Due to No. 3 Mililani’s potent offense that is averaging 59.2 points in five games, the Trojans’ defense gets a bit overlooked.
The biggest question for the unit — after giving up 76 points in a loss to Liberty in Henderson, Nev., two weeks ago — is how will it hold up against Thursday night’s opponent, Oahu Interscholastic Association Blue rival and sixth-ranked Farrington at 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.
Certainly not as imposing as last season’s defense, which included Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State senior defensive tackle Rex Manu, this year’s squad has a bunch of playmakers on defense and special teams
And those playmakers made some huge plays in Saturday’s 54-6 homecoming win over Aiea.
Defensive end Isaac Liva, who had not played football before this year, had two and a half sacks and a another tackle for loss. Linebacker Keli Clemente was all over the field making tackles, breaking up passes and being a sheer menace.
The Trojans’ defense also put points on the board, when speedy defensive end Kaimana Padello caused an Aiea running back to fumble and Elias Pritchard took it home for a 30-yard score.
On special teams, Mililani got a boost from Jarod Alama, who recovered an onside kick that led to a scoring drive to start the second half.
As noted earlier, it should be interesting to see how the Trojans defense stacks up against Farrington’s formidable offense. Governors running back Challen Faamatau rushed for 236 yards in a 19-13 win over No. 7 Kailua last weekend.
In addition, the Govs are more balanced (passing and rushing) than in years past, when their damage was done mostly with a power running game. They have three capable quarterbacks with lots of varsity experience — starter Bishop Rapoza and backups Joziah Anakalea and Justin Uahinui and a strong receiver corps led by Kingston Moses-Sanchez.
C’mon bradah Nick are you serious right now? They were playing Aiea. Where were the playmakers on defense during the Liberty game? Mililani’s defense is straight doodoo. Their offense on the other hand is something to see.
nah millvill defense is very over looked, they gonna prove that today, no name defense bout to make a big name for themselves
Hi 88. Good point. Just wanted get some follow up on a few things — Padello causing the fumble that Pritchard scooped and scored, Clemente making plays everywhere and Alama recovering an onside kick. Those plays never made it into the game story. I figured I could mention Mililani’s defense and put it out there that that same defense (which, as the story says, gave up 76 points to Liberty) will be going up against what has been a really strong and balanced offense. And it’s tomorrow night!!!! Anyway, my intentions for the story and the result of it may not have lined up as well as it could have. So, once again, good point.
mililani has play makers just as any other team does, but they are very over looked because of the high scoring offense, no one remembers the scrimmages this year against St. Louis and kahuku? both where defensive starters were taking out after the first half, Kahuku only put up 16 points against mililnai’s starters. Mililani has a no name defense but they will make a huge name for themselves if they pull through in tomorrow’s game
I feel sorry for 88. He obviously is still stuck in his teens mentally. KEli Clemente is my son and he played a hell of a game against aiea. If you weren’t there at the game against liberty you should just keep your mouth shut. Let the boys play and prove themselves. And 88, go take a nap. Maybe you’ll wake up in a better mood.
Mililani lost their big Kalihi and Waianae lineman to graduation, York should have recruited younger kids instead they are left with the true Mililani town players that cant battle in the trenches. That is why their defense is lacking this year.
Dont get me wrong the Oline and Dline have a few studs but those studs should be playing their high school ball at Aiea and Waipahu, a few recruits are still not enough for Mililani to be contendors, they need atleast 50% of all starters to be recruited like they were last year.
…and scrimmages mean nothing, Kahuku and St. Louis were without many starters and coming into a new season they are trying to find their identity. Mililani is the same identity as lastyear (minus a few recruits) so they have already hit their ceiling. Punahou, Kam, St. Louis, Farrington and Kahuku are slowly finding their identity and are getting better by the week. Mililani will find out how weak their defense is tommorrow night against Farrington which.
Everyone has gotten better this year, Mililani stayed the same on offense and got a little worse on defense. I dont believe they will win the OIA this year let alone state title.
BTW – No disrespect to any of the Mililani players of family’s, just calling it as we see it and yes, my child also attends Mililani from out of district because we live in district that sucks. lol
WELL I AGREE WITH EWA EWA. BUT I THINK ITS THE GOVS DEFENSE THAT HAS TO WORRY AND I KNOW THE GOVS OFFENSE CAN’T MATCH MILL. SCORE FOR SCORE. RRFL!
@Clemente; Im glad your son played a great game against Aiea. That still does not change the fact that Mililani’s defense needs to play better, especially against better teams.
@88 is a Hater; Go back and look at the video of the SCRIMMAGE and see what D packages and personnel St. Louis and Kahuku played. Lee and Tata treated that scrimmage like a scrimmage not like an actual game. Hence the two different outcomes against the same team, uh duh……
1’s vs 1’s Mililani got the best of Kahuku and St. Louis in the scrimmages. Yes it was only a scrimmage but the coaches and players were trying to win. Nobody likes to lose. Not even in a scrimmage. Don’t let these coaches fool you about it being jus a scrimmage. Scrimmages sets the tone for the rest of the season.
Oh gosh just wait for the game. Shut up about the recruiting, look into other schools n their recruiting. But because it was Mililanis first state win everyone want to judge. I bet you if Waialua won state you all would bitch n complain about the same thing. People it’s high school apparently some of you are still stuck in it l. Govs defense couldn’t score against Aiea, Mililani killed Aiea n you all want to talk. Whatever the outcome of the game just pray for your dirty souls n an injury free game.
Mililani is defense is not that bad because when you look at the stats aside from the liberty game they’ve been holding there ground. They just gave away big plays that’s how teams been scoring on them. They made adjustment by putting there offense players on defense. Still I think mililani can beat all the oia teams but would have trouble with the big three in the ILH.
Oh iiooo, swear at us and then tell us to go pray. I sure hope the Govs defense couldnt score on Aiea because that would mean Aiea offense is TERRIBLE…
Shut up about recruiting and shut up about SCRIMMAGES! LMAO. Mililani’s defense is average. Farrington’s is slightly better. Mililani will in spite of their defense, because of their superior offense. Their no name defense is not that good. Good luck to both teams.
i like it !!, chee pono!!!! thats school spirit personal pride right here, when all is said and done, we all bleed RED!!!! RRFL! LMAO