|
Trojans top Surfriders
to reach semifinals
Maka Kahoano passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as Mililani outlasted Kailua, 41-21, last night at Aloha Stadium.
The win lifted the Trojans into the semifinal round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs. Mililani, ranked No. 2 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10, improved to 9-0 overall. The Trojans will play the Castle-Kapolei winner.
The Trojans didn't have it easy last night because of a spirited effort by Kailua. The game was tied at the half, 21-all, behind the strength of several two-way Surfriders.
Damien Torres rushed for 102 yards on 13 attempts, but just 26 yards came in the second half. Kekoa Sua, who ran for 53 yards and a pair of scores before halftime, had just 2 yards in the second half. In all, Kailua finished with 292 total yards, but only 86 came after intermission.
"We needed to tackle better and stick to our assignments," Mililani head coach James Millwood said. "We were too jumpy, and you can't arm tackle their running backs."
The Trojans' offensive line wore down Kailua.
"They had a lot of guys on their offensive line, defensive line going both ways," Millwood said, noting the absence of five Kailua players. The five, including three starters, were suspended one game after last week's postgame fracas against Nanakuli.
"(Mililani) came out and just wanted it," Kailua quarterback Kelroy Kohatsu said of the second half. "I think with their offense and defense, they can get to the championship game."
Mililani ran the ball for 209 yards on 37 attempts. Kahoano was impeccable, completing 13 of 21 attempts for 177 yards through the air. In all, Mililani amassed 426 total yards.
With Torres and Sua in the backfield, Kailua fooled the Trojan defense with misdirection plays. On Kailua's second possession, Sua broke away for a 36-yard touchdown jaunt thanks to a nifty cutback across the grain. Tim Maghinay's PAT kick gave Kailua a 7-0 lead with 7:02 left in the first quarter.
Mililani answered quickly. Kekoa Perbera, who finished with 85 rushing yards, took a toss and launched a 40-yard bomb to Jon Santos, who beat two defenders to haul in the spiral in the end zone.
Mililani missed the extra-point attempt, and Kailua remained ahead, 7-6, with 5:33 to go in the opening stanza.
Kailua marched 63 yards in six plays on its ensuing possession. Torres picked up 25 yards on a misdirection play, setting up a 12-yard touchdown run by Sua. Kailua led 14-7 with 2:37 to play in the first.
|
Mililani, using I slot and trips formations, tied the game with an 11-play, 49-yard drive. Perbera picked up 9 yards on a key fourth-and-3 play deep in Kailua territory. Mililani stuck with its short-yardage, wishbone set, and Kahoano found Torres open for a 3-yard scoring toss.
Kahoano eluded three would-be sackers and found Perbera in the back of the end zone on the 2-point PAT. The game was tied at 14 with 9:17 remaining in the first half.
The Surfriders took advantage of a sleepy Mililani secondary on the next possession. Kohatsu drilled a short pass to Aaron Sylva, and with one defender missing on an interception attempt and another completely missing a tackle, Sylva raced downfield for a 63-yard touchdown play. Kailua led 21-14 with 3:17 to go in the half.
Mililani answered with a 10-play, 78-yard drive. Kahoano found Nick Rogers open for a big 23-yard pass play, and a pass interference call against Kailua on another pass attempt to Rogers gave Mililani a first down at the Surfriders' 13-yard line.
With no timeouts and the clock winding down, Kahoano scrambled for a 9-yard touchdown run. Jordan Torres' PAT kick tied the game at 21 with 8 seconds left before intermission. A replay showed that Kahoano got the benefit of a good spot.
"When I got tackled, I was scared I didn't make it," he said.
Mililani's swarming defense, anchored by Michael Suan, stuck to its responsibilities and found success in the second half. Perbera scored on a 2-yard run, and Jordan Apduhan breezed in from 6 yards out as the Trojans took a 35-21 lead into the final quarter.
"Even with when we took the lead, they still ran. That's been their game, and they've beaten us like that before," Millwood said.
Kahoano connected with Rogers for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 7:44 remaining.
No. 2 Mililani 41, Kailua 21
Kailua (4-5-1) 14 7 0 0 -- 21 Mililani (9-0) 6 15 14 6 -- 41
Kail--Kekoa Sua 36 run (Tim Maghinay kick).
Mil--Jon Santos 40 pass from Kekoa Perbera (kick failed).
Kail--Sua 12 run (Maghinay kick).
Mil--Jordan Torres 3 pass from Maka Kahoano (Kekoa Perbera pass Kahoano).
Kail--Aaron Sylva 63 pass from Kelroy Kohatsu (Maghinay kick).
Mil--Kahoano 9 run (Torres kick).
Mil--Perbera 2 run (Torres kick).
Mil--Jordan Apduhan 6 run (Torres kick).
Mil--Nick Rogers 11 pass from Kahoano (kick blocked).RUSHING--Kailua: Damien Torres 13-102, Sua 11-55, Travis Holeso-Wolfe 2-10, Kohatsu 2-(-13). Mililani: Kekoa Osurman 4-11, Perbera 14-85, J. Torres 8-52, Jay Greene 2-10, Kahoano 4-8, Jason Alexander 1-(-1), Apduhan 3-24, Rogers 1-20.
PASSING--Kailua: Kohatsu 8-18-0-138. Mililani: Kahoano 13-21-0-177, Perbera 1-1-0-40.
RECEIVING--Kailua: Sua 2-7, Holeso-Wolfe 2-12, Sylva 2-65, Shaun Forges 1-24, Makana Atisanoe 1-30. Mililani: Rogers 3-62, Santos 5-76, Osurman 2-19, J. Torres 3-19, Perbera 1-41.
