Chasen Castilliano and the Farrington Governors play host to Jalen Olomua and the Mililani Trojans Friday night. Jim LeBeau | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

For the third-ranked Mililani football team, there is no room to peer into the future.

Days after returning from a week-long trip to the Bay Area, which included a 19-point win at Clayton Valley (Concord, Calif.), the Trojans (4-0 overall, 3-0 league) will face their biggest test to date in the form of No. 7 Farrington (3-2, 3-1) Friday night.

The winner will claim at least a share of first place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Red Conference.

"There's a lot of football left, but we're calling it the championship game — that's how big it is to us," Mililani coach Rod York said. "With teams beating each other and the standings being what it is, this is the one right here. Winning this one probably puts in the top position as far as our (division)."

After Kaiser forfeited to the Trojans to open the season, they posted one-sided wins over Leilehua (47-0) and Castle (49-0), before allowing their first points of the year in last Friday's 49-30 win over the Ugly Eagles.

Junior running back Kilifi Malepeai ran for four touchdowns in the win and has scored 10 total TDs in his last three games.

"The game was good. People don't realize, but that team was good," York said. "They mostly run wildcat. They're physical and they have a good running back."

Outside of the game itself — the first win on the mainland in program history — the Trojans kept busy with a packed itinerary.

"We went to a 49ers' practice, a Raiders' game, we visited De La Salle; It bonded the guys more and it got them more experienced as far as doing different things," York said. Just those experiences together brought them closer. They lived with each other and spent seven days together."

York added that his team managed to come away without any serious injuries — "We got some owwies and stuff, but come game time the boys should be ready to go" — and have adjusted well back to their normal schedule since returning to Oahu Monday afternoon.

"We can always be more mentally focused, but I'm pretty happy going into this week; The boys are ready to go. They seem a little more focused," York said. "We just came off a big trip, but overall I'm happy with the boys."

While the Trojans have been cruising along — relatively — the Governors have been grinding.

After dropping back-to-back games to Kamehameha (34-15) and Campbell (26-20) to open the year, Farrington has reeled off three straight wins to sit in a tie for second place (Castle).

The Govs' win streak includes a 35-0 road win over Nanakuli, a 21-point upset of Kapolei and last Friday's 3-0 nail-biter to hand Kailua its first loss of the season.

"They will probably be the best defense we've faced and their offense seems to be running on all cylinders, so it's definitely going to be a tough matchup for us," York said.

Farrington's defense has surrendered an average of just 13.4 points per game. Opponents are managing fewer than 56 rushing yards per game. Conversely, Mililani is averaging a gaudy 36.8 points.

"They've got athletes, they've always got athletes," York said of the Govs. "Look all-around at their skill positions — they're athletic, they play man-to-man, they're aggressive and they play hard."

A win Friday would go a long way toward a top-two finish in the seven-team D1 Red and a first-round bye in the 12-team OIA tournament.

"You have to bring your A-game on game night because anybody can beat anybody," York said. "It's tough to win a game in our division. That's why we play the game. Execute your game plan, the team that does that Friday night will win."

Kickoff at Edward ‘Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Henry Kusunoki Field is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.