Maka Kahoano is the first returning starting quarterback Mililani coach James Millwood has had since 1999.
Force to reckon with
Jon Santos and Maka Kahoano give
Mililani a solid 1-2 offensive punch
The play-action pass is so much more than just a page in the playbook for the Mililani Trojans.
To run it well, a team must establish the running game, forcing opposing defensive backs to react quickly to the handoff. Also necessary are a quarterback, with the sleight of hand and poise to draw in the secondary, and a fleet-footed wideout who can exploit a cornerback's stutter-step and blow right by him to freedom down the sideline.
Besides serving as the Trojans' staple big-play call, the play-action typifies the program's stealthy rise to the top of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West Conference, and also showcases Mililani's Dynamic Duo of Jon Santos and Maka Kahoano.
Teammates since the eighth grade, Santos and Kahoano have led Mililani to consecutive conference crowns and back-to-back undefeated regular-seasons as the Trojans have gone 13-0 in league games.
With the wily Kahoano under center and speed burner Santos out wide, Mililani has quickly become a force to reckon with, rising to become a bonafide power on the Hawaii prep football scene.
"Jon's our big-play guy," coach James Millwood said. "He's been our go-to guy all season, whether we need a first down or a big play, Maka has made a big difference for us in that he knows the offense. He's the first returning starting quarterback I've had since 1999, and the experience he got last year has made him more confident."
Wide receiver Jon Santos and quarterback Maka Kahoano have led the Trojans to consecutive conference titles.
With Kahoano netting two more passing touchdowns and a pair of rushing scores, and Santos finding the end zone on a kick return and a halfback pass play, the duo has accounted for 72 of Mililani's offensive points this year.
"They fit like hand and glove," said Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda. "They just seem to know what each other is thinking on each play.
"Santos may not touch the ball for 20 plays, but when he does something big usually happens. Maka is a leader for them. He doesn't have the eye-popping numbers. He just wins, and that's exactly what you want in a quarterback."
The duo's success has also fueled a few living room conversations, considering their football bloodlines.
Kahoano is the son of former prep standout and University of Hawaii player Emlen Kahoano.
"I'm glad that I was able to grow up in a football environment," Kahoano said. "Sometimes I won't want to talk right after the games because I'm so tired, so we usually talk on Sunday. But my dad's always telling me to represent the name."
Santos is the younger brother of twins Jose and Jaton Santos, both league all-stars on the defensive side of the ball for Millwood from 2000-02.
Jose, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker was voted the league's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
"I get a lot of advice, especially from Jose," Santos said. "He was a receiver before he headed over to defense, so he always has a lot of advice and critique for me."
Among state leaders with 690 receiving yards, Santos has drawn interest from San Diego State, Boise State and Hawaii.
"He's fast and he's hard to tackle after the catch," Millwood said. "You rarely see one guy bring him down. A lot of times skill guys from Hawaii don't get the same looks as the linemen, but Jon can play."
Kahoano has guided the Trojan offense quite efficiently as a senior, passing for 731 yards in league play and 1,338 overall, completing 51 percent of his passes while throwing only four interceptions in 158 attempts.
"Playing with him has been pretty fun," Santos said.
"On a couple of plays I scored on this year, I was supposed to run one way, but broke another. We just gave each other a look and he knew what I was thinking."
Mililani, ranked No. 3 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10, visits Maui Interscholastic League champ Lahainaluna on Friday in the first round of the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships. Lahainaluna is ranked fifth in the Top 10.
"It's going to be a new experience," Millwood said.
"We've never traveled before, so catching the plane ride and everything will be a challenge."
With their Dynamic Duo at the line of scrimmage, the Trojans will have good leadership as they travel uncharted waters.
And they'll always be just a stutter-step away from six points.
