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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Saturday, October 9, 2004

Mililani clinches top seed in OIA

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

MILILANI — It might not have looked like it statistically, but Mililani contained Leilehua's passing game in a 35-14 win last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division football.

Mililani wide receiver Jon Santos attempts to catch a pass over Leilehua's Chustin Senas, middle, and Charles Sanchez in the second quarter. The Trojans beat the Mules in the battle of unbeaten OIA West teams.

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

An overflow crowd estimated at 5,000 at the Trojans' stadium watched Mililani (7-0 overall, 5-0 West) clinch one top seed for the OIA playoffs and gain at least a share of the Western Division title. A win at Wai'anae next week will give Mililani, ranked third in The Advertiser Top 10, sole possession of the crown.

Mililani has beaten Leilehua five consecutive times.

The No. 6 Mules (6-1, 5-1) clinched the second seed because they already have beaten the other teams that could tie them record-wise. The top five teams from the East and top five from the West advance to the playoffs, which start in two weeks.

Leilehua's Bryant Moniz completed 27 of 43 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yarder to Anthony Palomares. But that was the only really damaging hit on the Trojans' secondary.

Mililani receiver Jon Santos, who had three receptions for 88 yards, including TDs of 52 and 28 yards, played safety for the injured Justin Morris. Also making plays was cornerback Chris Dickerson, who defended at least four passes, while drawing coverage on Leilehua wideout Chustin Senas, who had seven catches for 63 yards.

Mililani's Ryan Aguon runs away from a Leilehua player during a punt return in the second quarter. The No. 3 Trojans beat the No. 6 Mules, 35-14, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association West Division game.

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Chris Dickerson did a fine job of playing Chustin Senas," Mililani coach James Millwood said. "We were wondering how things were going to be because Justin Morris was out for the past two weeks, so we brought in Jon Santos from the offense. Just his presence out there helps the defense."

"It was fun," said Santos of his first assignment on defense this season. "I like playing defense, too."

Defensive back Matt Welch also defended three passes and Mark Wetter had an interception on Leilehua's second play from scrimmage to start the second half.

Mililani running back Kekoa Perbera had 189 yards on 18 carries, including an 11-yard TD run.

The Trojans didn't need to throw often, as Maka Kahoano was an efficient 4 of 9 for 113 yards. On his second TD pass to Santos, both read the safety correctly as Santos changed his route from a post to a slant in the open field.

"Maka knew what I was going to do on the field," Santos said.

Kahoano's first two TD passes gave the Trojans a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. The Mules came back with Moniz's 80-yard TD strike to Palomares. Aaron Pooloa blocked the PAT to make it 14-6.

But the Trojans responded on their ensuing series with running back Jordan Torres scoring from the 1 to make it 21-6, only to see the Mules return the favor with an 8-yard TD pass from Moniz to running back Justin Lawelawe. Moniz hit Palomares alone in the front corner of the end zone for the 2-point try to make it 21-14 at the half.

But Wetter's interception was recycled into a 1-yard TD run by Jordan Apduhan to make it 28-14. The Trojans' last TD came on Perbera's run with 21 seconds left in the game.

It wasn't the Mules' best day. Penalties gave them poor field position or negated long gains.

"Losing self-discipline, that's something I need to address," Mules coach Nolan Tokuda said. "With one more game left in the (regular) season, that's something we need to correct."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.


LEILEHUA (6-1, 4-1) 0 14 0 0—14

MILILANI (7-0, 5-0) 14 7 7 7—35

Mili—Jon Santos 52 pass from Maka Kahoano (Todd Sorbin kick)

Mili—Santos 28 pass from Kahoano (Sorbin kick)

Lei—Anthony Palomares 80 pass from Bryant Moniz (kick blocked)

Mili—Jordan Torres 1 run (Sorbin kick)

Lei—Justin Lawelawe 8 pass from Moniz (Palomares pass from Moniz)

Mili—Jordan Apduhan 1 run (Sorbin kick)

Mili—Kekoa Perbera 11 run (Sorbin kick)

RUSHING—Leilehua: Lawelawe 10-46, Sione Faleofa 4-2, Moniz 1-(minus 8). Mililani: Kahoano 4-19, Perbera 18-189, Apduhan 8-43, Kekoa Osurman 2-11, Torres 5-15, Jay Greene 8-51.

PASSING—Leilehua: Moniz 27-43-1—287. Mililani: Kahoano 4-9-1—113 , Torres 0-1-0—0, Perbera 0-1-0—0, Aaron Pooloa 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING—Leilehua: Chustin Senas 7-63 , Palomares 7-141 , Lawelawe 8-52 , Guy Cantrell 3-22, Dwight Villanueva 2-9. Mililani: Santos 3-88, Perbera 1-25.