GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Mililani's Geoffrey Badua leaned forward for extra yardage against Castle last night.

Mililani’s Taz bedevils Castle in opener

After honoring its past, Mililani heralded a new era for its football program by rolling to a 43-6 win over Castle last night.

Prior to kickoff of the season opener, Mililani held a dedication ceremony to rename the school's stadium after former coach and athletic director John Kauinana.

The No. 7 Trojans, under first-year head coach Darnell Arceneaux, then continued the festivities by scoring on six of their seven first-half possessions on their way to the program's seventh straight opening-night victory.

Quarterback Rustin Funakoshi passed for two touchdowns in the first half and the Trojans rolled in a series of running backs to rack up 162 rushing yards before halftime to take a 30-6 lead into the break.

Mililani sophomore Taz Stevenson scored three touchdowns, two on short runs and a third on an 87-yard kickoff return to open the second half.

Arceneaux moved up from offensive coordinator to head coach following the retirement of James Millwood, who stepped down after 13 years leading the Trojans.

"We've had some great coaches, Kauinana and James Millwood obviously, so there's a lot of big shoes I do have to follow in," Arceneaux said. "If we continue to grow as a community and a school the sky's the limit for our football program.

"I'm very happy that we were able to get a win to open this up."

Arceneaux installed an offense patterned after Urban Meyer's schemes at Utah and Florida and the Trojans churned out 201 rushing yards, led by Trevor Lee's 65.

The defense limited the Knights to 123 first-half yards, 69 coming on Bronson Kekahuna's winding journey to the end zone in the second quarter.

After Michael Among-Serrao ripped off back-to-back 14-yard runs, Stevenson capped Mililani's first possession with a 3-yard TD plunge.

The Trojans' second possession was extended by a roughing-the-kicker penalty on a punt, and Funakoshi capitalized by rolling to his right and hitting Trent Tamate for a 35-yard score.

Mililani padded the lead with Stevenson's second short touchdown run of the night, Moshi Mabry's 25-yard TD reception from Funakoshi and a 44-yard field goal by Collin Lund to close the half.

Stevenson started the second half by fielding the opening kick, bursting through a crease on the left side and sprinting 87 yards to the end zone for his third score of the night.

"Mililani's very impressive, very sharp," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "They are going to be the force to reckoned with on the west side."

Mililani opens its OIA Red West schedule at Waianae on Friday. Castle hosts Kamehameha in an interleague game.

"We have to tighten up the bolts because we're going into a war next week," Arceneaux said.