The machine called Mililani returned home Saturday night to batter Kailua 49-7 in an OIA Blue football game.
The second-ranked Trojans (3-0, 2-0 OIA) came out flying, taking a quick 21-0 lead and never looking back. In all, Mililani scored on seven of its eight offensive possessions.
"We wanted to start fast in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — because we hadn’t started fast like that in a while," Mililani coach Rod York said. "And it was good to see that we executed that."
You can’t start faster than scoring on the first play from scrimmage, and that’s what the Trojans did. Quarterback McKenzie Milton found Kalakaua Timoteo on a wheel route and it turned into a 78-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
Milton, the junior who guided Mililani to the state final a year ago, completed 13 of 15 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns.
"We were clicking on offense and defense," Milton said. "Now it’s time to get ready for Kapolei. It was good to come out and play a good Kailua team. They’re scrappy, for sure. We feel real good about our first two games."
On the Trojans’ second possession, Milton connected with Joshua Butac for a 35-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead.
As usual, running back Vavae Malepeai got into the offensive act in a big way.
He finished with 80 yards on nine carries and touchdown runs of 2, 22 and 6 yards.
Malepeai’s first two TD runs gave Mililani a 28-0 bulge and Milton also added a running TD from 20 yards out to make it 35-0 with 3:34 left in the half.
Kailua (0-2, 0-2) had trouble moving the ball in the first half against Mililani’s wall of defenders, but its attack started to blossom after the break.
Late in the third quarter, Surfriders running back Paepaeiva Silifaiva-Kaeha rattled off a 30-yard run to help get the ball to the Mililani 3, but the drive stalled on a fourth-down play when Kailua starting quarterback Tristan Futa was sacked by the Trojans’ Kahewai Ka’aiawa’awa.
"We still have a lot of work to do," said Mililani defensive lineman Rex Manu, who had one of his team’s four sacks. "We want more three-and-outs."
Kailua scored its only touchdown early in the fourth when a bad punt snap resulted in a big loss and the Surfriders took over at the 2.
On the next play, Futa scored from 2 yards out. Futa, a senior, is the backup to junior veteran Noah Auld, who is out with a concussion.
Mililani receiver Kainoa Wilson also missed the game with a collarbone injury.
Timoteo caught four passes for 134 yards for the Trojans.
"We had a lot of confusion in our secondary early in the game," Surfriders coach Joseph Wong said. "You can’t give up 21 points right off the bat to a team like Mililani and expect to do much. We moved the ball, but didn’t put it into the end zone as much as we would have liked."
Kailua hosts Aiea next Saturday, with the possibility of Auld being back in the lineup.
"He gives us a chance," Wong said.
Mililani hits the road to play Kapolei next Saturday.
"We’re going into Kapolei, a heavy run team," York said. "And they’ve got a college (type) O-line and tough running backs, so we will have our work cut out for us."
At Mililani
| KAILUA (0-2, 0-2) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
— |
7 |
| MILILANI (3-0, 2-0) |
21 |
21 |
0 |
7 |
— |
49 |
Mil—Kalakaua Timoteo 78 pass from McKenzie Milton (run failed)
Mil—Joshua Butac 35 pass from Milton (Vavae Malepeai run)
Mil—Malepeai 2 run (Jerrod Cunningham kick)
Mil—Malepeai 22 run (Cunningham kick)
Mil—Milton 20 run (Cunningham kick)
Mil—Malepeai 6 run (Cunningham kick)
Kail—Tristan Futa 2 run (Colin Kubota kick)
Mil—Cheyne Constantino 1 run (Cunningham kick)
RUSHING—Kailua: Paepaeiva Silifaiva-Kaeha 14-73, Martin Tigilau 3-18, Micah Ryder 1-12, Jeshuahn Uta 1-(-1), Jimmy Dean Crowell 8-(-1), TEAM 1-(-7), Futa 7-(-17). Mililani: Malepeai 9-80, Milton 2-22, Constantino 4-22, Bryson Ventura 3-16, TEAM 1-(-25).
PASSING—Kailua: Futa 1-6-1-12, Tigilau 4-9-0-35. Mililani: Milton 13-15-0-270, Ventura 2-6-0—33.
RECEIVING—Kailua: Matthew Gaspart 1-12, Christian-Taylor Scheer 1-11, Keelan Kaleiohi-Palama 1-11, Mario Lagazo 1-8, Isaiah Damo-Agcaoili 1-5. Mililani: Timoteo 4-134, Makana Tauai 4-45, Butac 3-62, Bronson Ramos 1-23, Cody Yamauchi 2-38, Ventura 1-1.
