Posted on: Sunday, September 12, 2004
Mililani stays unbeaten, 21-0
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
After a slow start, the Mililani High School football team sloshed its way past Nanakuli last night, 21-0, before a rain-soaked homecoming crowd of about 4,500.
The Trojans, ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Red Conference West Division. Nanakuli fell to 2-2, 1-1.
Mililani had scored one of the biggest victories in the program's 30-year history when it trounced No. 3 Punahou, 27-7, in a non-league game last week. But Nanakuli controlled almost the entire first quarter last night by taking the opening kickoff and running 16 plays before an interception by safety Justin Morris.
Although the Golden Hawks advanced only 38 yards to the Trojans' 37-yard line, the drive ate eight minutes, 35 seconds off the clock.
"We were waiting and waiting (to get on the field)," said Mililani offensive lineman Sene Ma'afala. "We were like a truck that's been sitting too long."
Once the Trojans' "truck" was given a chance to operate, however, it drove 80 yards in seven plays, culminating in Kekoa Perbera's 4-yard touchdown run with 11:56 remaining in the second quarter. Nanakuli's defense helped the cause with five penalties for 24 yards.
The Golden Hawks had 10 penalties for 63 yards in the first half, but still trailed only 7-0 as Mililani had only three possessions.
"That's what we wanted to do — control the ball and keep their offense off the field," Nanakuli coach Al Beaver said. "The best defense is a good offense that moves the ball and kills the clock. But right now we're not mentally disciplined. If we want to be an impact team in the Red Conference, we've got to be mentally tougher."
Penalties continued to hurt the Golden Hawks in the second half, and they finished with 14 flags for 93 yards.
The Trojans, meanwhile, struck twice in the third quarter on touchdown passes from quarterback Maka Kahoano to receiver Jon Santos. The first one, on a post pattern, came immediately after Nanakuli lost the ball on downs at the Mililani 15. Santos juggled the ball at midfield, then secured it and outran two defenders to the end zone for an 85-yard scoring play.
His second touchdown catch was from 15 yards out, after Kahoano converted a fourth-and-2 situation with a 4-yard sneak. Jordan Torres' third extra point made it 21-0 with 21 seconds left in the quarter.
It was the Trojans' second shutout of the season and they have allowed only 20 points in four games. Mililani coach James Millwood credited Morris and linebackers Aaron Po'oloa and Chris Villamor with strong efforts last night.
"We've got seven returning starters on defense, but the biggest guy weighs only 205 pounds, so we're very small," Millwood said.
Ma'afala, who is 6 feet 2 and 360 pounds, said: "You've got to credit our defense. They've been shutting out teams and giving our offense a chance every game."
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
Mili—Kekoa Perbera 4 run (Jordan Torres kick)
RUSHING—Nanakuli: Jaycee Alapai 12-42, Alex Maiava 7-39, Edmound Ybarra 6-0, Zachary Tolentino 2-5. Mililani: Perbera 8-49, Jordan Apduhan 10-88, Kahoano 3-8, Jay Greene 4-13, Torres 5-26, Ryan Aguon 2-12.
PASSING—Nanakuli: Alapai 7-21-2—87. Mililani: Kahoano 8-15-0—197. RECEIVING—Nanakuli: Alex Distajo 5-73, Charlie Reiher 2-14. Mililani: Santos 7-159, Perbera 1-38. JV score—Mililani 14, Nanakuli 0
Trevor Maldon returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and Alex Daniels scored on second-half runs of 35 and 4 yards, leading the Rams past the Cougars in an OIA White Division game at Radford.
Rad—FG Eric Vengler 25 RUSHING—Kaiser: Isaac Saffery 10-51; Wise 15-95; Pratt 1-(minus 5). Radford: Daniels 17-79; Ryan Burciaga 10-(minus 17); Russell Wantoswski 2-3.
PASSING—Kaiser: Wise 3-10-0—23; Pratt 13-31-0—172. Radford: Burciaga 10-16-0—77. RECEIVING—Kaiser: Landon Kaaua 4-22; Ching 5-131; Legros 3-24; Saffery 3-22; Evan Garcia 1-(minus 4). Radford: Kyle Blair 2-14; Joe Brudidge 2-16; Vengler 3-37; Mat Failauga 2-6; Daniels 1-4. JV score—Radford 9, Kaiser 7
Reported by Daris Aoki
WAIPAHU 20, KAlAHEO 0
Krypton Taito and Austen Benito rushed for touchdowns, and Stan Abasial scored on a 27-yard blocked punt return as the Marauders beat the Mustangs. Waipahu did not complete a pass in the game.
Waip—Krypton Taito 29 run (kick failed)
RUSHING—Kalaheo: Jesse Boyd 7-28, David Pershin 14-59, Ebony Johnson 5-8, Koakela Siliga 1-0. Waipahu: Benito 16-60, Anthony Vith 1-(minus 1), Taito 12-95, Abasial 1-0, Ryan Winfree 1-26, Robert Lum 2-4.
PASSING—Kalaheo: Pershin 12-28-2—71. Waipahu: Benito 0-8-1—0. RECEIVING—Kalaheo: Willie Haile 1-11, Boyd 2-11, Siliga 3-23, Jeremy Perry 4-23, Nate Shields 1-(minus 2), Toli Ilaoa 1-5.
JV score—Waipahu 20, Kalaheo 0
Reported by Candice Hikiji
LEILEHUA 42, PAC-FIVE 8
Justin Lawelawe rushed for 113 yards and scored on runs of 8, 27, 2 and 1 yards, powering the Mules of the OIA past the Wolfpack of the ILH in a non-league game at Leilehua.
Lei—Justin Lawelawe 8 run (Ryan Bibilone kick)
Reported by Udie Algoso
Vaa Faualo scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter, George Martin threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Bronson Sonico in the second quarter, and the Monarchs of the ILH made it stand up against the Rough Riders of the OIA in a non-league game at Roosevelt.
Dam—Va'a Faualo 5 run (kick failed).
RUSHING—Damien: Martin 5-(minus 6), Kris Herauf 11-32, Kaimana Balanon 7-46, Faualo 7-27, Kealoha Pilares 5-0, Landen Dela Cruz 1-(minus 3). Roosevelt: Rudy Artuyo18-48, Makaea Salis 8-20.
PASSING—Damien: Martin 5-15-1—61. Roosevelt: Artuyo 7-21-2—55. RECEIVING—Damien: Sonico 1-10, Rein Ota 2-16, Tavon Spiller 1-5, Eddie Williams 1-30. Roosevelt: Salis 2-14, Tui Richter 3-11, Micah Dutro 1-24, Corey Takata 1-6.
Reported by Dale Asami
Mili—Jon Santos 85 pass from Maka Kahoano (Torres kick)
Mili—Santos 15 pass from Kahoano (Torres kick)
RADFORD 23, KAISER 21
Kais—Safety, ball snapped out of end zone on punt attempt
Kais—Matt Ching 88 pass from Steven Pratt (pass failed)
Rad—Trevor Maldon 90 kickoff return (run failed)
Rad—Alex Daniels 35 run (Vengler kick)
Kais—Shannon Wise 31 run (pass failed)
Rad—Daniels 4 run (Vengler kick)
Kais—Ching 7 pass from Pratt (Steele Legros kick)
Waip—Stan Abasial 27 blocked punt return (run failed)
Waip—Austen Benito 11 run (Benito run)
Lei—Sione Falaofa 11 run (Bibilone kick)
Lei— Lawelawe 27 run (Bibilone kick)
Lei—Lawelawe 2 run (Bibilone kick)
Lei—BJ Fruean 19 pass from Bryant Moniz (Bibilone kick)
Lei—Lawelawe 1 run (Bibilone kick)
P5—Brent Umehira 13 pass from Bryson Bernie (Blair Cabaluna pass from Bernie)
Damien 12, Roosevelt 0
Dam—Bronson Sonico 10 pass from George Martin (pass failed).
