Mililani head coach Rod York placed command of the Trojans offense in Jarin Morikawa’s hands Friday night.
The senior quarterback then helped the fourth-ranked Trojans maintain control of the OIA Red West race with a 35-10 win over Aiea.
With five receivers spread across the field for much of the game, Morikawa threw for 387 yards and three touchdowns and the Trojans improved to 4-1 in the division to remain atop the standings with one game left in the regular season.
“We’ve got one more game. We control our own destiny, so we feel good about that,” Morikawa said.
Mililani faces Waipahu next week to close the schedule and can clinch a bye in the first round of the OIA Red playoffs.
Morikawa spent most of the first half alone in the backfield as the receivers flooded the secondary. He repeatedly found openings in the Aiea defense to complete 20 of 28 throws for 300 yards and two touchdowns before halftime. He finished the game with 29 completions in 41 attempts.
“Basically Jarin was making the calls and picking wherever they’re not,” York said. “The (offensive) line gave us time, which is why we can run that set.”
Morikawa went 5-for-6 on the Trojans’ first possession, hitting Erren Jean-Pierre for 38 yards, then finding him again on a streak down the right side for a 37-yard touchdown.
A 30-yard completion to Kainoa Wilson later in the first quarter set up Dayton Furuta’s 2-yard run to give the Trojans a 14-0 lead.
After Aiea got on the scoreboard with a 29-yard field goal by Jae Won Huh, an interception by Mililani’s by Mike Atuaia set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Morikawa to Dakota Turner and the Trojans took a 21-3 lead into halftime.
“The coaches set up a great game plan. We had a great look from our defense in practice all week, so we were prepared very well coming into the game,” Morikawa said.
Morikawa said the five-wide look was “just a little wrinkle for the game. Hopefully we’ll continue to use it, it worked pretty well tonight.”
Mililani’s defense forced turnovers on all three Aiea possessions in the third quarter, with Ian Namu scooping up a fumble and returning it 70 yards for a touchdown.
After Aiea lost another fumble, the Trojans put together a 17-play drive that took 8:47 off the clock and ended with Morikawa’s 10-yard scoring pass to Bronson Ramos.
Mililani’s Preston Sinn led the Trojans with nine receptions for 101 yards.
Aiea scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Mana Kaahanui to Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti late in the game. Na Alii suited up just 34 players for the game, down from 56 to start the season, due to injuries and disciplinary reasons and fell to 1-4 in the OIA Red West.
“It’s not going to be win at all cost for us,” Aiea head coach Wendell Say said. “The kids need to learn accountability. It hurts, but we still have a good team; we just have to play four quarters.”
At Aiea
MILILANI (4-1, 6-1) 14 7 7 7 — 35
AIEA (1-4, 3-4) 0 3 0 7 — 10
MIL—Erren Jean-Pierre 37 pass from Jarin Morikawa (Ryan Carlomany kick)
MIL—Dayton Furuta 2 run (Carlomany kick)
AIEA—FG Jae Won Huh 29
MIL—Dakota Turner 10 pass from Morikawa (Carlomany kick)
MIL—Ian Namu 70 fumble return (Carlomany kick)
MIL—Bronson Ramos 10 pass from Morikawa (Carlomany kick)
AIEA —Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti 17 pass from Mana Kaahanui (Huh kick)
RUSHING—Mililani: Kamalii Olayan-Keawe 9-50, Morikawa 7-6, Antonio Boies 2-5, Furuta 3-(-3), Team 3-(-39). Aiea: Kaahanui 10-65, Naz Igafo 2-8, Jalen Medeiros 4-7, Benjamin Taliulu 1-6, Samate Talia 5-5, Ualesi Sale 2-0.
PASSING—Mililani: Morikawa 29-41-0-387. Aiea: Kaahanui 16-27-3-215, Sale 1-2-0-22.
RECEIVING—Mililani: Preston Sinn 9-101, Kainoa Wilson 4-50, Colton Dayacos-Gaspar 7-64, Jean-Pierre 3-91, Dustin Camarillo 2-37, Roosevelt Baker 2-24, Turner 1-10, Ramos 1-10. Aiea: Kalei Liilii 5-64, Talia 4-39, Hernandez-Fonoti 3-54, Medeiros 2-24, Kamakana Apelu 2-35, Sale 1-21.
Junior Varsity–Mililani 48, Aiea 13
OIA RED EAST
McKinley 14, Kailua 7
Gerime Bradley rushed for 92 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Tigers defeated the Surfriders.
Kahaku Iaea passed for 196 yards and a touchdown in the loss for Kailua.
At Roosevelt
KAILUA (2-3, 2-5) 0 0 7 0 — 7
MCKINLEY (2-3, 3-4) 6 0 0 8 — 14
MCK—Gerime Bradley 39 run (kick failed)
KAIL—Micah Kaimana 21 pass from Kahaku Iaea (Lily Berry Liftee kick)
MCK—Bradley 9 run (Mathias Tuitele-Iafeta run)
RUSHING—Kailua: Kekoa Ford 12-35, Frederick Welch 7-35, Noah Auld 1-16, Kirk Ronolo 1-5, Thomas Buntenbah-Leong 1-2, Kaimana 1-2. McKinley: Bradley 13-92, Tuitele Iafeta 11-80, Brandon Walker 3-17, Denzel Kalahiki Gasper 5-14.
PASSING—Kailua: Iaea 19-33-2-196. McKinley: Walker 3-7-0-11, Kalahiki-Gasper 1-3-0-8.
RECEIVING—Kailua: Kaimana 7-82, Ford 2-37, Wyatt Dalessio 2-29, Auld 2-21, Welch 2-14, Butenbah-Leong 2-8, Ronolo 1-5, Dustin Justin 1-0. McKinley: Kui Williams 2-20, Tuitele Iafeta 2-(-1).
Junior Varsity—McKinley 14, Kailua 0
