Punahou, the state's No. 1-ranked high school football team according to The Advertiser's Top 10 poll of coaches and media, has been outside the radar for most Hawai'i fans the past month.

But the Buffanblu (3-0) are back on center stage tomorrow and face a huge challenge in its Interscholastic League of Honolulu opener against No. 4 Kamehameha (4-1, 0-1 ILH). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium, following the Division II matchup between Iolani (2-1-1, 0-0-1) and Pac-Five (2-2, 0-1) at 4:45.

Punahou opened its season with a 20-18 victory over No. 2 Kahuku on Aug. 18 and won at No. 9 Wai'anae, 21-12, a week later. The Buffanblu then traveled to Washington and defeated the Seattle Times' No. 3-ranked team, Eastlake (Sammamish), 23-17, before two straight bye weeks at home.

"It's been good for us, we've used the time in a positive way," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "We've done some team activities and let the kids turn their focus back to schoolwork and things they need to do."

The bye weeks also came at a key time for Advertiser All-State receiver Miah Ostrowski, who sprained an ankle in the second quarter of the Eastlake game and did not return.

Ostrowski has been practicing and will play tomorrow.

"I don't know if he's 100 percent," Ane said, "but he'll play."

The Buffanblu will need all the firepower they can get against Kamehameha's rugged defense, which is allowing only 11 points per game. The Warriors won their first four games before falling to No. 3 Saint Louis, 10-3, last Friday.

"I was very impressed, with both those teams," Ane said.

Saint Louis has a bye and plays Punahou on Sept. 29.

The Buffanblu are ranked No. 42 in the Students Sports Fab 50 National Rankings, in between traditional powers Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) and Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.). Punahou is ranked No. 9 in the West Region.

USA Today has Punahou ranked No. 8 in the West.

Here is a closer look at two key O'ahu Interscholastic Association matchups, both set for about 6:30 p.m. tomorrow:

KAHUKU VS. MCKINLEY

Where: Roosevelt Stadium

Advertiser Top 10 ranking: Kahuku No. 2; McKinley unranked

Records: Kahuku 3-1 overall, 2-0 OIA Red East; McKinley 2-2, 1-1

Last week: McKinley defeated Castle, 12-9; Kahuku had a bye

Notable: McKinley got back into the thick of the East race with its huge road victory last week. Big, strong fullback Keawe Kalama led the Tigers' punishing ground attack with 124 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries, including a 61-yard sprint. Their defense preserved the win by holding off Castle after a first-and-goal situation at the 4 in the closing minutes. ... Kahuku has a strong running game of its own, led by Lehi Aumua, a slashing runner who has scored five touchdowns and averages 6.5 yards per carry.

WAIPAHU AT PEARL CITY

Where: Bino Neves Stadium

Advertiser Top 10 ranking: Both unranked

Records: Waipahu 3-1 overall, 3-0 OIA White; Pearl City 3-0-1, 2-0-1

Last week: Waipahu defeated Kaimuki, 19-14; Pearl City had a bye

Notable: These are the only two teams without a loss in the White Conference. The combined overall record of Waipahu's four previous opponents is 9-9-1. The combined overall record of Pearl City's opponents is 3-15-1. The only common opponent is Kaimuki — Waipahu defeated the Bulldogs, 19-14, and Pearl City tied them, 29-29.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.