[ OIA RED WEST ]
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Mililani rides
defense to win
In the space of one game, the difference between a great team and a good team is often just a handful of plays.
Mililani got superb defense and big plays at the right moments in a 34-13 victory over Aiea last night.
"We got the win. I think Aiea is one of the better teams with one of the better defenses," Mililani coach James Millwood said.
The Trojans welcomed last year's Division II state champion back to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West with stifling defense. Mililani shut out Aiea's offense, and Na Alii's two touchdowns came on defense and special teams.
"It's like I thought before the game: We have a long ways to go," Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "We gotta execute and cut out mistakes."
Aiea committed 12 penalties worth 106 yards. Mililani fared better -- though not to Millwood's expectations -- with nine flags for 50 yards.
The regular-season-opening win confirmed what Red West coaches had echoed early on: Mililani is the team to beat. The Trojans finished with 208 total yards -- a relatively modest sum -- but put a vise grip around Aiea's scintillating passer, Kali Kuia.
Aiea's run-and-shoot attack finished with just 105 total yards, and Kuia couldn't find much room to play with. He completed 14 of 21 attempts for just 50 yards with one interception. When the Trojans weren't blitzing against Aiea's four-receiver, shotgun formation, they stayed back in an effective zone.
"Mililani's defense did a great job. They put pressure on us," Say noted. "Our receivers need to be able to read the defense. We can't use the excuse that we're young. We've executed before."
There was little room for Kuia to scramble. He finished with minus-3 yards on five attempts, taking one sack. Aiea rushed for 55 yards on 17 tries.
Mililani rushed 34 times out of its I wing and I slot formations for 155 yards. Kekoa Perbera, a junior, led the way with 62 yards on eight carries.
Maka Kahoano completed just four of 10 passes for 53 yards, but his playmaking was timely.
"Our plan was to come out balanced," Kahoano said. "And take what the defense gave us."
Mililani's ability to move the ball on the ground wore down Aiea's staunch defensive front. It was a classic battle between behemoths like Mililani guard Sene Ma'afala (6-2, 365 pounds) and Aiea defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea (6-3, 295).
"Overall, Aiea is a good team," Ma'afala said. "But I don't think anybody in the West has a stronger defense than what we see every single day."
Perbera's 26-yard punt return set up Mililani at the Aiea 26-yard line for its opening possession. Five plays later, Kahoano snuck in from the 1 for Mililani's first score. A procedure call on the PAT pushed the Trojans back 5 yards, and on the ensuing play, a high snap forced the holder, Kahoano, to bail. He was stopped at the 2-yard line, but Mililani led 6-0 with about 6 minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
Kuia found receivers out of Aiea's trips formations, but each time, the Trojans were waiting to make big hits. Aiea was unable to penetrate Mililani territory in its next two possessions.
Kahoano's field sense came through on third and 11, when he eluded two would-be sackers, then spun to avoid another tackler. He raced upfield for a 45-yard gain. Two plays later, Perbera cut back against the grain and raced up the left sideline for a 39-yard touchdown jaunt.
Aiea's offense continued to struggle, so Na Alii's defense stepped up. Moments after a Kuia pass was intercepted by Justin Morris, linebacker Marcus Morishige nailed Kahoano before the quarterback could hand the ball off on a draw play.
The ball squirted free at midfield, and Roland Foumai picked it up on a good bounce. The 6-3, 225-pound junior raced 51 yards to paydirt, and Aiea was back in the game. Na Alii trailed 13-7 with 38 seconds left in the half.
Aiea returned the gift a moment later, when Mililani's Jon Santos returned the kickoff 86 yards up the middle for a touchdown. The Trojans regained momentum and had a 20-7 lead with 25 seconds remaining before intermission.
Nanakuli 19, Pearl City 11:Jaycee Alapai ran in two touchdowns as the Golden Hawks beat the Chargers for their first win of the year.
The senior also rushed for 121 yards and threw for 52 on 3-for-9 passing.
Joshua Tokunaga threw for 71 yards on 6-for-37 passing for Pearl City.
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