Five turnovers in one half isn’t going to get you far, especially against a hungry-for-the-ball defense that is accustomed to setting up a top-flight offense like Mililani.
Such was the plight of the Farrington Governors on Friday night at the Trojans’ John Kauinana Stadium in the OIA Open Division semifinals. Mililani (8-3) put those five gifts to use and roared to a 34-7 victory.
Next week, the Trojans meet the winner of tonight’s other semifinal matchup — Campbell or Kahuku — for the league championship. The win also guaranteed Mililani a spot in the state tournament.
>> Click here to see photos of the game between Mililani and Farrington.
The Trojans got it going early, building a 31-0 halftime lead. Mililani’s first touchdown — Brendyn Agbayani’s pass to Kanoa Gibson for 16 yards — gave the home team a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
Then the turnovers (the Govs coughed it up six times in the contest) kicked in. Kamalu DeBlake and Mark Pasternak recovered fumbles and then Asher Pilanca intercepted a pass for the Central Oahu boys. All three led to scores. DeBlake took his recovery to the house from 5 yards out and the Trojans also made Farrington pay on Malosi Sam’s 4-yard TD run and Rayvin Yacapin’s 52-yard touchdown reception on an Agbayani pass for the 31-point bulge.
Farrington got on the board in the third quarter when Tugase Williams picked up a Trojans fumble and ran it back 76 yards for a TD. But Farrington, despite being able to move the ball, couldn’t punch it in on offense all night.
The Governors (2-8) are not done. Next week, they will play the loser of tonight’s Campbell vs. Kahuku game in the OIA Open third-place game with a state berth on the line.
Agbayani finished 15-for-29 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He looked comfortable in the pocket, and the offensive gains were a big mental boost — since Mililani was shut out by Punahou 3-0 last week.
Gibson caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown for the Trojans.
Farrington receiver Christian Havea turned in a solid night with six catches for 95 yards from quarterbacks Darius Chaffin and Kulana Pate, who went down with a collarbone injury. Chaffin was also banged up and his status for next week is unknown.
Jasiah Alcover, a backup to Sam, was the game’s leading rusher with 86 yards on 11 carries.
Kaulana Navares kicked field goals of 48 and 30 yards for Mililani.
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No. 3. Mililani 34, Farrington 7
At Mililani
>> Farrington (2-8) 0 0 7 0 — 7
>> Mililani (8-3) 17 14 0 3 — 34
Mililani — FG Kaulana Navares FG
Mililani — Kanoa Gibson 16 pass from Brendyn Agbayani (Navares kick)
Mililani — Kamalu DeBlake 5 fumble return (Navares kick)
Mililani — Malosi Sam 4 run (Navares kick)
Mililani — Rayvin Yacapin 52 pass from Agbayani (Navares kick)
Farrington — Tugase Williams 76 fumble recovery return (Andrew Elijah Juan Cabuco kick)
Mililani — FG Navares 30
RUSHING — Farrington: TJ Paleafei 7-25, Jonah Aina-Chaves 6-15 , Selau Kalani 3-6, Darius Chaffin 6-4, Kulana Pate 1-0, Williams 1-(minus-12), TEAM 2-(minus-14). Mililani: Jasiah Alcover 11-86, Sam 7-35, Raysen Motoyama 1-28, Agbayani 3-6, Richard Gideon 1-0.
PASSING — Farrington: Pate 6-11-2-97, Chaffin 6-9-0-27. Mililani: Agbayani 15-29-1-195, Gideon 6-7-0-26, Arona Sagapolute 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — Farrington: Christian Havea 6-95, Isaiah Rios 2-11, Exodus Liua 1-9, Kainoa Mane 1-6, Dahlas Suyat 1-4, SIzayah Savea 1-(minus-1). Mililani: Gibson 5-77, Rayvin Yacapin 2-62, Jarin Kalama 2-25, Pono Hookano 2-22, Mystik Sampaga 2-13, Motoyama 2-11, Koa Kalama 2-1, Sagapolutele 1-7, John East 1-6, Lance Mintz 1-0, Alcover 1-(minus-3).
* Junior varsity — Mililani 38, Farrington 12
