MILILANI - Looking close to Offensive Player of the Year form, quarterback McKenzie Milton passed for three touchdowns and ran for two to help defending Division I state football champion Mililani beat Kahuku, 44-30, Friday night in a hybrid scrimmage/game at John Kauinana Stadium.

The Trojans' senior, who has verbally committed to the University of Hawaii, threw TD passes of 72 and 52 yards to Bryson Ventura and 25 yards to Kalakaua Timoteo, and scored on runs of 11 and 45 yards.  A lot of the damage against Kahuku came as a result of his ability to escape getting sacked.

This wasn't your ordinary scrimmage.  Sans kickoffs, the event was played under normal game conditions with 10-minute quarters, instead of the usual 12 for varsity games.  Teams began play from their own 20, but unlike a controlled scrimmage, they punted or went for it on fourth-down situations. This is how next week's scrimmage between Mililani and Saint Louis will be played.

Also out of the ordinary was a moderate turnout of about 900, including the Trojans' band and a seemingly endless line of cheerleaders.  So players weren't the only ones trying to get ready for the season.

While Mililani dominated, it wasn't so much the Trojans were sharp; they were less rusty than the Red Raiders. It was the first scrimmage for Kahuku first-year coach Vavae Tata.  It also will be his team's only scrimmage before Kahuku's non-league opener Friday when it hosts Campbell.  Tata said he could not find teams to play.  That might be an issue down the line, as the Red Raiders had trouble sustaining attempted tackles.

"We have to tackle better," Tata said. "It is hard (with only one scrimmage to prepare). Unfortunately, a lot of teams were already booked (for scrimmages), so we'll just have to scrimmage (ourselves)."

Both teams were without a key offensive skill position starter.  Kahuku QB Kesi Ah Hoy and Mililani RB Vavae Malepeai were held out to heal injuries.  But Kahuku QB Jordan Mariteragi, a transfer from Kamehameha took majority of the snaps, showing a decent arm and good mobility. Although Vavae was out, a Malepeai still appeared in the Trojans' backfield.  His freshman brother Kilifi, scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter.  He was brought up from the JV to help with depth issues in the backfield.

"Our running backs have been either hurt or sick," Mililani coach Rod York said. "He's been consistent on the JV. In our practices, he's done well."

Depending on the situation, the younger Malepeai is still eligible to play JV, as long as he does not play in a varsity regular season game.  He also scored a TD in Thursday's scrimmage against Leilehua.  "But the best thing he does is he blocks," York said.

A bright spot for Kahuku was its ground game.  Running backs Harmond Brown scored on runs of 27 and 12 yards early in the game and Ted Kensese scored on runs of 8 and 35 yards late.

"Our running backs did a hell of a job," Tata said.

York was pleased with his team's intensity, but said it needs to improve on its execution.  There were breakdowns that forced Milton to improvise and use his athleticism to escape trouble from the Red Raiders' pursuit. 

"You miss a block here, miss a block there, you do that against good teams, they're going to make you pay.

"Some of the plays (Milton made) were ad lib…sometimes he has to go to Plan B and sometimes he has to go to Plan C. One thing breaks down, the whole thing breaks down."

The only uncharacteristic part of Milton's game was that he sometimes released his passes off his back foot.  So accurate and strong, he completed most of those passes. But it caught up to him late in the game when the 6-foot-3 Timoteo was open and Milton overthrew a pass that was intercepted, the only turnover by the Trojans' QB.

"Sometimes, I might be feeling pressure," Milton said. "Not scared, but, I don't know. I know I have to work on that."