Defense steps in to save Mililani’s offensive machine

In this day and age, you’d expect a distinct cheer from the boisterous crowd of 19,254 at Aloha Stadium as the University of Hawaii basketball team completed its upset victory over Pitt on Maui on Friday evening.

Word travels instantaneously now via mobile devices. But if there was any immediate acknowledgement of the Rainbow Warriors’ monumental win, it was lost in the continuous appreciation of what was happening before the crowd’s eyes — Mililani and Punahou running up and down the carpet, scoring points at a rate more consistent with college basketball than high school football.

The Trojans hung on to win 53-45 as the scoring slowed down in the second half, to the relief of the stat crew and defensive coordinators.

As you can see, no rooting interest was required to enjoy this one … just an appreciation for plenty of big plays.

The score and the combined 1,214 yards of offense might make you think this game was bereft of stopping power, but you’d be wrong. The defenses for both teams stepped up in a scoreless fourth quarter, and both turned in huge fourth-down stonewalls.

It was the most exciting football seen in this stadium since 2007, when UH came from behind to beat Washington and complete an unbeaten 12-0 regular season.

As it was then, no lead was safe.

The 120 minutes in Friday pau hana traffic were well worth even just the first 12 minutes of football, in which Mililani generated 206 yards and Punahou 203 yards, and after which the Trojans led 26-7.

Mililani’s magical quarterback McKenzie Milton piled up points like a pinball wizard. His escapability and passing touch were on full display. But even with a 46-31 halftime margin no one was counting out the defending champions in this rematch of the 2013 final.

The question early was if mistakes might come back to haunt one of the teams later: The 83-yard pick six by the Trojans’ Ty Purcell-Apana? Or the PATs that Punahou blocked?

A record 53-yard field goal by Punahou’s Jet Toner closed the first-half scoring and the Buffanblu took a deficit but momentum into the break.

As great as Milton was with seven touchdown passes, running back Wayne Taulapapa was almost as fine for Punahou with 260 yards rushing and three scores. Almost, because of one fateful play.

Turnovers were the big difference (three for Punahou, one for Mililani), especially the two caused by Purcell-Apana. In addition to his interception and the ensuing long, winding run to the end zone, he stripped the ball from Punahou’s stud on the Buffanblu’s final drive.

Taulapapa came so close to a fourth TD, but Purcell-Apana caused a fumble that went out of the end zone, resulting by rule in a change of possession.

I’ve always despised that rule, but still can’t think of a better punishment for the mistake. I guess if you don’t take care of the ball you deserve whatever fate comes your way.

And, as often happens in such high-scoring, close games, it’s a defender who makes the difference. The Trojans offense will be rightfully remembered, but no one should ever forget Ty Purcell-Apana’s decisive contributions to Mililani’s first football state championship.

Reach Star-Advertiser sports columnist Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com and twitter.com/davereardon.