Mililani peaks in OIA playoffs

They may be be the sleepers of the postseason, but make no mistake, the Mililani Trojans are wide awake.

Jarin Morikawa passed for four touchdowns and 320 yards, all in the first half, and the Trojans’ defense dominated in a 37-7 win over Castle last night in the opening round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs.

A crowd of about 2,500 endured a wet, cool night at John Kauinana Stadium, but were treated to another masterful performance by Mililani’s air attack. Deshawn Duncan-Benson was an elusive first-down converter with six receptions for 67 yards, while Kaimi Wilson and Trent Cole hauled in long touchdown passes for Mililani (3-4 OIA, 4-5 overall). Castle’s season ended at 2-5, 2-7.

The Trojans will meet No. 1-ranked Farrington next week in the quarterfinal round.

"We can’t wait to play them. They’re the No. 1 team, so it’s an honor to play them," Mililani coach Rod York said.

Farrington will have a stiff challenge against Mililani’s aerial game. Morikawa, who entered the game with 17 touchdown passes, completed 16 of his 22 attempts as their run-and-shoot attack had Castle’s secondary off balance.

"It’s great to bounce back from the Leilehua game," Morikawa said of last week’s close loss to the Red West’s first-place team. "To get a ‘W’ again and get that bad taste out of our mouths. We’re peaking at the right time."

Castle coach Nelson Maeda agreed.

"We’ve got a long way to go. Mililani looked very good. Morikawa was very crisp, very sharp. They’ve got big playmakers with Duncan-Benson and Wilson, and a good supporting cast," Maeda said. "They’re peaking at the right time. I’m sorry we couldn’t give them a better game."

Morikawa was on point from the start, directing the Trojans to three touchdowns in three possessions, using just 12 plays. His first scoring strike, a 13-yard play-action toss to Ervan Jean-Pierre, was followed by a 12-yard burst up the gut for a touchdown by Kaimi Andres-Kamakau.

After Morikawa connected with Wilson for a 75-yard bomb, the Trojans had a 21-0 lead with 4:06 to go in the first quarter.

Once the rain started to fall on an already soggy field, Castle struggled with its shotgun snap. A bad snap led to a sack by Mene Perese in the end zone for a safety early in the second quarter, and after Morikawa found Dustin Camarillo open for an 11-yard touchdown pass, Mililani had a comfortable 30-0 lead with 4:57 to go in the first half.

The Trojans’ final touchdown, a 57-yard spiral to Trent Cole on a fake screen, pushed the lead to 37 points with 3:05 left before halftime.

With the clock running in the second half due to the 35-point lead rule, Castle mustered its lone touchdown on backup Brett Harrington’s 64-yard pass to Makana Bee with 2:29 left in the game.

Mililani limited Castle to minus-3 rushing yards, netting sacks by Jonathan Makaiau, Ian Namu, Kelii Padello and Perese.

Now the Trojans take aim at the might Governors of Farrington.

"We’ve got to get to the film room, look at their schemes and find a way to pick their defense apart," Morikawa said.

At John Kauinana Stadium

Alex Ironside threw for 138 yards as the Tigers shut out the Mustangs. At Roosevelt

Also Nanakuli 34, Nanakuli 6

MIL

Baldwin 28, King Kekaulike 6