McKinney leads Mililani over Kaimuki


Seth McKinney finished 8-of-12 passing for 144 yards and one touchdown. Scott Nishi | SL
MILILANI - Trent McKinney threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score in a 34-6 non-league win over Kaimuki in the season openers for both teams at John Kauinana Stadium last night .

The Trojans (1-0) racked up 357 yards of total offense while holding the Bulldogs (0-1) to just 168 in the head coaching debut for Rod York, who ascended to the post after two years as defensive coordinator under former head coach Darnell Arceneaux.

"You can't complain with a 'W,'" said York, an Iolani graduate and former University of Hawaii player. "You have to give credit to Kaimuki, they had just 25 guys suited up and 25 guys took it to us in the first half. They got a little burnt out in the second half, but they are a really tough, hard-nosed football team.

McKinney, a Division I prospect who is 6-foot and 175 pounds, finished 8-of-12 passing for 144 yards and one touchdown.

The Trojans wasted little time going to the air on their opening drive. McKinney connected on three of his four passes, including a 51-yard touchdown to 6-foot-4 Hassan Richardson. Richardson beat his defender downfield before leaping for the pass from McKinney and wrestling his way into the end zone. Elizabeth Gustafson's kick gave Mililani a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

After Kaimuki punted away on its next possession, the Trojan offense went back to work. Running back Zachary Payomo opened the drive with an 18-yard gain on a draw play before McKinney found Bryson Calma deep for a 31-yard gain. Three plays later, Payomo found the end zone on a 2-yard run on third-and-goal. The kick was no good and Mililani took a 13-0 lead into the second quarter.

Kaimuki got on the board early in the second quarter after putting together a 10-play, 69-yard drive that was extended by a pass interference call against the Trojans on a third-and-11. It was capped by another third-down conversion when quarterback Dallas Reis threw a 30-yard scoring pass to Mason Kualii-Moe with 10:54 until halftime. Kualii-Moe layed out for the ball on a corner pattern to the front, right pylon on the play.

The Trojans went for the gusto to end the first half, but came up empty. Kaimuki fumbled late in the half, trying to run out the clock and Mililani recovered at the Bulldogs' 20-yard line with 21 seconds left. Payomo picked up 10 yard on first down, but McKinney was stopped for no gain on the following play. A Kaimuki pass interference penalty then put the ball on the 5, but McKinney's pass with no time left on the clock fell incomplete to give Mililani a 13-6 lead at the half.

The Trojans extended their lead on their first second-half possession with a five-play drive that ended with a 34-yard scamper by McKinney on a quarterback draw. Working out of the shotgun, McKinney followed a lead block by his running back and cut through several Bulldog defenders on his way to the score. Gustafson's PAT was good to make it a 20-6 Mililani lead.

Fullback Reid Watanabe added a score later in the third quarter on a 5-yard TD run and after linebacker Cilvin Steward closed the scoring on a 30-yard fumble return for score.

Payomo led all rushers with 92 yards on 12 carries. Kaimuki's Chester Sua carried 11 times for 62 yards. The two teams combined for 30 penalties for 248 yards.

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