No. 2 Mililani outlasts No. 5 Campbell in shootout


Mililani's Gavin Hunter hauls in a 20-yard TD pass to tie the game at 28 early in the fourth quarter against Campbell. Brien Ing | SL

This one lived up to the hype.

Treston "Kini" McMillan accounted for five total scores and the defense got four picks as No. 2 Mililani fended off No. 5 Campbell in a thrilling 35-34 victory Saturday night in an OIA Open Division contest at John Kauinana Stadium.

The Trojans (2-1 overall, 1-0 league) scored first and took the early lead, but faced deficits in the second and third quarter and with 4:37 left to play in regulation before McMillan's game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to Onosai Salanoa. Makel Paiva's ensuing PAT provided the go-ahead point with 2:18 remaining in the game.

"Campbell they came, they balled out. They was on top of us by couple scores, but us as a team, we're so tight. The bond is so tight. We were just telling each other ‘heart is what's going to win this game,'" said Mililani senior Gavin Hunter.

The Sabers outgained Mililani through the air, 336 to 273, but it was the ground game where the Trojans dominated the stat sheet with 157 rushing yards to Campbell's 10.

Hunter, who caught a 20-yard TD pass to tie the game at 28 with 9:41 remaining in the game, said that McMillan's two fourth quarter TDs was a credit to the team's success in running the football.

"Before that play, we were running the ball to get down the field and I was just looking at the defense," said Hunter, who also recorded two interceptions on defense. "I was yelling at coach, ‘lock me on the streak, it's open' and shoot… coach when I tell him stuff like that, he trusts in me, he trusts in my abilities and I'm just so thankful to have a coach like that. Kini, gave me a perfect ball, O-line blocked and shoot, my job was easy; just catch the ball."

It was another streak route that gave the Trojans the victory.

"It was locked back side meaning the ball is going to come to me no matter what," said Salanoa. "I just set the (DB) inside and did an outside release and Kini threw a nice ball and I just trusted in myself, caught the ball and scored."

Jordan Fetu had the other two interceptions for the Trojans, leading Mililani defensively with eight solo tackles and three pass breakups. Hunter, Elijah Nua, Ezekiel Rodrigues, Elias Tania and Isaiah Iosefa also broke up a pass and Rayge McClintock had the Trojans' only sack in the win.

"It's crazy, I love the boys I play with," said Hunter. "As a defensive unit we're just so confident in our abilities, confident in our coaching. We watch a lot of film, we game plan well. By the time we get to game day, the job is easy, we just got to execute and I feel like we did a good job executing tonight and we just came to play, it feels good. I'm proud of my brothers."

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele passed for 336 yards and three scores in the loss for the Sabers. Campbell also had two players hit the century mark with Jonah Togafau-Tavui racking up nine receptions for 126 yards and a TD and Rowen Bucao turning four passes into 121 yards and two scores.

Breez Moore scored on a 74-yard interception return six minutes into the second half and Bucao later caught a 34-yard TD pass to give Campbell its largest lead of the game, 28-13, at the 4:01 mark of the third quarter.