Felipe Ojastro | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

After guiding the Mililani Trojans to their first Division I state football championship, expectations are high for senior-to-be quarterback McKenzie Milton.

"We'll put a lot more on him," Mililani coach Rod York said. "We expect to repeat."

If anyone can meet that challenge, it is Milton. It is one of the reasons he is ScoringLive's Distinguished Male Athlete of the Year.

Others considered for the award had outstanding seasons in their respective sports as well. Kalaheo's Kaleb Gilmore and Campbell's Ian Kahaloa were ScoringLive Players of the Year. Gilmore led the Mustangs to the Division I state basketball crown, while Kahaloa did the same for the Sabers in baseball.

"His competitiveness," York said. "He's really competitive. He wants his team to do well. He wants to do well."

Milton's competitiveness showed brilliantly this past football season, as he led the Trojans to the school's first perfect season at 13-0. He avenged the 2013 state title game loss to Punahou (28-22) with a resounding 53-45 win in November.  The difference was maturity.  Even though quarterback is a natural leadership position, as a sophomore, he still followed the lead of the seniors. He knew that had to change.

"I had to improve my arm strength and lead the offense," Milton said. "My sophomore year, I kind of took a back seat to a lot of the seniors and just getting used to varsity ball. But coming into my junior year, I knew I had to step up."

He did, indeed.

Milton more than doubled his production of his sophomore season, completing 238 of 346 passes for 3,392 yards and 35 touchdowns while being intercepted eight times en route to becoming SL's All-Hawaii Football Division I Offensive Player of the Year.  As a sophomore, he was 137 of 230 for 1,626 yards and 16 TDs and had seven interceptions.

But it wasn't just what he did with his arm or legs.

"Leading by example by doing the right things on and off the field," he said. "It's not always easy, but you have to do it if you want to be successful."

Yet, Milton is the first to tell you it wasn't all him.  He had good company helping him in running back Vavae Malepeai and wide receiver Kalakaua Timoteo.  

"They make it a lot easier on me, for sure," Milton said of his teammates. "The quarterback is supposed to be the guy, but we have a bunch of guys who can get it done, so it makes me look a lot better and makes it a lot easier for me."

York noticed the difference.

"He's more vocal," York said. "But he's always positive; he doesn't get down on the guys. He's a leader by example."

But Milton's best might still be ahead.  Not one to rest on his laurels, Milton hit the weights, packing an extra 15 pounds, boosting him to about 175. He is faster. His arm is stronger.  He should be able to absorb hits QBs usually take, except he is the first to acknowledge that he was hardly hit last season because of his offensive line.

"He's got some bumps on his arms," York said. "He's definitely a lot more muscular than before."

York has seen results of Milton's strength.

"He's throwing the ball 60 yards (long) on the dime," York said. "He could always make the throws last year, but he can make them better now."

As great a season as Milton had, he knows he has to be better.  The Trojans' success has made them the team to beat.

"We have to keep the mentality that people are gunning for you because you're the ones who won it so everybody wants to knock you off," Milton said. "That's just the mentality you have to keep. It's going to be tough, but it will be OK."

Although Milton's focus is on the coming season, his future looks just as bright as his prep career. The University of Hawaii made his first offer last year.  Recently, Army, Navy and the Air Force academies have jumped in. Although the military route sounds interesting to Milton, 'right now, I'm definitely leaning toward UH," he said.