KAHUKU—When Kahuku meets a private school in football, there's bound to be some North Shore talent on the Interscholastic League of Honolulu team.

But it doesn't get any more personal for Kahuku offensive coordinator Walter Santiago. He will be calling the Red Raiders' offensive plays against Kamehameha's vaunted defense — which includes his son, junior cornerback Walter Jr., — in tomorrow's First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football championship at Aloha Stadium.

Caught in the middle is Santiago's wife Kehau, a 1987 Kahuku High graduate and Walter's high school sweetheart.

Red Raider loyalty aside, Kehau says, "I have to go with my son. Even though (Kahuku's) my alma mater, even though my husband is the coach, I have to cheer for Kamehameha."

Kehau said she will be dressed in blue on the Warriors' side of the stadium. But this past week, she could have just as well worn black and white stripes.

"We look at each other, joke around," Walter Sr. said of his son. "There's a little trash talking. Mom is the referee between us. My dad (Louis Santiago) called and told my son that if I was giving him a hard time, he could sleep over at his house."

Kehau senses the Red Raiders nation is well aware of the family dilemma. When the teams won their respective league titles Nov. 19 (Kamehameha) and 20 (Kahuku), thoughts of a matchup couldn't be helped.

"I didn't imagine it would come down to the championship," she said. "People in the community were joking about it. My husband said, 'Eh, we're going to meet up with your son.' It was like, 'yeah, yeah.' Now it's, 'Oh!.' It's been kind of the talk of the community. 'Oh, check them out. What are they going to do?' So, it's been interesting."

The excitement is being felt across the Pacific Ocean for the Santiagos, whose daughter, Tatiana, is a sophomore on the Nevada Wolf Pack volleyball team. (She starred for Kamehameha.)

"My daughter called and said, 'Can I come home and watch you coach against Walter Jr.?' " Walter Sr. said.

Ironically, Walter Jr. was reluctant at first to attend Kamehameha, which he started attending as a freshman. After all, he played Pop Warner football with most of the Kahuku players. But he passed the admissions test and gave it a try. It also was David Stant's first season taking over the program in 2007. That his coach was from the North Shore himself didn't hurt.

"It helped out a lot," Walter Jr. said. "He made me feel comfortable with the school."

Walter Sr. said his son was a quarterback in Pop Warner.

"He hated (playing quarterback) and wanted to be on the other side of the ball," Walter Sr. recalled. "He'd rather hit somebody."

Walter Jr., along with Chaz Bajet, have been a shutdown corners for the Warriors all season. And it's Walter Jr.'s position that creates another dilemma: Will father scheme plays against his son?

"I already told him, 'Hey, I'm not going to hold anything back, so just be ready,' " laughed Walter Sr.

"I told my dad, 'Bring it,' " Walter Jr. responded.

But there's more to the good-natured ribbing. There is a legacy.

Walter Jr.'s grandfather, Louis Santiago, was an all-star running back for Kahuku's 1959 Rural O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship team.

Walter Sr. (Kahuku '88) was an OIA East all-star quarterback for Kahuku in 1986 and 1987. He was the East's Player of the Year in 1987 and all-state selection. He went on to play for the University of Hawai'i from 1989 to 1991.

Louis Jr. (Kahuku '81), also a Kahuku assistant, was a second-team all-state running back for the 1980 Red Raiders. He also played for UH (1981 to 1982, 1984 to 1985).

Walter Jr. is off to a good start in sustaining that legacy.

Kidding aside, Walter Sr. feels fortunate that he and his son are still playing in December.

"I'm happy for Kamehameha being in that position and I'm excited for our kids and the season we've had," he said.

IN THE STANT HOUSE

Also on the Kahuku homefront is Kamehameha's third-year coach David Stant (Kahuku '81).

Stant's son is Warriors' senior linebacker Kawika III. But also in the household is Kahuku senior linebacker Keanu Yoshida. Both wear No. 44.

When Yoshida was released from Kamehameha, where he played last season, Stant was concerned for the player. Having turned 18 during the summer, Yoshida could legally choose his residence without guardianship issues.

"I talked to his mom and we kind of agreed that he should live in the country with us," Stant said. "We talked to Reggie (Torres, Kahuku's coach) to see if he could play for Kahuku. We didn't want him to get lost and not play football and ruin the rest of his life."

Stant said his younger children are going to show their true colors tomorrow night.

"My kids said they're going to wear one blue shoe and one red shoe," Stant said. "One to support Keanu and one to support Kawika, so it's good."