After rallying for its last two victories, No. 8 Leilehua knows it must find its rhythm sooner. Especially when going against No. 7 Wai'anae.

The teams clash in a crucial O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West game 7:30 tonight at the Seariders' Raymond Torii Field. It will be televised live on OC 16.

The defending division champion Mules (3-2 overall, 2-1 West) must win to keep their hopes alive for a top-2 finish, which would give them a bye in the opening round of the OIA playoffs. It's the same for the Seariders (3-2, 3-0), who need to stay perfect in division in hopes of setting up division championship Oct. 9 at No. 2 Mililani (5-0, 3-0), which plays at Nanakuli tomorrow.

Wai'anae handed Leilehua its only loss during the regular season last year. But the Mules ended the Seariders' season by winning the OIA third-place game to secure the final Division I state tournament berth.

The past two weeks, the Mules had to rally to beat Kapolei (14-10) and Campbell (29-26). Fall behind the Seariders early, it might be over. Wai'anae is coming off successive shutouts of Campbell (27-0) and Nanakuli (42-0).

"We have to go there and match their intensity," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "This time, we have to execute in the first half and not wait until the second half or they'll put the game away fast."

The Seariders are tough to defend because of a balanced attack. Quarterback Puletua Wilson is an efficient passer — his 143.2 rating is second among Division I passers to Saint Louis' Jeremy Higgins' 190.3 — and a devastating runner, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Last year's quarterback, Keoni Napierala-Rose, has found a home at running back, averaging 7.4 yards per rush. The two have combined for 682 of Wai'anae's 944 rushing yards.

"His mental part of the game is surprisingly favorable," Wai'anae coach Dan Matsumoto said of first-year quarterback Wilson, a junior who played JV last year. "He doesn't seem to be flustered by the responsibility of the job."

On the other side, the Seariders have to defend battle-tested quarterback Andrew Manley. He has played in pressure games and he handled the team's comeback wins by being calm and collected. Tokuda said Manley still calls the plays.

Another crucial game is in the OIA White tonight, when Radford (3-2, 3-1 White) travels to 'Aiea (5-1, 4-1). Both are jockeying for position to land one of the top four spots to make the playoffs. 'Aiea needs to win to keep pace with idle Moanalua (5-1, 5-0). If Na Ali'i keep winning, their meeting with Na Menehune on Oct. 16 could decide the White's top seed for the playoffs.

On the Big Island, Hawai'i Prep (4-0, 2-0 BIIF) visits Konawaena (3-2, 2-0) tomorrow in a game that likely decides the league's Division II first-round champion.