[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Mililani clinches
OIA Red West
The Trojans traveled from Mililani to Waianae last night, but saved their longest drives for after they arrived.
Mililani improved to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the OIA Red West to clinch that conference's championship and earn a first-round bye with a 27-20 win over the Seariders. The Trojans did it by scoring on a pair of 80-yard drives in the first half and following up with drives of 66 and 71 yards in the second.
"We've been lucky enough to have good, consistent drives this year," Mililani coach James Millwood said. "And we needed it because it looked like (the Seariders) were going to do it to us."
Both teams stayed between the tackles throughout the game, except when it came time to score. Then, the Trojans took over by looking over Waianae's small cornerbacks.
Mililani took the lead in the second quarter when Andrew Tokumi outleapt a Waianae corner to snare a 7-yard pass from Maka Kahoano with just 24 seconds left before intermission. The Trojans got the ball out of the second half and did the same thing, driving 66 yards until 6-foot-6 Darren Smith outjumped the corner on his side to haul in a 5-yard pass to make it 20-7.
The Seariders (4-3, 3-3) refused to fold at home, though, hanging tough to pull within 20-13 on a 14-yard pass from Uilau Faliuga to Justin Lafua then closed to 27-20 when Oha Savini returned a fumble 32 yards for a score. That score followed an interception in the end zone by Mililani's Kaui Jamile that appeared to seal the game.
Mililani secured the onside kick and, needing to go only 45 yards, ran the clock out the rest of the way.
"We gave up too many yards, most definitely," Waianae coach Daniel Matsumoto said. "The coverage was there, but their guys made the plays. The boys definitely gave it their best and tried to get off the field."
At Waianae H.S. Field
RUSHING -- Mililani: Peter Raneses 9-97, Carlo Raneses 6-38, Jon Santos 3-11, Darren Smith 1-10, Jordan Perry 1-6. Waianae: Chris Lave 16-60, Uilau Faliuga 9-45, Tafilele Paululu 7-34, Maka Tanele 4-20 , Dillon Guzman 1-10.
Mililani (7-0, 6-0) 0 13 7 7 -- 27 Waianae (3-4, 3-3) 7 0 6 7 -- 20
PASSING -- Mililani: Maka Kahoano 13-20-0-167, Perry 0-1-1-0. Waianae: Faliuga 8-16-1-97.
RECEIVING -- Mililani: Smith 7-90, Andrew Tokumi 3-44, P. Raneses 3-33. Waianae: James Robinson 5-57, Guzman 1-30, Tanele 1-5, Justin Lafua 1-5.
Junior varsity -- Waianae 9, Mililani 0
