One powerhouse has a proven, prolific senior quarterback, Dillon Gabriel.
The other powerhouse has two players at the position, splitting time with nearly identical statistics.
One program has a veteran head coach, Rod York, in his ninth season at Mililani. The other has a longtime head coach, Darren Johnson, who is only in his second season at Campbell.
The results, no matter the slight differences, are quite similar for the Mililani Trojans and Campbell Sabers in 2018.
When the two titans in the West clash on Saturday at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium, the possibility of Tropical Storm Olivia-caused wet weather should favor the home team. Then again, the Trojans had their share of turnovers last weekend in a 43-21 loss to Punahou.
“Both of us do some of the same kind of things,” Johnson said. “I don’t know. I hope it’s a plus for us. It rains more in Mililani than it does in Ewa.”
No. 4 Campbell (4-0, 1-0 OIA Open) and No. 5 Mililani (3-2, 1-0 OIA Open) are smack dab in the middle of their regular-season schedules. With this year’s OIA-ILH alliance, there is hardly a bye week, never a physically advantageous matchup. Campbell enters the game with two starters likely out because of injuries. Mililani has already had its share of injured starters.
There are always psychological aspects. A road game wouldn’t have hurt the Trojans after losing at home. The loss ended a nine-game home-field win streak that dated back to 2016.
Campbell has won its last five games at home. In Johnson’s two seasons, the Sabers are 7-2 at home, 1-2 on a neutral field, and 2-2 as the away team. But any concerns about playing away against the state’s top teams (in the OIA Open Division) dissipated with a 37-20 win over O’Connor in Arizona nearly three weeks ago.
“Our kids really like playing at home. We played far away and we’ve played at home. Our kids, they play good football and we work hard and correct the mistakes we made last game, we’ll be OK,” Johnson said.
The most obvious error was a dropped under-center snap in victory formation during last week’s 26-22 win over Kamehameha. The visiting Warriors scooped up the football and scored a touchdown to cut the lead to four.
“You practice stuff like that, putting the ball away, tucking the ball. It happened to our football team, I saw it happen to the Denver Broncos, the Minnesota Vikings,” Johnson said. “This week we did it more. The quarterback and center did it a lot. It was added to their work before practice. You can’t take any phase of the game for granted.”
Campbell’s upcoming four-game stretch may be the toughest for any team statewide this season:
>> at Mililani, Saturday
>>vs. Punahou, Sept. 22
>> vs. Saint Louis, Sept. 28
>> vs. Kahuku, Oct. 6
“Everyone’s got their (top five games) spread out. Ours is in a sequence. We’re going at this one game at a time. We just want to get out of every game with a victory,” Johnson said.
The strength of schedule takes a toll, so Johnson and his staff have taken a specific route to combat the normal attribution due to injuries.
“We’ve fortunately been playing a lot of kids this year, so we’re kind of like, next man, you just got to do the job. Just do one job, yours. We’re trying to simplify it that way. One man does one job, not 11 jobs,” he said.
Sometimes, the worst time to play a proud program is immediately after they’ve lost a game.
“They’re good. They’ve got kids who make plays. They’ve got a good share of Division I prospects. They’re well, well coached. Their kids listen. They’re very disciplined,” Johnson said.
Campbell’s offense, with Krenston Kaipo (496 passing yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions) and Kaniala Kalaola (475, seven, three) at the controls, has the kind of balance Johnson prefers. The Sabers have a combined 105 pass attempts and 116 rushing attempts.
Sky Lactaoen (438 yards, four TDs) is averaging 9.1 yards per carry. TItus Mokiao-Atimalala (17 receptions, 396 yards, four TDs, 23.2 yards per catch) and Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala (13, 218, three, 16.8 yards per catch) lead the receiving corps.
The key, Johnson said, has been a much-improved offensive line: left tackle Jamal Ellerbe, left guard Harrington Waa, center Sir-Wallace Channel, right guard Kenneth Hitzeman and right tackle Lorin Lacuesta. Busy reserves include Lyrik Belaras and Cayne Carino and the tight end is Viliami Vaimoui.
“We see so much improvement from last year to now. There’s so much work to do, but they’re coming together and working hard,” Johnson said.
Gabriel has been masterful with 1,367 passing yards and 16 TD passes, with just three picks for the Trojans. Kilifi Malepeai, their 250-pound running back, has been a gasher when healthy (228 yards, two TDs in three games).
Six Trojans are already in double-digit totals with receptions, led by deep threat Ryan Chang (20 catches, 328 yards, three TDs).
BEST OF THE REST
Punahou vs. Saint Louis
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium
If No. 1 Saint Louis’ stifling defensive tradition is the cornerstone, the run-and-shoot provides the elevation. Junior QB Jayden de Laura (578 passing yards, eight TDs, two INT) continues to disperse his passes to Roman Wilson, Chance Beyer, Makoa Close and Koali Nishigaya, as well as four more Crusaders (3-0, 2-0 ILH Open) who have caught at least one ball.
Punahou’s defense is resilient, but in the Buffanblu’s lone loss so far, Kahuku moved the football on the ground. Saint Louis was heavily dependent on the aerial game en route to the state title last year. This season, the Crusaders have capable chain-movers in Dayton Sam (178 yards, three TDs), Robbie Paikai (119, two) and more. In fact, Saint Louis has passed the ball 58 times and run it 70 times through three games.
No. 3 Punahou (3-1, 3-1 ILH Open) is coming off a 43-21 win over Mililani and is in the midst of a three-game win streak. Vincent Terrell (292 rushing yards, three TDs) and Sitiveni Kaufusi have stabilized the offense. Hugh Brady has passed for 1,188 yards and 12 TDs with just two interceptions.
The receiver corps is led by Tamatoa Falatea (33 catches, 476 yards, three TDs), Koa Eldredge (16, 382, six) and Moku Dancil-Evans (17, 169, two). The group continues to improve.
Saint Louis, ranked No. 10 nationally by MaxPreps, has won the past three meetings with Punahou. The Buffanblu last defeated the Crusaders on Sept. 29, 2016.
The Crusaders have wins over Waianae (69-6), Narbonne (47-7) and Kahuku (30-14).
Kamehameha vs. Kahuku
Today, 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium
This game originally was scheduled at Kahuku’s Carleton E. Weimer Field, but the OIA announced the site change on Wednesday due to inclement weather caused by Tropical Storm Olivia.
“A few years ago we tried to play there (after heavy rain), but it took a long time to drain,” OIA executive director Raymond Fujino said.
The season has been a roller coaster, thanks to the busiest schedule in No. 6 Kamehameha’s history. The Warriors (2-2, 1-2 ILH Open) are coming off a 26-22 loss at Campbell. Now it’s a game against No. 2 Kahuku (3-1, 2-0 OIA Open).
Kahuku started Thorton Alapa at quarterback last week. He stayed in until suffering a leg injury in the third quarter.
The teams last met on Aug. 20, 2011 in a nonleague game at Aloha Stadium, a 13-3 win for the Red Raiders. In ’09, Kamehameha met Kahuku for the state title, a 34-21 victory for the Warriors at Aloha Stadium.
Moanalua vs. Leilehua
Today, 7:30 p.m. at Leilehua
Two surging teams will collide in this OIA Division I matchup at Hugh Yoshida Stadium. No. 9 Leilehua (4-1, 3-0 OIA D-I) has improved each week, and the return of RB James McGary adds a major weapon to the Mules’ offense. McGary has picked up where he left off last year. The tall playmaker shredded ‘Iolani for 223 yards and three TDs on 28 carries in last week’s 31-20 victory.
McGary missed the first three games with an injured finger. His return, plus the offensive line’s penchant for run-blocking, has taken quite a load off QB Max Nichols. After averaging nearly 34 pass attempts in Leilehua’s first four games, Nichols threw just 14 passes against the Raiders.
If there’s a team that’s charging higher than the Mules, it might be Moanalua (3-0, 3-0 OIA D-I). QB Nick Au is on fire with a 70 percent completion rate (85-for-121) and 11 TD passes with six picks.
Already, five Menehune have double-digit reception totals. Ezra Grace (19 receptions, 290 yards, three TDs) and CJ Paleafei (23, 233, three) are among the state’s leading pass catchers.
The last time these programs met, Moanalua won 58-22 on Oct. 9, 2015. Prior to that, Leilehua had won 24 games in a row over Na Menehune.
Kapolei vs. Farrington
Saturday, 6:30 p.m. at Farrington
The Governors (1-4, 0-3 OIA Open) returned to the islands with another loss, 24-20 against Carson (Calif.), but momentum is on their side. Chris Afe’s second game since returning from a hand injury was a plus, and the overall youth of the Govs’ roster is beginning to tilt.
Farrington’s pass rush will be a key factor against No. 8 Kapolei’s mammoth offensive line, led by LT Julius Buelow (6-8, 320). Kapolei (3-2, 1-0 OIA Open) struggled to run the ball against Waianae last week, but sophomore QB Noa Bailey broke out with a 360-yard, three-TD performance through the air in a 46-0 win.
The ‘Canes will run the ball given a chance, though. Zion-Jabez Robello and Ezekiel Waiolama have combined for 635 rushing yards and five TDs.
Farrington’s offense will face a Kapolei defense that has five interceptions, including two pick-6 plays and five sacks. Three of those takedowns were by LB Kevin Burkel.
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Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
