Sunday, November 4, 2001
[ PREP FOOTBALL ]
Although the cinematic version made its debut last week in Hawaii theaters, Kailua unveiled its version of Monsters, Inc. last night at Mililani High School. Harbottle’s monster game
lifts Kailua over MililaniBy Marc Dixon
mdixon@starbulletin.comWith a monstrous offensive line averaging near 300 pounds blowing open gaping holes for running back Brenton Harbottle, Kailua scored on its first two possessions. Harbottle scored the first on a 37-yard sprint and added an 89-yarder less than 2 minutes later. After the first two Kailua possessions, Harbottle had already amassed149 yards on just six carries; he would finish the first half with 221 yards on 14 carries.
"All the credit goes to the offensive line," Harbottle said. "On that long touchdown run, I looked around and no was near. No one could touch me."
While the Trojan defense was trying to solve the Surfriders running attack, the Trojan offense showed it was also confused. Mililani's three first quarter possessions amounted to a three and out and a pair of Mana Au interceptions.
The second quarter brought the evening's first rain and a change of fortunes. After Kailua fumbled the ball on three straight snaps and failed to convert on fourth down, the Mililani offense took over and found a rhythm. The Trojans marched 85 yards in five plays, led by Au's two passes to Trey Brown, which included a 47-yard completion. Kepa Morris ended the drive with a 5-yard run that narrowed the score to 13-6.
Attempting to answer the Millilani score, Kailua went back to ground. Riding the legs of their two 5-foot-6 running backs, Harbottle and Nathan Leaver, the Surfriders drove 56 yards to the Trojan 10. However back-to-back penalties that negated two touchdown catches kept Kailua out of the end zone and the half ended with the Surfriders leading13-6.
After stealing the momentum at the end of the second half, the Trojans used three big plays to tie the game on the first possession of the second half. After an electrifying 20-yard run by Morris and a 25-yard completion from Au to Billy Barbour, Au found Brown for a 15-yard touchdown.
Kailua again took the lead with 1:53 left in the third quarter on a 1-yard dive by Taleki Mailau. On the drive Harbottle gained 46 more yards and moved to within 82 yards of Mark Atuaia's single-game state rushing record of 350 yards. Harbottle would finish the game with 289 yards.
In a testament to the offensive line, Harbottle's replacement Leaver nearly went over 100 yards also. "There's a sense of pride with the O-line and the backs," said Kailua coach Darren Johnson. "They are only now reaching their potential."
Two possessions later, Mailau got involved with his second touchdown of the night as he hit David Kaihenui on a deep sideline pattern and watched as Kaihenui took it 64 yards for a 14-point Kailua lead.
Kailua managed to overcome 11 penalties and will face Castle for a chance at a share of the OIA championship. The Knights knocked the Surfriders out of last year's OIA tournament in the first round.
"We're still going to mix it up next week," said Johnson. "We've got wide receiver Ryan Lum back now so we'll be passing too."
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