Surfriders overcome penalties with strength, 34-13

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

MILILANI — Fifth-ranked Kailua's brute strength overcame a deluge of penalties in beating Mililani, 34-13, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association football playoff game at Mililani stadium.

The Surfriders (8-2) will meet fourth-ranked Castle in one co-championship 7:35 p.m. Friday at Aloha Stadium. The other will feature top-ranked Kahuku against No. 7 'Aiea at 5:05 p.m..

The Trojans' season ended at 5-5.

The Castle-Kailua game is a rematch from a regular season meeting, when the Knights prevailed, 36-29.

Running backs Brenton Harbottle and Nathan Leaver rushed for 284 and 82 yards, respectively, behind their massive offensive line mixture of Marques Kaonohi (250 pounds), Kapena Richardson (287), Sam Satele (290), Xavier Hoolulu (307), Larry So'oalo (301) and Kahai LaCount (300).

"Our O-line did a tremendous job," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "Our quarterback (Taleki Mailau) did a great job of picking up audibles and doing things we needed him to do."

Harbottle staked Kailua to a 13-0 first-quarter lead on touchdown runs of 37 and 89 yards. He had 163 yards on eight carries by the half.

"They're the best line in the state," Harbottle said of his line.

But the Surfriders were toying with danger in the middle of the game. Penalties — 14 for 99 yards, which could have been more because three came after a Mililani touchdown and were enforced on the PAT — stalled the Surfriders.

The Trojans pulled to 13-6 before the half on a 5-yard TD run by running back Kepa Morris and tied the game on a 16-yard TD pass from Mana Au to 6-foot-5 receiver Trey Brown in the third quarter.

"Too many penalties killed our drives," Johnson said. "Every week we try to work on them, try to get these kids more disciplined. It's improved weekly, but we need it to be a lot better than that, especially in the playoffs."

But by late in the third quarter, Kailua's physical advantage on its offensive line was too much for the Trojans, who had three interceptions that kept their defense on the field longer than they had hoped. Malakai Mokofisi had two interceptions and Koa Sniffen the other.

"It did take a toll," Mililani coach James Millwood said. "They're so physical up front. Their running game is the best we've seen this year. Even Kahuku's running game wasn't this powerful, coming right at us."

Worn down, the Trojans gave up three unanswered touchdowns in the second half — two 1-yard runs by Mailau and a 64-yard TD pass from Mailau to David Kaihenui.

MILILANI 0 6 7 0—13
KAILUA 13 0 7 14—34

Kail—Brenton Harbottle 37 run (Jonathan Heu kick)
Kail—Harbottle 89 run (kick failed)
Mili—Kepa Morris 5 run (kick failed)
Mili—Trey Brown 16 pass from Mana Au (Thomas Brown kick)
Kail—Taleki Mailau 1 run (Heu kick)
Kail—David Kaihenui 64 pass from Mailau (Heu kick)
Kail—Mailau 1 run (Heu kick)

RUSHING—Mililani: Mana Au 3-1, Kepa Morris 10-85, Thompson Ah Loo 2-9, Sean Fujimoto 1-0, Trey Brown 1-(minus 8). Kailua: Mailau 14-35, Brenton Harbottle 25-284, Nathan Leaver 14-82, Ranson Kepa 1-1, Micah Brown 1-1.

PASSING—Mililani: Au 9-21-3—163. Jose Santos 0-1-0—0. Kailua: Mailau 7-16-1-—123.

RECEIVING—Mililani: Trey Brown 5-97, Billy Barbour 1-25, Jose Santos 1-5, Ah Loo 1-16, Fujimoto 1-20. Kailua: Ryan Lum 1-5, Abejon McDonald 1-13, David Kaihenui 5-105.

MIL

• Baldwin 16, King Kekaulike 7: A.J. Garbin and J.J. Eno rushed for touchdowns as the Bears defeated King Kekaulike in a Maui Interscholastic League football game Friday night.

Baldwin (4-0, 7-2 overall), the MIL second-half champion, will meet Lahainaluna, the first-half winner, in the overall title game next Friday. Lahainaluna (2-1, 6-2) played Maui last night.

The MIL's overall champion gets the island's berth in the state football championships, starting Nov. 16.

Garbin scored on a 9-yard run in the first quarter and Eno scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter.

King Kekaulike finished 1-3 in the MIL second round and 3-6 overall.

OTHER WEEKEND RESULTS

Kapa'a 9, Kaua'i 7
Hilo 33, Honoka'a 7
Konawaena 34, Kohala 14
Hawai'i Prep 53, Kea'au 0
Kealakehe 14, Pahoa 14