No. 2 Mililani runs past Moanalua, 48-26


Mililani's Greysen DeMello picks off a pass intended for Moanalua's Jason Sharsh. Peter Caldwell | SL

MILILANI — No. 2 Mililani ran past Moanalua, 48-26 on their Senior Night and improved to 8-0 overall, 7-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Blue at John Kauinana Stadium on Saturday night. 

The win gives the Trojans a first round bye in the OIA playoffs starting next week, while Moanalua (3-4) will travel to Hawaii Kai take on Kaiser (4-3). Mililani will host and play the winner of next week's game. 

"It feels great, I'm proud of our kids, we did what we needed to do and wanted to win our division and get a first round bye and want to peak in the playoffs. We take it one week at a time and we're more worried about what we do and it's about executing and as long as we execute and get better everyday," said Mililani coach Rod York. 

Vavae Malepeai ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries to go along with three catches for 78 yards. McKenzie Milton passed for 326 yards, three touchdowns and a interception on 21-of-34 passing. Milton also had a 5-yard rushing touchdown and ran for 19 yards on eight attempts. 

The Mililani defense picked off Kawika Keama-Jacobe five times during the game and recovered two fumbles.

"Lot of mistakes in the first half and you cannot turn it over against a team like Mililani," said Moanalua coach Jason Cauley. 

Malepeai ran for a 6-yard touchdown to put the Trojans up first, but the PAT was blocked. 

Keama-Jacobe threw a 5-yard touchdown to Jason Sharsh and Sheridan's PAT made it, 7-6, giving the Na Menehune their only lead of the game. 

The Trojans capitalized on the turnovers and converted them into scores. After Kaimana Padello's forced fumble and Rex Manu's fumble recovery, Milton threw a 32-yard touchdown to Roman Tovi. Following Palaie Gaoteote's interception, Milton threw a 65-yard touchdown to Bronson Ramos. Milton's pass to Jaren Zadlo made it, 21-7. Moanalua answered 13 seconds later as Keama-Jacobe threw a 55-yard touchdown to Michael Feliciano and the Na Menehune trailed 21-14 at halftime.

"We overthrew guys, missed blocks and dropped the ball and hats off to Moanalua they played their hearts out, they gave us a game in the first half. I told the guys to settle down, execute and get back to fundamentals," said York.

In the second half, the Trojans added four more touchdowns. Milton rushed for a 5-yard touchdown and threw a 36-yard touchdown to Chad Senas. Malepeai ran for a 2-yard touchdown and Cheyne Constantino added a 1-yard rushing touchdown. 

Sharsh caught a 20-yard and a 15-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth. He finished the game with eight catches for 96 yards. 

"We always do and that's the thing about our team we have a lot of resolve and resilience and we're going to play all the way to the end, no matter who we play," said Cauley. 



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].