Mililani senior kicker Marc Matas kicked two PATs in the Trojans' 47-15 win over Campbell to give him 100 career points scored. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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102414_MiliKicker_0392a.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Mililani, ranked No. 2 in the ScoringLive/OC16 Division I Power Rankings, continued to established itself as the top team in the Oahu Interscholastic Association with its 47-15 win over Campbell Thursday night. The victory also punches the Trojans' ticket into their third straight league title game.

In the midst of the Trojans' triumph, one accomplishment might go unnoticed if you aren't keeping score. Senior kicker Marc Matas kicked two extra points in the Mililani win to give him 100 career points scored.

"He's key," Mililani coach Rod York said on Matas. "People don't realize how important that field goal kicker is until he misses a field goal. He's been consistent with us, he's a three-year varsity guy and he deserves everything he gets." 

Matas, a 5-foot-9 two-sport player, entered the contest with 98 points scored. As a sophomore Matas booted 21 PATs. In his junior campaign Matas was the Trojans' second highest leading scorer with 60 points (45 PATs, five field goals). This year Matas kicked nine PATs in the Trojans' non-league win over Saint Louis and added eight more against Aiea.

"I know that I can kick it farter than I used to and I feel like I have become a better kicker than I was two years ago," Matas said on his development. 

Although kicker Jerrod Cunningham mostly handles PAT duties this year (31 made PATs in 2014), Matas makes his presence felt the most on kickoffs with touchbacks on a regular basis. Matas' knack for booting it into the end zone is highlighted by the Mililani crowd saying "boom" on every kickoff.

"It's a huge boost because the opponent starts on their 20-yard line, helping our defense get the ball back for our offense," Matas said.

With opponents having a long field to try and score on, the Mililani defense has held its league opponents to 16.5 points per game this year.

"We got to make them go 80 yards so that's huge for us," York said on Matas' penchant for touchbacks. "We'll take it every time and we're happy with it. If a team is going to score on us, they're going to have to earn it by going 80 yards."

Matas is one of the few players on the team that has experienced the Trojans' recent rise to supremacy first hand. Two years ago Mililani had appearances in the OIA title game and state semifinals. Last year the Trojans claimed the league crown and was the Division I state runner-ups.

"I love this team. They have improved in every single year. I feel like we have what it takes to win the state championship this year," said Matas.

Mililani can inch one more step closer to its first state title with a win over Kahuku next week in the OIA Division I championship game.