Mililani eliminates Kaimuki

Things don't come quite as easy this time of the year.

No. 8 Mililani shot out to a 28-point halftime lead before Kaimuki gave the crowd at John Kauinana Stadium some anxious moments. Not until Viliami Fonokalafi was stopped inches short on a fourth-down attempt with 5 minutes remaining could the Trojans feel comfortable in holding on for a 47-35 win last night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red division playoffs.

Mililani (7-2, 5-2) will travel to the North Shore to face top-seeded Kahuku next week.

The Trojans carved up the Bulldogs defense in the first half to the tune of 34 points. Trent McKinney threw four touchdown passes, including three to junior Bryson Calma, as the Bulldogs (2-7, 2-5) had no answer for Mililani's passing attack.

Kaimuki came out firing in the second half, as quarterback Eddie Char, who completed only two passes in the first half, had completions of 50 and 28 yards to set up his 8-yard touchdown run to pull to 34-14.

Chester Sua, who scored on an 86-yard kickoff return and finished with 123 yards on 14 carries, scored on an 11-yard run on the first play of the third quarter to make it a two-possession game.

Mililani answered as Nainoa Pihana, filling in for McKinney, who was knocked out of the game for two plays, scored on a 3-yard keeper to put Mililani back up 41-21.

Fonokalafi answered with a 1-yard touchdown run and the Bulldogs recovered the onside kick to give themselves a chance. Kaimuki drove into the red zone, but Fonokalafi was stopped inches short of the marker on fourth down at the 8.

Mililani's Elijah Langafuaina intercepted a Char pass with 3 minutes left after the Bulldogs had forced a three and out.

McKinney finished with 270 all-purpose yards for the Trojans. Char was 11-for-33 for 214 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing) for Kaimuki.

The teams didn't stop fighting until the end. Kris Ornellas returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown with 1:04 remaining. But Char answered with a 19-yard pass to Chris Fiamate with 27 seconds left as the two teams combined for 82 points.

Word of Life 50, Damien 42

The Firebrands needed three overtimes to turn back the Monarchs and earn their first ILH win.

Word of Life was 0-for-12 in conference games since fielding a team for the first time last year.

—Billy Hull

Moanalua jumps on Aiea

A perfect senior-night celebration — a blue wave of pageantry — was the fitting end to a perfect regular season for Moanalua.

Na Menehune rolled over Aiea 31-14 before a capacity crowd at Moanalua's field, closing the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference regular-season schedule with an 8-0 mark (8-1 overall).

“;We've been working hard on the field, studying the video every day,”; defensive lineman Chris Malakai-Park said. “;We're making history.”;

Tahje Canyon was scintillating, rushing for 182 yards on only 16 carries. His 65-yard jaunt on the game's second play from scrimmage set the tone. Moanalua rushed for 348 yards on 41 attempts without losing a fumble.

“;It was just good blocking and I cut back. We're trying to give the defense rest so they can do well,”; Canyon said. “;We help them out and they help us out.”;

Nobody at Moanalua can remember an unbeaten regular season, and though Na Menehune finished first atop the OIA White, there's nothing automatic about the postseason. Moanalua will need a win over fourth-place Kalaheo in Friday's playoff to secure a state tournament berth. A loss would end Na Menehune's season.

“;We told them it's not how you start, it's how you finish,”; coach Arnold Martinez said. “;Aiea's a great team. We've seen them make plays and come back before. Now we've got to win the next game against a tough Kalaheo team and take care of business.”;

Freddy Taliulu was 22-for-32 with 227 passing yards for Aiea, which scored only one offensive touchdown.

Moanalua's mix of I formation and double-wing spread was highly effective against an Aiea defense that missed defensive tackle Lawrence Lagafuaina, a 6-foot-1, 310-pound senior. Lagafuaina suffered an ankle sprain Monday.

“;We didn't go that hard. It was a lighter day,”; Na Alii coach Wendell Say said. Besides Lagafuaina, at least four other starters sat out, mostly due to injuries.

“;We still could've done the job. Moanalua didn't show us anything we didn't scout,”; Say said. “;We just didn't stop them, but hopefully we'll play them again.”;

The front five of left tackle Frank Loyd (6-3, 253), left guard Pono Kalua (5-10, 250), center Jovenn Pacheco (5-8, 240), right guard Roger Soriano (5-8, 200) and right tackle Ryan Cortez (6-0, 200) paved the way for Canyon, quarterback Adam Francisco and a host of ballcarriers.

After Canyon's touchdown gave Moanalua a 7-0 lead, Joel Talaro's interception at the Menehune 1-yard line ended Aiea's first scoring threat.

Moanalua went three and out, though, and Aiea took over at the Menehune 26-yard line after a short punt. Taliulu's 8-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Gabriel in the flat tied the game at 7 with 2:34 remaining in the first quarter. Moanalua's defense, led by lineman Rich Villasenor, tightened up and permitted only one more Aiea first down for the rest of the half.

Na Menehune attacked up the middle and on both flanks, driving 80 yards in nine plays for a go-ahead touchdown. Francisco faked to Canyon and sprinted up the middle for a 20-yard touchdown to give Moanalua a 14-7 lead with 10:48 left in the second quarter.

Moments later, Moanalua started a seven-play, 76-yard drive to paydirt. A face-mask penalty against Aiea helped, and Francisco's 4-yard keeper on another fake to Canyon boosted the lead to 21-7 with 6:35 to go in the first half.

Aiea's offense finished with 271 total yards, but most were between the 20s. A Taliulu pass to Williams at the Moanalua 19-yard line went bad when Williams lost the ball.

Moanalua then marched 70 yards in 10 plays, tossing the pigskin to Canyon for a 1-yard touchdown run. Na Menehune led 28-7 with 11:11 to play.

Matt Blakeley's 26-yard field goal made it 31-7 with 5:18 left.

Aiea added a touchdown with 2:28 left when Douglas Tautua picked off a pass by Moanalua backup quarterback Keven Amaral and returned it 26 yards.

Moanalua's only loss, 16-3 against Mililani, came in nonconference play.

Aiea won last year's matchup with Moanalua 26-8.

Radford 35, Waialua 6

Doug Brown threw two touchdowns as the Rams defeated the Bulldogs.

Phil Hogan led Radford with 129 yards on the ground and Chris Parmer finished things with a 76-yard run. The Rams held the Bulldogs to 12 yards rushing and 99 yards passing.

Anuenue 61, Kalani 25

Ikaika Gante rushed for 185 yards, including a touchdown from 65 yards out to start the scoring, to help Na Koa over the Falcons.

Keliikoa Aki finished the scoring with three rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter and ended up with 155 yards on the ground as Na Koa outrushed the Falcons 469-146.

—Paul Honda