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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 11, 2008

Mililani topples No. 8 Wai'anae, 20-16

Photo gallery: Mililani vs Waianae

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Wai'anae quarterback Keoni Napierala-Rose tries to get past Mililani's Nick Ma'afala in the first quarter. Mililani won the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West game, 20-16.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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WAI'ANAE — Leilehua is in the driver's seat now.

Taz Stevenson's 70-yard touchdown reception with nine minutes, 59 seconds left rallied Mililani to a stunning 20-16 win against No. 8 Wai'anae last night at Raymond Torii Field.

The defending O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red and Division I state champion Mules can win the Western Division title tonight with a win at Waipahu and earn the division's top seed for the playoffs. If that happens, Kapolei (4-2), the Seariders (4-4 overall, 4-2) and Trojans (4-4, 4-2) will tie for second. Since each beat one but not the other, a coin toss would determine the second seed.

However, if the Marauders (3-2) win, there will be an unprecedented five-way tie for first. Since each of the five teams will have the same records against each other (2-2), a coin toss will determine seeding. The top three seeds draw first-round byes, while the fourth and fifth seeds begin play next weekend.

"It's all up in the air," Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "We took care of business tonight, that's the main thing. It is what it is. We had our opportunities in other games. I'm happy and satisfied with the determination and heart we showed tonight."

Trailing 16-13 early in the fourth quarter, the Trojans took over from their 28. On third-and-8, Iosua Manuma hit the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Stevenson on a cross from the left slot and he outran the Seariders' defense to the end zone. Corey Nakagawa's PAT made it 20-16.

The Seariders squandered an opportunity to rally later in the game.

A holding penalty on the ensuing kickoff nullified a 47-yard return by Damien Delacruz to the Mililani 40. That set the Seariders back to their 22. Still, Wai'anae drove to midfield. But on third-and-5, the Seariders lost the ball on the center-quarterback exchange that Shaynon Crawford-Lane recovered at the Wai'anae 49 with 6:35 left in the game. The Trojans were able to shave off 6:33 before losing the ball on downs at the Wai'anae 6. All the Seariders managed was a 35-yard pass completion as time ran out.

"Again, the penalties are hurting us," Wai'anae coach Dan Matsumoto said. "We're not keeping our heads in the game.

"But Mililani, give them credit. They played a tough game. They executed well."

The Trojans saw their 13-7 halftime lead disappear in the third quarter because of the Seariders' defense. Defensive end DJ Ah Wong jarred the ball from Trojans' quarterback Manuma on third-and-4 from the Mililani 26. The loose ball was rolled and batted around before linebacker Junior Patea recovered it in the end zone to tie the game at 13. Terrance Akao's PAT gave Wai'anae a 14-13 lead.

Later in the quarter, Ah Wong downed a punt at the Trojans' 2. On second-and-11 at the 1, linebacker Chivas Paris sacked Manuma in the end zone for a safety to increase the Seariders' lead to 16-13.

Wai'anae had 10 offensive series, but scored only once, as it punted seven times, lost a fumble and had the clock run out.

The Trojans' defense dominated the first half, holding the Seariders to just 53 yards and the one TD.

Meanwhile, Mililani's offense got a kick start with a pair of 36-yard field goals by Nakagawa to start the game and end the half. The Trojans' only TD came on a 13-yard TD run by running back Kekai Trout on a draw play. That drive was aided by a crucial personal foul after an incomplete pass on third-and-10 at the Wai'anae 42.

The Seariders were able to take advantage of good field position for their only score. The Trojans failed to convert on fourth-and-1 at the Trojans' 40. Seven plays later, running back Danny Kekoanui scored on a five-yard TD run with 10:31 left in the half to give Wai'anae a short-lived 7-3 lead.

MILILANI (4-4, 4-2) 3 10 0 7—20

WAI'ANAE (4-4, 4-2) 0 7 9 0—16

Mili—FG Corey Nakagawa 36

Wain—Danny Kekoanui 5 run (Terrance Akao kick)

Mili—Kekai Trout 13 run (Nakagawa kick)

Mili—FG Nakagawa 36

Wain—Junior Patea fumble recovery in end zone (Akao kick)

Wain—safety, ball carrier tackled in end zone

Mili—Taz Stevenson 70 pass from Iosua Manuma (Nakagawa kick)

RUSHING—Mililani: Iosua Manuma 9-16, Kris Ornellas 1-15, Trout 18-59, Westin Alcover 1-8, Stevenson 3-13, Kahi Perbera 3-3. Wai'anae: Keoni Napierala-Rose 5-1, Johnathan Ligsay 4-2, Damien Delacruz 4-5, Kekoanui 19-77, Eleu Wilson 1-1, Team 1-(minus 12).

PASSING—Mililani: Manuma 8-17-0—147. Wai'anae: Napierala-Rose 9-19-0—97.

RECEIVING—Mililani: Fred Culp 1-14, Stevenson 5-115, Sean Lai 2-18. Wai'anae: Ligsay 3-16, Maurice Simpson 2-13, Henry Correa-Young 1-20, Jasiah Bales 2-43, Kalin Sandobal 1-5.

JV—MILILANI 0, WAI'ANAE 0 (TIE)

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.