[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Unbeaten Mililani hopes
to survive trip to Waianae
The Mililani Trojans can breathe a little easier now that they've clinched a spot in the Oahu Interscholastic Association football playoffs.
But it's still a long, long haul for the Central Oahu team.
The real fun starts tonight for the Trojans, who take on a gritty group that is making a habit out of knocking favorites down to size.
Mililani (6-0, 5-0 OIA Red East) is the favorite on paper against Waianae (3-3, 3-2), but the Seariders are home, where they take on an extra toughness.
Just ask anybody who plays for Pearl City or Nanakuli. The Chargers and Golden Hawks visited Waianae this season with the odds on their side, but came away empty-handed.
"Waianae is playing really good football right now," Trojans coach James Millwood said. "But we knew they would be by the end of the season. We look forward to this challenge.
"There's a lot of tradition out there in Waianae. They have a strong belief in themselves, and they also get a boost from the fan support they have."
Millwood would like to see his squad play like it did in big victories over Castle and Pearl City -- with ball control and consistency on offense, defense and special teams.
Waianae also specializes in ball control with workhorse running back Chris Lave and a high-powered defense that creates lots of turnovers.
The Trojans are led defensively by linebacker Mikhail Mabry, tackle Kimo Duncan and ends Jake Ingram and Michael Suan.
Maka Kahoano anchors Mililani's offensive line and fullback Peter Raneses is among the team's offensive weapons.
The Trojans finish their regular-season schedule with another tough one next week at rival Leilehua (4-2, 3-2).
"Leilehua will also be a good challenge (next week)," Millwood said. "They're also a good ball-control, running team with a big offensive line. They're aggressive on defense and most of the games they play in are low scoring."
Bears ready for next round: Baldwin, which wrapped up the Maui Interscholastic League's first round two weeks ago, faces Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium tomorrow night to start round two.
Coach Chad Kauhaahaa and the Bears (6-0, 4-0) don't plan on standing pat.
"I'm pleased with the way we performed in the first round," he said. "But we need to improve every game in the second round. Every team has gotten better and I still feel anyone can win the second round. We want to win this outright and want to avoid a playoff game, if possible."
J.J. Eno has been one of Baldwin's players to watch.
"He's had an amazing season so far," Kauhaahaa said. "He's our starting wide receiver and defensive back and he returns punts and is our field-goal kicker."
Several other players are putting in solid performances, including running back Waylen Costa, defensive lineman Cory Nakamoto and linebacker Kaluka Maiava, according to the coach.
"Costa is a small, but slashing and explosive runner who has really carried our ground game," Kauhaahaa said. "Nakamoto is the key to our defensive front and leads the team in sacks with six, while Maiava has a broken hand and is still making plays."
At quarterback, senior Roy Antolin took over for early season starter Kalehua Moniz, but they're still splitting reps and the competition continues daily.
Kauhaahaa isn't taking the Lunas lightly.
"They gave King Kekaulike (4-1, 3-1) a scare and they're a much-improved team since the time I first saw them," he said.
Baseball team off to mainland: Coach Duane Eldredge and his team of Hawaii high school baseball players are playing in the Arizona Fall Classic this weekend.
It's the fourth year in a row Eldredge has formed a team for the showcase. He said scouts and coaches from more than 100 colleges will be there, as well as scouts from every Major League Baseball team.
More than 40 teams from across the nation are participating in the classic at the Peoria Sports Complex, which is the spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. All games are played with wooden bats.
Hawaii will play five games over three days.
"The reason we take a team is because Hawaii has great college baseball talent, but no colleges come here to scout," Eldredge said. "So we take the kids to the scouts."
Hawaii has 22 seniors and two juniors on the squad.
Pitchers Myles Ioane of Waiakea, Harrison Kuroda of Mid-Pacific and Kanekoa Texeira of Kamehameha, third baseman L.Z. Zalopany of Waimea and pitcher/center fielder Alec Reichle of Kauai are among the team's standouts.
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