With Oahu Interscholastic Association Blue football supremacy on the line, No. 3 Mililani devoured No. 6 Farrington 71-28 on Thursday night at Aloha Stadium, handing the Governors their first loss.
The outcome was quite a bit different than the state Division I semifinals a year ago, when the Trojans squeaked by Farrington 17-14. Expectations of a thriller were wiped out when Mililani (5-1, 5-0) scored on six of its seven first-half possessions.
It started as a bleak night for the Govs (5-1, 4-1), who never could find an answer for the dynamo known as the Trojans offense. Even though Farrington’s offense found some holes in the Mililani defense in the second quarter, the Govs trailed 43-21 at the break.
When Farrington quarterback Bishop Rapoza found Jathen Chaffin with a 35-yard touchdown pass with 2:28 left in the half, the door appeared to be wide open for the Govs, who trailed just 35-21.
But that door started to close quickly. Less than two minutes later, Trojans quarterback McKenzie Milton let go a 45-yard touchdown heave to Kalakaua Timoteo streaking down the left sideline and Vavae Malepeai added a 2-point run to make it 43-21. Milton passed for 285 yards and four TDs and he also rushed for a TD on the night.
Farrington pulled closer — to 43-28 — on its opening drive of the second half, when running back Challen Faamatau ran home a 25-yard screen-pass TD after teammate Ryota Kony recovered a Trojans fumble.
And, just like when the half ended, Mililani countered rapidly on its next play, when Malepeai bolted 52 yards for a score and a 50-28 bulge. Malepeai finished with 134 yards along with three touchdowns, pushing his career total to 57 to break Joe Igber of Iolani’s state record.
The defending state champions didn’t wait long to strike again. Maa Tanuvasa, who made nine tackles, set up the next touchdown — Malepeai’s 1-yard record-breaking run — with an interception. Timoteo, who finished with 130 yards on five receptions, added a 2-point catch to make it 58-28 with 1:11 left in the third quarter and the victory was all but in hand.
Timoteo had yet another magnificent night. Amazingly, on the Trojans’ opening drive, he tiptoed down the right sideline after taking a pass from Milton for a 49-yard score. By halftime, he had three catches and three TDs. The second one was an over-the-shoulder 13-yard grab that made it 21-0 early in the second quarter.
When the Governors got the ball back, Challen Faamatau, who grinded out 132 rushing yards in the game, found a hole on the right side and scored his team’s first touchdown with a 55-yard run.
The Trojans’ 71 points are the most ever given up by the Governors.
Mililani finishes up its regular season with games at Kailua and Moanalua. Farrington closes with games against Kapolei and Campbell.
at Aloha Stadium |
Mililani (5-1, 5-0) |
14 |
29 |
15 |
13 |
— |
71 |
Farrington (5-1, 4-1) |
0 |
21 |
7 |
0 |
— |
28 |
Mil–Kalakaua Timoteo 49 pass from McKenzie Milton (Milton run)
Mil–Andrew Valesderes 36 pass from Milton (run failed)
Mil–Timoteo 13 pass from Milton (Isaiah Kuloloia kick)
Far–Challen Faamatau 55 run (kick failed)
Mil–Vavae Malepeai 12 run (Kuloloia kick)
Mil–Milton 20 run (Kuloloia kick)
Far–Bishop Rapoza 29 pass from Joziah Anakalea (Faamatau pass from Rapoza)
Far–Jathen Chaffin 35 pass from Rapoza (Freedom Alualu kick)
Mil–Timoteo 45 pass from Milton (Malepeai run)
Far–Faamatau 25 pass from Rapoza (Alualu kick)
Mil–Malepeai 52 run (Kuloloia kick)
Mil–Malepeai 1 run (Timoteo pass from Milton)
Mil–Makana Tauai 64 run (kick blocked)
Mil–Chad Senas 21 pass from Kayson Higa (Kuloloia kick)
RUSHING–Mililani: Malepeai 14-134, Milton 7-80, Tauai 1-64, Jalen Olomua 2-8, Fabian Johnson-Slay 2-18, Devin Ieriko 1-2, Bryson Ventura 1-(minus 2), team 2-(minus 4). Farrington: Faamatau 21-132, Rapoza 7-13, Alualu 2-3.
PASSING–Mililani: Milton 21-29-0-285, Higa 1-1-0-21. Farrington: Rapoza 10-22-2-102, Anakalea 1-1-0-29.
RECEIVING–Mililani: Rico Sallas 8-69, Timoteo 5-130, Valesderes 3-57, Ventura 2-16, Malepeai 2-10, Senas 1-21, Makana Tauai 1-3. Farrington: Kingston Moses-Sanchez 4-28, Faamatau 3-33, Chaffin 2-40, Rapoza 1-29, Anakalea 1-1.
Junior varsity — Farrington 22, Mililani 15