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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 14, 2006

Mililani reaches playoffs

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

MILILANI — Jordan Torres was announced as homecoming king at halftime last night, but the crowning moment belonged to Matt Hunt.

The defensive end's interception set up what turned out to be the deciding score to help Mililani hold off recharged Radford, 27-21, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West regular-season finale before 3,000 at the Trojans' stadium.

The Trojans (6-2 overall, 4-2 West) were assured of the West's third seed and a first-round bye regardless of the outcome. The Rams (2-6, 1-5) needed to win, plus have Kapolei and Campbell lose to force a coin toss for a chance at a playoff berth. But Kapolei's upset of Wai'anae, already known before the end of last night's game, eliminated the Rams.

"I knew I was going to block the ball, but I didn't know I was going to pick it," said Hunt. "When I got the ball, I couldn't feel myself moving. It all happened so fast."

Hunt returned the ball 51 yards to the Rams' 29, setting up Isaiah Lawelawe's five-yard TD run with 3:55 left in the third quarter to extend the Trojans' lead to 27-14.

"That was perfect timing," Mililani coach James Millwood said. "We need somebody to step it up like that. He's a really great athlete to pick that pass off in mid-air."

The Trojans needed something to counter the assault by Radford quarterback Epa Maika, who completed 33 of 51 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns, his last coming with 48 seconds left to pull the Rams within six. A failed ensuing onside kick put an end to the Rams' comeback effort.

"Their quarterback comes back so they'll be a team to reckon with next year," Millwood said.

Because of their standing, Trojans' running back Torres, who entered the game as the state's leading rusher, did not start in the initial offensive series. He finished with 14 carries for 64 yards. Lawelawe took the most of the carries early, rushing for 68 yards on 11 carries. Millwood said Torres was a bit banged up and didn't want to risk using him much if he didn't have to.

The Trojans, though, are hoping to win an appeal to get safety Curtis Murakami reinstated for the playoffs in two weeks. Murakami was ejected in the fourth quarter for allegedly throwing a punch. Millwood said he will review tapes of the game. He said he believes Murakami was pushed into a Radford play and did not throw a punch. By OIA rules, a player ejection is an automatic suspension for the next game.

RADFORD (2-6, 1-5) 0 14 0 7—21

MILILANI (6-2, 4-2) 0 13 14 0—27

Mili—David Rivers 5 pass from Rustin Funakoshi (Colin Lund kick)

Rad—Scott Ruehl 15 pass from Epa Maika (Jonathan Atangan kick)

Mili—Scott Burns 20 pass from Funakoshi (kick failed)

Rad—Maika 1 run (Atangan kick)

Mili—Kala Perbera 14 run (Lund kick)

Mili—Isaiah Lawelawe 5 run (Lund kick)

Rad—Ruehl 10 pass from Maika (Atangan kick)

RUSHING—Radford: Maika 12-(minus 1), Ezekiel Pulou 10-12, Colin Lund 1-(minus 1). Mililani: Funakoshi 2-(minus 22), Isaiah Lawelawe 11-68, Jordan Torres 14-64, Kala Perbera 1-14, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—Radford: Maika 33-51-1—394. Mililani: Funakoshi 16-24-1—223.

RECEIVING—Radford: Justin Lord 9-64, Stephen Jenkins 8-82, Kyle Blair 8-110, Travis Daniels 1-18, Scott Ruehl 5-110, Pulou 2-10. Mililani: Colin Lund 1-1, Kala Perbera 3-45, David Rivers 4-95, Lawelawe 1-21, J.R.Rossi 1-14, Scott Burns 5-38, Kawika Saguerre 1-9.

JV: Mililani 21, Radford 3

LEILEHUA 34, CAMPBELL 7

Bryant Moniz had 253 yards on 18-of-22 passing and the visiting Mules routed the Sabers. Aric Edra caught two touchdown passes.

LEILEHUA (5-1, 6-2) 7 14 13 0—34

CAMPBELL (1-5, 3-5) 0 0 7 0— 7

Lei — Bryant Moniz 8 run (Brayden Keawe kick)

Lei — Micah Abreu Laybon 49 pass from Moniz (Keawe kick)

Lei — Allan Macam 10 pass from Moniz (Keawe kick)

Camp — Lowen Tynanez-Perez 10 run (Kia Kapana kick)

Lei — Aric Edra 15 pass from Moniz (kick failed)

Lei — Edra 26 pass from Moniz (Keawe kick)

RUSHING — Leilehua: Abreu Laybon 15-73, Paul Hernandez 4-16, Alex Cruz 2-(minus 2), Kaipo Derego 3-(minus 4), Bronson Pausa 2-3, Moniz 3-18. Campbell: Bronson Ellis-Riveria 8-16, Tynandez-Perez 10-42, Berzil Kelii 2-16, Bryce Aleviado 1-4, Jesse Lee 2-8, Danilo Bantolina 1-3, Kevin Newcomb 1-(minus 5), Obadiah Mataio 5-10.

PASSING — Leilehua: Moniz 18-22-0—253, Derego 3-4-1—7. Campbell: Mataio 3-10-1—10, Newcomb 1-4-0—(minus 1).

RECEIVING — Leilehua: Edra 6-101, Derego 5-45, Pausa 3-13, Martin Iosefo 2-14, Cruz 2-26, Macam 1-10, Hernandez 1-2, Abreu Laybon 1-49. Campbell: Lee 3-0, Tynandez-Perez 1-10, Mataio 1-(minus 1).

JV score — Leilehua def. Campbell, score not available.

Reported by Iman Nejad

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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