Govs go retro on offense to snap losing streak


Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
September 8, 2019, 9:03am

A run-heavy offense led by the boys in the trenches helped Farrington get its first win of the season last Friday. Michael Lasquero | SL

Farrington second-year coach Daniel Sanchez said it best after his team stunned Kapolei last Friday night for the Governors' first win of the season.

"We just had to go back and do what we do best. That's playing Farrington football, running the ball and playing tough-nosed football."

After scoring just six points through the first four games of the year, the Governors went back to a run-heavy offense to get the 22-8 win over the Hurricanes, the team's fourth straight over Kapolei.

Farrington, who averaged just 35.3 rushing yards a game entering the matchup, churned out 220 yards on the ground while attempting just four passes.

Junior running back Raymond Millare was the Governors' workhorse against the Hurricanes. He entered the game with just 47 yards on 20 carries, but had a career-best performance with 171 yards and two scores on 23 rushes.

"The game plan was pretty good, we worked hard for it," said Millare. "We've been working hard in practice, pushing and going 110 percent."

With a gargantuan offensive line led by 6-foot-6, 422-pound Faaope Laloulu, an Oregon-commit, and 6-foot-3, 316-pound junior Sisi Collins, the Governors simply manhandled the Hurricanes in the trenches.

"We knew we were bigger than them and I knew we just had to have our guys up front make plays for us," said Sanchez.

During the offseason Sanchez voiced a desire to employ a spread offense to compete in the Open Division, but made the switch back to a traditional offense after a 35-0 loss to Mililani on Aug. 24.

"I think that's what we're built like right now, and this is what we got to do," said Sanchez, whose team was coming off a bye week.

Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez, who is now 2-10 against Farrington during his tenure with Kapolei, noted that his team wasn't ready to defend a run-heavy package.

"I guess they (may have) changed offensive coordinators over the last week so we kind of didn't know really what to prepare for," Hernandez said. "They did a great job. They came in with an I-formation and a tight end. They ran the ball and they slowed the game down."

The Governors won the time-of-possession battle with 28 minutes and 27 seconds. During the second half Farrington held the ball for 16 minutes and 52 seconds while Kapolei only held possession for a little over seven minutes.

Farrington's longest drive of the night was its only drive of the third quarter, which netted a 33-yard field goal by Andrew Elijah Juan Cabuco to give the Governors a 22-0 lead with 1:31 left in the period. The drive lasted seven minutes and 38 seconds, which was 30 seconds more than the Hurricanes' entire possession in the second half.

The Governors will enjoy another bye week before hosting Kamehameha on Sept. 21.


Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].