Sylvia Lee | SL

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The first half of the 2014 prep football season has come and gone. Ninety-nine varsity football games have taken place and the ScoringLive staff scoured through the statistics and top performances to bring you the Midseason Awards.

As we did with the inaugural edition last year, we selected most valuable players for both offense and defense as well as a Coach of the Year. Division II honorees will be revealed next next week. Here are our choices for Division I:

Offensive MVP: McKenzie Milton, Mililani, quarterback, Jr.
Apologies to (in alphabetical order): Daniel Kelley, Maui, running back, Jr.; Ranan Mamiya, Farrington, running back, Sr.; Jensen McDaniel, Kaiser, running back, Jr.; Kanawai Noa, Punahou, wide receiver, Sr.; Kalanimoku Pauole, Leilehua, quarterback, Sr.; Tua Tagovailoa, Saint Louis, quarterback, So.

Led by a duo of super sophomores in its offensive backfield, Mililani finished the 2013 prep football season with an 11-2 record, won its second Oahu Interscholastic Association title in four years and capped off the best season in school history with a run to the Division-I state final.

The Trojans relied heavily upon a punishing ground attack that featured Vavae Malepeai, who ran for 1,350 yards and 20 touchdowns. When needed, they turned to quarterback McKenzie Milton, who delivered to the tune of 1,626 passing yards with 16 touchdowns.

However, Milton has increased his production at an astronomical rate through his team's first five games of the season (and remember, one was a forfeit). The 6-foot, 185-pound Milton has already thrown for 1,240 yards with 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has completed 66.4 percent (75 of 113) of his passes and averages a D1-best 310 passing yards per game.

By comparison, Milton averaged just over 125 passing yards per game in 2013 when he completed passes at a rate of 59.6 percent (137 of 230).

Then, there's his rushing ability. Milton has run for 428 yards (fourth in D1) on just 30 carries with seven touchdowns. His 14.3-yards per rush average leads the state.

Mililani has scored a state-high 209 points and averages just over 42 points a game. The offensive production has been off the charts. The Trojans average over 543 yards per game — over 170 yards more than last season.

"He's the quarterback of our team and the ball is in his hands every offensive play," Mililani coach Rod York said. "He's actually done a great job for us as far as distributing the ball and keeping it away from the defense. This is his second year in the offense and he's blossoming now. He could always make plays with his legs, but he's improved his throwing, as expected."

Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said Milton is the complete package and the straw that stirs the drink for the Trojans.

"He's been carrying the load pretty much for all four quarters for the Trojan offense, which is the most potent in the state this year and probably the last 10 years," Tokuda said. "He beats you with his arm, he beats you with his legs, he beats you with his decision-making and he beats you because he's a leader. He's accountable for his actions and when he makes mistakes he won't blame anybody but himself and he looks to correct it."

York credited Milton's dedication to honing his craft as a key factor in his improvement.

"He throws every Sunday and he watches a lot of film," York said. "He's a hell of a teammate, has a great attitude and that makes it so much easier for us to coach him. You know, you get what out of it what you put in and I'm so happy for him. He's been a key component for us."

Defensive MVP: Nayton Kuresa, Waianae, defensive end, Sr.
Apologies to (in alphabetical order): Breiden Fehoko, Farrington, defensive tackle, Sr.; Ronley Lakalaka, Punahou, linebacker, Sr.; Rex Manu, Mililani, defensive tackle, Sr.; Ronald Matautia, Kapolei, linebacker, Sr.; Keala Santiago, Kahuku, defensive back, Sr.; Alexander Vainikolo, Maui, linebacker, Sr.

The Waianae football program has turned out its share of star defensive linemen in recent years with the likes of Wade Keliikipi and Kennedy Tulimasealii.

Nayton Kuresa might be the next guy on that list.

The senior has turned many heads with his steady production from the end position on the Seariders' defense. In just four games this season, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Kuresa has recorded nine sacks.

"He's an animal. It doesn't surprise me that he's got that many sacks — I would have believed you if you said he had 15 — because he's a game-changer," Moanalua coach Jason Cauley said of Kuresa. "The kid is amazing."

Against Na Menehune, Kuresa racked up six tackles, two sacks and scored on a 47-yard fumble return.

"He's very disruptive in the backfield, he's fast, he's powerful and you have to game plan against him," Cauley said. "He can make plays on both the running back and the quarterback on the read-option. He can't be blocked by one guy and you can't seal him off on the edge, so it's going to take a two-man effort against him."

Kuresa followed up the Moanalua game with two more sacks at Kaiser in week 3 before a three-sack game against Leilehua a week later in which he also forced a fumble. He added to his total with two more sacks in a win over McKinley last week.

"He's been working hard in the offseason, so it's nothing that we didn't expect," Seariders' coach Dan Matsumoto said of Kuresa.

"His consistency is what's been most impressive for me. He has consistent technique and that's helped him a lot and he hasn't been over explosive, which we've talked to him about. Sometimes a guy like Kennnedy would be over explosive and put himself out of position, but Nayton has done a good job of being disciplined."

Tulimasealii is now starting for the University of Hawaii, while Keliikipi recently completed his collegiate eligibility at the University of Oregon.

Kuresa has put on about 20 pounds since his junior year, when he had six sacks and two forced fumbles.

"Like all the kids, that one year makes a difference in terms of physical ability," Matsumoto said. "I think it also helps that he paddles, so he's got strong shoulders to go along with his strong legs. Being a dual-sport athlete helps him, I think."

Matsumoto said playing alongside the likes of Maika Koko (6 sacks), Justice Jardine (1), Sione Taukolo (1), Joey Nuuanu-Kuhiiki (forced fumble, fumble recovery) and Kilipaki Medeiros has benefitted Kuresa.

"He's a good leader on the defensive line, but I think it's a combination of his teammates on the line that allowed him to get those sacks," Matsumoto said. "I can't take away away from him. He works hard and understands assignments, so it's well deserved. He's just a great kid."

Kuresa and the Seariders (2-2) host Castle Saturday before finishing the regular-season against Waipahu on Sept. 26 and against unbeaten Kahuku at Aloha Stadium on Oct. 4.

Coach of the Year: Lee Leslie, Kahuku
Apologies to (in alphabetical order): Amosa Amosa, Campbell; Kale Ane, Punahou; David Bui, Maui; Doug Cosbie, Kamehameha; Nolan Tokuda, Leilehua; Rod York, Mililani.

When Lee Leslie was hired as head football coach at Kahuku back in March, it was in the midst of outcry from much of the Red Raiders' faithful supporters about the way the school administration handled the situation with outgoing coach Reggie Torres. Many publicly voiced their opposition to the removal of Torres, a longtime three-sport coach and faculty member at the North Shore school.

Fast forward six months into the middle of the 2014 prep football season and the skepticism toward Leslie, who previously coached at Kuna High in Idaho, has turned into adoration as he has Kahuku sitting pretty at 4-0 — one of five remaining Division-I unbeatens in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

The Red Raiders, who are ranked third in the latest ScoringLive/OC16 D1 Football Power Rankings, have gone largely unchallenged through the first half of the season. They have scored no less than 33 points in a game and allowed no more than 19. The offense is averaging over 45 points and 322 yards per game, while the defense has been lights out, giving up just under 14 points and 126 yards per game.

Leslie has had to spread around the carries in the talented, but very crowded offensive backfield and has put playmakers like Kesi Ah Hoy and Salanoa-Alo Wily in positions to spark things for the Red Raiders. Keala Santiago has provided a steady presence in the defensive secondary and Alohi Gilman, a transfer from Kamehameha via Utah, has proven to be a dangerous kickoff and punt returner.

Much like Kamehameha's Doug Cosbie did in the first half of the 2013 season, Leslie galvanized the community around the football team during a time of unrest. Winning always helps, of course, but Leslie has done it in his own way.

As one longtime supporter of Kahuku football told us, "This coach, he's different. He no yell, he just talk to 'em patiently and explain what they did wrong. He's real good with the kids."

So far, it seems, the kids have responded well to Leslie's style.