Stacy Kaneshiro | SL

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Fri, Sep 4, 2015 @ Liberty [ 4:00 pm ]

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Mililani

53

Liberty

76

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Mililani (10-3-0)	20	12	7	14	53
Liberty (1-1-0)	18	21	24	13	76

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Kenyon Oblad 168 yd 2 TD

McKenzie Milton 431 yd 5 TD

Chad Tebay 207 yd 1 TD

Vavae Malepeai 149 yd 3 TD

Ethan Dedeaux 121 yd 2 TD

Kalakaua Timoteo 193 yd 4 TD

HENDERSON, Nev. - The points were running up faster than visitors were losing money in this state.

Liberty's all-purpose player Ethan Dedeaux did in Hawaii's top-ranked Mililani by scoring seven touchdowns to lead the Patriots to a 76-53 non-league win at Freedom Field.

It was the most combined points involving a team from Hawaii.  The 129 points shattered the 119 in Saint Louis' 77-42 win against Iolani in 1998. The third-highest game also involved a Mainland team when Vacaville Christian (California) beat Hilo, 66-49, in 2007, on the Big Island. Mililani's 53 points is the most scored by a losing Hawaii team. Three losing teams scored 49 points; joining Hilo are Damien (57-49 to Iolani in 2005) and Hawaii Prep (56-49 to Konawaena in 2012).

The anticipated contenders for their respective states combined for 1,251 yards of offense. The Patriots (1-1) out gained the Trojans (3-1), 628 to 623. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Mililani QB McKenzie Milton, passed for 431 yards and five TDs. But more telling for the Trojans was that Liberty roughed them up for 460 yards rushing.

Mililani's first game against a Mainland opponent - home or aboard - was still worthwhile, despite the outcome, Trojans' coach Rod York said.

"That's why we came here," York said. "Through conflict, we grow stronger. This was fun. This is how we can get better. It's not fun pounding on McKinley (73-14 on Aug. 15). This is how we get better. It puts us in a situation we're not used to, we have to come from behind. Now, it's how we respond from here as a team. This was one hell of a bye week; I'd do it again and again, if we had to."

Liberty coach Rich Muraco hears York. Muraco's Patriots were hammered a week ago in a 43-16 loss to Saint Louis, third in the Hawaiian Electric Division I Power Rankings. 

"I know what they're going through," Muraco said of the Trojans. "It's so hard for high school kids to travel on a plane for six hours, live out of a hotel, adjust to the different climate and play a game. My hat's off to them, Coach York and their entire team. They put up a great battle tonight."

York did not blame the travel or climate, which was a dry humidity compared to Hawaii's moist one.

"Credit the (Liberty's) players," York said. "They took it to us and ran us over. We missed tackles. We (must) lead the nation in missed tackles. But it's on me. I'm the head coach. I take full responsibility."

"Their fullbacks were filling the gaps and just blocking us out," Mililani lineman Kaimana Padello said. "They were going up the middle and we didn't have too many guys to stop their fullbacks to get to the running backs."

The Patriots lined up two blocking fullbacks in front of their tailback most of the game. By the time the tailback, usually Chad Tebay (207 yards, one TD) or Dedeaux (153 yards, four TDs), reached the line, there were clear paths. Also, when the Trojans got their hands on the backs, they had a tough time wrapping.

"We knew coming into this season that Saint Louis and Mililani were two amazing programs," Muraco said. "We knew we were going to have a hard time with both of them. We knew early on we were going to have different game plans for each one; we were going to throw the ball against Saint Louis, didn't work out. We felt we could run the ball against Mililani and it worked out.

The Trojans could not stop Dedeaux. He had 158 yards on just eight carries, including TD runs of 30, 35, 15 adn 41. He had receiving TDs from Kenyon Oblad of 46 and 65 yards. Dedeaux also returned a kickoff 91 yards. He even had two interceptions.

Milton completed 23 of 43 passes, but was picked twice by Dedeaux. He was sacked once and lost a fumble, one of five Mililani turnovers. He escaped pressure to make nice completions, but it was still a long night, as he had to escape pressure to complete passes.

Running back Vavae Malepeai had 149 yards rushing on 16 carries, including TD runs of 46, 13 and 24 yards.

Wide receiver Kalakaua Timoteo made some nice receptions, leading all with nine for 193 yards and four TDs.

The teams combined for 11 TDs in the first half. Each team scored on their first three series with the Trojans leading 20-18. But the Patriots came up with a defensive stop on Mililani's fourth series. The Patriots were able to score three times to Mililani's two in the second period to take a 39-32 lead into the half.

Mililani opened the second half with an onside kick and recovered a fumble at the Liberty 48. But Dedeaux interception killed the drive. The Patriots scored to open their lead to 47-32 after Dedeaux's 65-yard TD reception.

Mililani pulled to 47-39 after Malepeai's 13-yard TD, but Dedeaux sucked the breeze out of Mililani's sails when he returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a score to make it 55-39.

Liberty kept its foot on the pedal, scoring on Dedeaux's 15-yard run to make it 63-39.

The teams failed to score on their next series, but Mililani did on its next on Malepeai's 24-yard run to make it 63-45.

The Trojans recovered the ensuing onside kick and scored on Milton's 15-yard TD pass to Timoteo and the ensuing 2-point conversion - a pass from Milton to Bryson Ventura - pulled the Trojans to within 63-53 with 6:40 left in the game.

Mililani failed on another onside kick and Liberty took over from its 45 and eventually scored to make it 69-53.

Mililani took over at midfield following the kickoff, but lost a fumble that the Patriots recycled into a score with 1:12 left to make it 76-53.

Mililani again lost a fumble on its next series and Liberty ran out the last 54 seconds of the game by taking a knee.