Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

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On a weekly basis, ScoringLive's "Da Five" will pose five questions revelant to the prep sports world, and get responses from five different individuals. What results will hopefully provide multiple angles of insight and analysis for fans to take in.

In this week's edition of Da Five, our panelists discuss Mililani going forward, give their thoughts on two big games in the OIA and more.

1. Are the Trojans capable of winning a title if McKenzie Milton is out for the year?

Kalani Takase, SL reporter: OIA title, perhaps, but state title, I don't think so. It's not a knock on Kaysen Higa, who is only a sophomore, but rather a testament to just how good McKenzie Milton is and how important he is as the trigger man to that offense for the past three years. It took Mililani a little under a half of play Saturday night against Kailua to adjust the play-calling to Higa's strengths. I think the receiving corps is the deepest position group for the team and they'll have to utilize their depth there, which they did in that second half with jet sweeps and even some handoffs to slotbacks Makana Tauai, Rico Sallas, Andrew Valladares and even wideout Bryson Ventura. I think they are going to have to be careful not to overuse Vavae Malepeai in Milton's absence. 

Jared Kanoa, SL contributor: I believe that if he is hurt for the rest of the year it almost kills any shot at winning the title. If you think about it, the backup quarterback for Mililani saw little to no work even after the brutal beatdowns the Trojans imposed on so many teams. Granted they do have a very capable running back in Vavae Malepeai, but the very questionable backup quarterback play of the Trojans scares me. Yes, Kaysen Higa came into the game against Kailua and threw for four touchdowns, but he was less than 50 percent passing going 9-for-21. He is not the deadly accurate playmaker that Milton is, but those receivers should aid him a lot.

Shayne Pajimola, SL contributor: I feel they aren't capable of winning a title if McKenzie Milton is out for the year. Milton means a lot for this team as he's a leader, he inspires his teammates to do better and his work ethic is just remarkable. I know it's just one player but Milton is seriously a big difference maker when he's on the field. Milton is someone who is very hard to replace and this is a crucial blow if he's out for the year. Mililani struggled in the win against Kailua last Saturday until they pulled away late. The Trojans cannot have Vavae Malepeai carry the load the rest of the way and the whole team needs to come together. They are still contenders in my eyes, but if Milton isn't out there performing at a high level the Trojans aren't winning another title.

Gary Dickman, ESPN 1420 Radio: Mililani was dealt a serious blow with the loss of the most important player in the state, McKenzie Milton. The latest news is that he could be back for the state playoffs. However, The Trojans are more than just one player, they're a team of stars. They showed last Saturday when they were without Milton and all-state WR Kalakaua Timoteo that they could still win in convincing fashion, beating Kailua 45-21. I think Mililani can win it all without Milton, but it'll be a lot tougher. When Mililani is at full strength, I truly believe that they are the best team in Hawaii and that no one can beat them. If Milton doesn't come back or isn't at full strength, then the championship is up for grabs.

Michael Lasquero, SL reporter: An OIA title is possible, but a state title is out of the question. After seeing Mililani dismantle Farrington and beating Kailua in convincing fashion, Mililani should at least get into the OIA semifinals. Running back Vavae Malepeai has not been used in the passing game as much as he is capable of doing and I think this new wrinkle will be tough to defend with no real tape on this. The state tournament will a different story as the ILH representative will have talent at all positions, not to mention a quarterback that is battle-tested.

2. How would you grade Iolani's performance in the ILH Division I so far?

Takase: I'd give them a B. The Raiders have overachieved in my book. To be frank, I thought they would be a non-factor in the ILH Division I this season. Yes, they have not won a league game yet, BUT they have contended — at least in the first half — of most games they've been in. They held their own against Saint Louis, albeit without Tua Tagovailoa and Jahred Silofau. Iolani coach Wendell Look will make no excuses. He's said that if there is any year to move up to Division I, it was this year and that they have a relatively good amount of big bodies. However, the depth is simply not there compared to the rest of the ILH D1 and that's directly led to how the second halves of their games have unfolded this year. 

Kanoa: They are how I described to my friends my Japanese capabilities. I am too smart for Japanese 101 but not smart enough for Japanese 102. They are too good for Division II but not quite there for Division I. All in all I feel they are doing not that bad in the scrappy ILH Division I. They are putting up points and keeping the games semi-close. If any other Division II team were in their position they would not be having the mediocre success that Iolani is having now.

Pajimola: Iolani's performance so far has been very impressive. They've been hanging with the best in the state and they're showing that they can content. Iolani gave Kamehameha, Saint Louis and Punahou a run for their money and that's showing the fight and the will to win. It's pretty crazy that they've come up just a little short to upsetting the top three teams in the division. The coaching staff is doing a great job with this team pushing them everyday to do better and work hard and it's beginning to pay off. Watch out for the Raiders as they might just upset one or maybe even two of the top teams in the division.

Dickman: Iolani moving up to Division I is what a lot of fans, and other teams were hoping would happen for a long time. I'm not sure how HC Wendell Look feels about it, although he has said on my show that his players were all for the move up. They always have played the D1 teams from the ILH, now they play them two times and are in the same standings as the other three D1 teams. I'd give Iolani a C grade. I didn't think they would beat any of the three teams, but I knew they would compete. However, the lack of depth and the physical dominance of their opponents have wore them down. I kind of feel bad for them as they're not really good enough for D1, but are too good for D2.

Lasquero: I would say they are deserving of a B-plus grade. Even though they have yet to pick up a win in the Division, I think it's safe to say that they have been respectable so far. Keep in mind that Saint Francis, a team that just started their varsity program two years ago, is still seeking its first league win in school history. The ILH is a gauntlet of a schedule and there are no cupcake teams. Now should Iolani move back down? Absolutely not. As the players and program gets accustomed to ILH Division I play, better results should follow. Take Kailua for example. The Surfriders had an 0-7 season last season and look where they are now. I've seen Iolani come back from losing to Kauai in the state tournament two years ago only to smash Lahainaluna convincingly in the state title game a year later. Iolani is still a very good team and a good program and would finish in the top four in the OIA's Red or Blue Division on a consistent basis if it was in the OIA.

3. Name a player who doesn't get enough credit to his team's success.

Takase: A couple of guys come to mind: Waianae running back Royce Carrick, Farrington fullback Freedom Alualu, Kailua defensive end Kawehe Kohatsu, Moanalua safety Dalton Nascimento, Kapolei running back/slotback L.J. Esperas and Punahou linebacker Logan Williams. Carrick is one of 10 or so running backs in a crowded Seariders' backfield and has been effectively on the minimal carries he's had from the wing back position, while guys like Javen Towne and Jurick Valdez have piled up the touchdowns. Alualu's effectiveness is evidenced by running back Challen Faamatau's success this year. Kohatsu plays opposite of SL D1 first-half defensive MVP Christian Mejia, Nascimento has benefitted from playing beside Kyle Bender, who I think is one of the top safeties in the state, Esperas' value to the Hurricanes is his versatility both out of the backfield and lined up at the slot position despite some nagging injuries this year and Williams has quietly made some big plays for the Buffanblu aside returning standout Laakea Look at linebacker, but for me the guy is Mililani offensive guard Andru Tovi. Offensive linemen as a whole get overlooked relative to the skill-position players. Tovi is the lone returnee on the offensive line from last year's state championship team and is a big reason why that offense is averaging over 500 yards per game, opening up holes for Malepeai and holding off pass rushers for Milton. 

Kanoa: I think Blaise Manabe of Radford is not get getting enough credit. He has to be the most explosive player in that offense, by far. He can get open and has the breakaway speed that can burn any defender. He will play a big role down the stretch, he is just biding his time until he explodes in the postseason.

Pajimola: Punahou's Laakea Look is a player who doesn't get enough credit to his team's success. Look has been one of my favorite players to watch. He's a beast on the defensive side of the ball, he plays very physical and the speed he possesses is crazy. He got to learn from the linebacker corps that graduated last year in Saitui Moeai, Ronley Lakalaka and Kalama Chung. I like the leadership that Look has. He leads by example and he's also vocal. He had a huge game against Saint Louis and Del Oro, coming up with big plays to lead his team to victory. Look is one of the best linebackers in the state and the Buffanblu are the favorites to win the title, in my opinion. I believe that he can lead this team to the ILH and state title and he'll be in the conversation as defensive player of the year.

Dickman: I think every team has one, but I'm going to go with an offensive lineman from Mililani: Andru Tovi, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 325-pounds. While watching Mililani beat Farrington, I was watching the skill players mostly for Mililani, but I was very impressed with their OL and had to look up their names. Tovi is really big, and most guys that big are strong and can block. Tovi is all of that and has excellent footwork and moves really well, which is rare for someone with that kind of size. There are other linemen who are better, but they already get a lot of credit; Saint Louis' Nate Herbig and Kaiser's Michael Eletise to name a few. I think a few of the OL on Punahou are doing a great job too, both in pass protection and run blocking.

Lasquero: I'm going to go off island and say Konawaena's Austin Ewing. The sophomore signal-caller was a big reason why the Wildcats got off to a hot start and his absence played a big factor in the 24-0 loss to KS-Hawaii. Some pundits would say that the reason why he did so well was because of the talent around him, but the same talent there was around when Cameron Howes was behind center. At this point I would say Ewing's importance to the team is worth more than McKenzie Milton's worth to Mililani is. If he is back healthy by the time for the BIIF playoffs, I foresee Konawaena reclaiming the league title.

4. Who will prevail when Nanakuli and Radford face off, and why?

Takase: I like Radford in this one. I think the Rams have the best talent in all of Division II. Their offense is explosive, averaging 45 points per game and their defense has been just as impressive, allowing just under five points per game. The one area of concern, if there is one, is that they really haven't been challenged yet, winning by no less than 37 points (outside of forfeit victory over Anuenue, which goes down officially as 2-0) in each game. This will be Radford's first big test and could be a preview of the OIA title game, so I'll be curious how much of their cards each team shows Friday. 

Kanoa: I think Radford comes out on top in this divisional matchup. Although the success of Nanakuli in the early portion of the season is hard to look over, I cannot grasp how they let Pearl City — a team that lost to a numerically-small Kaimuki team — get so close to toppling down their success. On the opposite side, Radford has not let a team score more than 14 points in one game and offensively has not scored less than 43 in a game. It's going to be a good one, but I give Radford the slight edge to take it all.

Pajimola: I have Nanakuli pulling it out Friday night when it's all said and done. This Nanakuli team has been very impressive over these past weeks and it hasn't seemed to miss a beat. The players I like to watch on this team are quarterback Nainoa Banks and running back Sunshine Anuenue. They have been on a tear lately and this duo is scary good. They will be huge factors in this game and the defense of Nanakuli will come up big. They want to make a statement and with a win they'll move into first place in the division. Sunshine Anuenue will have a monster and game and Nanakuli's defense will make a statement. It's going to be a heavyweight fight till the end and at the end of it all the Nanakuli Golden Hawks will prevail.

Dickman: I admit that I don't follow D2 as closely as D1, but I do know that the Radford and Nanakuli game is a matchup of two of the best in the state on the Division II level. Nanakuli made states last year and was forced to travel to the Big Island, losing to KS-Hawaii in what most people called an upset. It started this year a little short-handed, with academics hurting the number of players suiting up early on. The only loss for either team is Nanakuli losing to Kapaa in week one. That's its only loss and Radford is still undefeated. To me, I think Radford will win based on their defense as they've only let up 33 points in seven games. 

Lasquero: If there is one thing I've learned last season, it's that any Nanakuli game you watch is going to be roller coaster. I've personally witnessed the Golden Hawks pull off ridiculous one-point victories over Radford and Pearl City, as well as crazy come-from-behind wins against Kaimuki and the Chargers. Nanakuli's lone loss last year was to KS-Hawaii, which it had to travel for. With this game back at Nanakuli, you have to throw away all the stats and all the talent that each team has on paper. The home crowd will cheer on the Golden Hawks with so much passion that Radford will face trouble for the first time in 2015. Nanakuli has been tested while the Rams have been cruising through lower-tier competition so far, so I'm picking the valley in this one.

5. What will be the deciding factor between Kahuku and Waianae?

Takase: Turnovers. Both teams can run the ball and kill clock, so I don't think there will be a lot of possessions to go around. It could come down to a battle of field position and making one or two more stops on defense. Capitalizing on any turnovers will be pivotal. 

Kanoa: I don't think it's going to be a player to decide the fate of this game. I see these two teams and I see head-to-head matchups in the trenches, run and pass game. Who I think will be the deciding factors are the coaches. Which coach will be able to rally their teams when the score is close? Who is going to be able to make the hard play calls? This will be something to watch as the game progresses.

Pajimola: Defense will be the deciding factor in this game. Nobody has been playing better defense than Kahuku, which is only giving up three points per contest, if I'm not mistaken. Waianae has been very impressive this season and their defense is playing really good this year. The key in this game is who can make stops when it matters most in crunch time. Keala Santiago, Hirkley Latu, Stokes Botelho and Manaia Atuaia will have a huge game for Kahuku. After it's all said and done I see the Red Raiders prevailing because of their smothering, lights-out defense.

Dickman: The Kahuku and Waianae game on Saturday at Aloha Stadium will be an exciting game. Both teams are playing well. I think the difference in this game will be defense, more specifically the Kahuku defense. Kahuku can score and they're averaging 46 points a game, but they've only let up three points a game, and that's almost impossible to do. So if you're Waianae, you know it's going to be tough to keep Kahuku under 40 points as they've only let up three touchdowns all year long. For Waianae to beat Kahuku they'd have to do what no team has done this year and score double-digit points and more than one touchdown.

Lasquero: This game will come down to the team that realizes that this game is football and not rugby, and that the forward pass is allowed. With both team's offenses nearly mirror images of each other, I'm sure each team's defense knows how to neutralize each other. Kahuku won this battle last year behind four touchdown passes by Tuli Wily-Matagi and I think a similar effort will decide the victor. Based on this reasoning, I'm going to pick the Seariders for the "upset." Waianae's Jaren Ulu has not tossed an interception since week three against Castle and has passed for at least 100 yards in the past two games prior to Saturday's contest. With some of Kahuku's players on offense banged up or ineligible, I don't foresee the Red Raiders having the ability to comeback against a deficit.