'a (6-0, 222, Sr.).

Outlook: The Rough Riders could start as many as 12 sophomores, so they are young and inexperienced. They return only four starters each on offense and defense. The good news is that Roosevelt should match up better size- and depth-wise against White Conference opponents. "We won't take the pounding every week like we did in the Red," Parrilla said. "That's what hurt us so badly (in past years)."

WAIALUA BULLDOGS

History: Started 1947 (171-383-17); 1940-1946 records incomplete

2005: 3-4, White tied for second (sixth after tiebreakers)

Coach: Lincoln Barit, fourth season (5-19)

Players to watch: DB Rance Balidoy (5-8, 145, Sr.), DB John Ballesteros (5-11, 175, Sr.), QB Caleb Fore (6-0, 180, Sr.), SB Adam Foster (5-9, 180, Sr.), LB Pono Kinney (6-0, 190, Sr.), RB Donovan Matas (5-7, 155, Sr.), DB Kekoa Pasion-Almeida (5-7, 150, Sr.), SB Ed Rubio (5-7, 155, Sr.), OL/DL Alika Scholtz (5-11, 265, Sr.), WR Josh Whittaker (6-3, 170, Sr.), OL Kawika Yamanouchi (6-0, 305, Jr.).

Outlook: With nine starters back on offense, the Bulldogs look to light up the scoreboard this season. Fore returns at quarterback and has several capable receivers in Rubio, Whittaker and Foster, plus a dependable running back in Matas. The defense is less experienced, with four starters back. Barit is cautious, saying there is some dropoff between some first and second-stringers. "We don't have depth, so we're banking on (the starters)," Barit said. "If one goes down, we could have problems."

WAIPAHU MARAUDERS

History: Started 1940 (386-256-21)

2005: 1-7, White seventh

Coach: Sean Saturnio, fifth season (13-23)

Players to watch: OL Robert Asui (6-2, 280, Jr.), LB Ryan Beauchan (5-10, 207, Sr.), S Steven Berndt (5-9, 158, Sr.), QB Gil Fernandez (5-11, 148, Sr.), OL Castro Masaniai (6-3, 240, Sr.), DB Neil Paguyo (5-10, 149, Sr.), RB Keo Palimo'o (5-7, 176, Jr.), RB Matt Soueira (5-8, 156, Sr.).

Outlook: The Marauders return five starters on offense and six on defense. "I love what I see so far," Saturnio said at the beginning of official fall practice. "After our struggles last year, there's more motivation and the commitment level is deeper." Saturnio said this is the fastest team he's had in his five seasons at Waipahu. Berndt should be one of the White's top safeties. Soueira transferred from Kalaheo, where he was a White all-star first team selection.