Mililani quarterback McKenzie Milton is out for three to five weeks with an AC joint separation in his right, throwing shoulder.
Coach Rod York passed the news on Monday morning after Milton visited a doctor.
“It’s a mid-AC separation,” York texted.
Milton’s father, Mark Milton, also confirmed Monday morning that the injury is to his son’s AC (acromioclavicular) joint. For a general medical overview of that part of the body, go here: http://bit.ly/1MCGa5G.
On the whole, it’s good news for Milton and the Trojans (6-1, 6-0), the defending OIA and state champions. The injury was severe enough that after Mililani’s game at Kailua, York thought for certain that Milton would miss the rest of the season.
Mark Milton believes a return in three weeks will probably be too quick of a turnaround time.
“The best-case scenario would be the OIA semifinals,” he said, careful to note that it’s not a given that Mililani makes it that far. The OIA championship game, if Mililani is in it, (is a more realistic timeframe).
“This might be a blessing. He got banged up in the game against Liberty in Nevada (a 76-53 loss on Sept. 4), and he’s been playing through it. It was a real physical game. This might be a time where he can heal his whole body.”
Mililani winds up its regular season on Friday at Moanalua. After that, the Trojans have an OIA playoff bye on the weekend of Oct. 9-10, followed by an appearance in the OIA quarterfinals on the weekend of Oct. 16-17, before the possibility of being in the OIA semifinals on the weekend of Oct. 23-24. The OIA title game is the weekend of Oct. 30-31 and the Division I state tournament starts the weekend of Nov. 6-7.
“As a coach of 16- to 18-year-olds, we prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We thank God and hope all is well for the Miltons,” York wrote. “We appreciate all the great support from the many that have emailed and texted to wish McKenzie the best.”
Mark Milton was relieved that McKenzie doesn’t need surgery and that no bones were broken.
“We have a really good orthopedic doctor, and he will be getting checked up in a couple of weeks to see how he’s doing,” he said.
Here’s how the Mark Milton remembers the play:
“It was around the fourth play of the game and McKenzie had just run a couple of times for about 40 yards. It was his first pass. The right defensive end, Christian (Mejia), who is a really good player, came from the edge and wasn’t blocked. In the middle of releasing the ball, McKenzie was hit on his blind side. He (Mejia) picked him up and landed him on his shoulder. It was a good play. He did what he was supposed to do. The pass was a completion for about a 29-yard gain.”
Mejia is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior.
On Friday night, after the Kailua game — a 45-21 win — Milton texted, “God is faithful!”
By Saturday, his Twitter account was deluged by teammates, friends and fans from across the state and as far away as California (via former Punahou and current Cal offensive lineman Semisi Uluave).
Milton’s response:
McKenzie Milton @McChickenzie Sep 26
Never gonna question God’s plans for me! #blessed
44 retweets 209 favorites
Milton was selected the Star-Advertiser All-State offensive player of the year in 2014. On Saturday, sophomore Kaysen Higa stepped in and threw four TD passes as the Trojans pulled out the win over the Surfriders.
At this point, Milton ranks fifth in the all-time passing yardage list.
>> 32 games (28-2 as a starter)
>> 493-for-749 (65.8 percent)
>> 6,959 yards
>> 77 TD
>> 17 INT
>> 192 carries
>> 1,740 yards
>> 18 TD
>> 8,699 total yards
His career passer rating is 173.25, one of the best in state history.
This fall, in seven games, he has completed 120 of 178 attempts for 2,000 yards, 26 TDs with three picks. His passer rating in ’15 is 206.63, which ranks as the best among QBs in the past decade.
Milton has also rushed for 355 yards on 33 carries with two TDs.
lol back to putting up 60 points every game, all you guys thought ahh hahahhahaha we back and we ready, first one on our list is kahuku to quiet down there die hard fans that believe they still got a Koa head coming there way. Yall bouta learn in states
Better diagnoses from York. At this point a college scholarship is on the line. Don’t throw it away on a high school game. Don’t let coaches dictate your future. Good luck on you and your family’s decisions.
Good news for the kid, I hope he lets it heal properly. 5 weeks is still pretty fast to be playing football at the semi’s where every team is good. Again wish nothing but the best for the kid and Mililani team.
Bobby, we see the OIA playoff picture ,how does the ILH playoffs work?
HEY STATES, ONE HIT WONDER, Mililani is a great team and i hope you guys win one more koa head to add to that one you guys won last year cause next year, GO TROJAN SOCCER AND BAND
Milton’s attitude and faith will see him through this recovery process. I have no doubt he will return to football stronger than ever!
@ states. Atleast we stick with our team through da good and bad! Not gonna find a single band wagon jumper in Big Red country! Anyways! I know da circus left town years ago! Didn’t know they left one clown behind!!! Be humble my braddah…..
Glad it’s not that bad and hopefully he’ll be able to play in the OIA Championship against Kahuku. After all, he’s one of the only top players on their team that’s actually from Mililani. He gotta represent!
Here’s a post about McKenzie (a great, hard working and humble kid) that got hurt ….but is getting better and somebody still gotta bring up some kinda backhanded remark about recruiting? …smh…. ILH teams ain’t got nobody from their school district on their teams…… is that bad? Where’s the outcry about that?
Hope Milton gets better in time for states…. but if not…..still all good bc we’ll get to see him play for UH.
Good luck to everybody in the playoffs- hope your teams play great and nobody gets hurt.
Good to hear the injury is not as serious as first thought. Even better to read that comment from Coach York. But the best comes from Kenzie himself as he’ll never question Gods plan for him. Mililani has got a great young man in that one.
As they say here in Millz, stay “Hungry and Humble”! God is good all the time! Go Trojans!
@ Da Reddest Raider why do you assume Kahuku will be in the OIA Finals? I am not saying they will or won’t. But please show some humility. I would trade humility for 1000 state titles. And a side order of some class too.
Mililani don’t talk thrash about other teams, you think you guys will win the OIA and the States but really you didn’t play the top Guns yet especially KAHUKU, and if you do win the OIA Title, You got either Punahou or Saint Louis to go through.. And you better hope you win it all
this year, because who knows when Mililani will be a contender again in football now that all your good players are graduating. Maybe a Band title next year.
Trade for humility? You know what happened the last time we as a Pacific people traded for Humility? Fa bye bye to your land.
@ILH and what ‘top gun’ teams did kahuku play? lol get otta here with that nonsense
@states
that was all drama…..you are probably not even from Mililani..You probably live in halawa with Vae, Tovi boys, noah Williams, etc…. Just be thankful you still have this year cause after this year you wont be responding to anything….
Whatever dude! Hope you heal up fast. Good luck to Mililani/Halawa Trojans this year!
buhwaaa! i hope the boy the best and its great hearing positive and negtive comments. but it is true, next year millilani wont have anything,no home grown talent or not enough home grown talent. KAHUKU,FARRINGTON, WAIANAE WILL BE AND ALWAYS WILL HAVE THE TALENT!!
All the trash talk and negative comments on here is so sad. What truly separates us from the cesspool of ill-will is the content of our character and by that what comes out of our mouths. Challenging ALL Mil-Ville peeps to keep it classy and don’t stoop to the level of the haters that choose to swim in the cesspool of ill-will. Let’s wish the best for ALL the young men who put a jersey on every week and give their very best for their schools and communities, and for the coaching staffs that give tirelessly so that our young men realize their dreams!
We on want the best on the win we kick yur guys AZZ!!!!!
@ ILH
Mililani will always be a competitive team because they have an awesome coaching staff that will always get there team ready to play. Everybody needs to remember that mililani was the best in the west before milton and co. Came along. RRFL!
5 weeks to heal is for a regular guy that pushes a pencil. Not a guy that gets hit by 220 blitzing lbs, or is running and throwing 60 yards plus. When he comes back it’s the thick of D1 competition. Oppositing coaches will be sending the blitz. Just keep HIGA in thru the OIA. I’m sure they can get a State Spot.
http://www.quantumtouch.com/index.php?lang=en
I have seen most of the game this year and Mililani has the best coaching staff by far. Kahuku is an athletic team but they are one dimension. Until they show that they can pass the ball the aint going no wear. Some of these coaches are a freaking joke. They keep running the same Defense even when they getting tour up. They don’t know how to make adjustments or don’t want to. Malepeai and Timoteo would destroy any defense in the state no matter who is throwing the ball. Instead of trash talking lets wish this kid well and hope to see him get back to 100% soon. BTW everyone is jumping on the big red van wagon. Who have they play? nough said
@Manley
Sure just keep Higa in so your team could have a better chance at winnining the OIA. I’m willing to bet anything that if Milton is not at 100% coach York will not play him. That’s just the kind of guy he is. Don’t worry about Milton running or throwing the ball when he comes back just worry about your red raiders working on some pass plays. They can run the table on Waipahu,castle and Mckinley but they will not beat either of the top three teams right now. All you have to do is put 8 in the box and your run game is done. Don’t get me wrong I love your D. Atuaia is a beast, I’m surprise he doesn’t have more offers to play D-1. Santiago is the best safty in the state and Latu is a good athlete, but I don’t think that you can’t hold any of the top three teams under 30 points because their offense is too good.
Get better Mckenzie!!!
Don’t Rush your injuries. Nothing is worth your health and well being. You have left your mark in football history not only for Mililani but for the entire state of Hawaii!!!
YOU ARE A TRUE TROJAN!!!!
Can’t wait to see you and Kala dominate at the University of Hawaii!!!
Alot of transfers from different football programs have made a lot of controversy but you know who THE REAL TROJANS are!!! Its been such a privelage to watch you grow and excel throughout the years. God bless you in your path of a speedy recovery.
GOOOOO MCKENZIE!!! GOOO TROJANS!!!!!