‘Controlled chaos’ fuels Mililani defense in shutout of Kahuku

Mililani linebackers Bam Amina (10) and Kamalu DeBlake (35 combined on a big hit on Kahuku quarterback Mana Fonoimoana-Vaomu (1) during the first half. Photo by Jamm Aquino/Star-Advertiser.

There is plenty of hospitality when it comes to the Mililani Trojans.

Their recent trip to American Samoa built friendships with the Vikings of Fagaitua that showed on Friday night. Selfies with Mililani and Vikings players, who are visiting Oahu, on the sideline, lots of smiles and memories. Before that festive time, Mililani was less generous on the field. The third-ranked Trojans took care of business on the turf of John Kauinana Stadium with a 32-0 win over No. 4 Kahuku.

It was an endless supply of big plays on defense and special teams by Mililani, which needed that boost on a night when its offense generated just 128 total yards against a sturdy Kahuku defense.


>> CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME

For Kahuku, the frustration of being scoreless for a half was nearly vented early in the third quarter. After a muffed punt return by Mililani, Kahuku was at the Trojans’ 32-yard line with momentum building. Sophomore Tiger Adolpho’s quick-trigger passes were effective.

But Wynden Ho‘ohuli burst through Kahuku’s pass protection and sacked Adolpho, forcing a fumble that seemed to bounce and bounce toward the sideline forever. Mililani’s Mark Pasternak recovered the ball near the Kahuku bench, covering the ball on the ground. As he rose, he was tackled by multiple Kahuku players, and then a mini-melee ensued.

“The ball came out. I saw the ball, ran to it. The offense ran to it and there was some kind of beef on the field,” Pasternak said. “I didn’t hear a whistle. It’s just football. It was going crazy. Balls to the wall, people flying all over the place, fists flying. There was the whole Kahuku offense on the pile and only three of us from defense. It was real fun being the mix. It was real chaotic, but over here, we have a phrase called ‘controlled chaos’. You get to make plays.”


When the rubber granules settled, three Red Raiders were ejected, including standout right tackle Micah Soliai-Howlett. Coach Sterling Carvalho said he and his staff will study the video and appeal to the league. Without an appeal, all three players would be automatically suspended for the next game against Waianae. One of them, he added, was on the sideline, not on the field.

It was a game of smashmouth football at times, but it was Mililani quarterback Brendyn Agbayani who consistently hit high-percentage quick passes to stretch Kahuku’s defense sideline to sideline that eased the pressure.

It came down to some bizarro plays like the fumble recovery by Pasternak. With two personal fouls assessed on Kahuku, Mililani moved 30 yards downfield and scored on the ensuing play to open the lead to 26-0 in the third quarter.


Early in the game, it was tackles for loss on back-to-back plays by Mililani’s defense that set the tone. Kahuku’s opening series ended when Sonny Semeatu sacked QB Mana Fonoimoana-Vaomu in the end zone for a safety.

Fonoimoana-Vaomu is dangerous as an option quarterback, but Mililani’s defensive discipline nipped that possibility in the bud. Kahuku tallied three carries of 10 or more yards, and they were all in the first half. The visitors finished with 27 rushing yards on 28 carries.

COMMENTS

  1. HailFromDaNorth August 17, 2019 1:58 am

    Gotta say, those transfers played awesome! Props to Mililani who did an awesome job defensively. Kahuku really needs to figure out themselves offensively! Tiger looks like with time he’s gonna be an awesome QB. It was a tough game to watch. Got nothing but love for my Red Raiders but, Sterling Carvalho gotta go!


  2. Breakdown film August 17, 2019 2:48 am

    Still same old Kahuku with the mentality that they just going run u over. Speed and quickness trumps that and it shows . It looks like a little league offense . KAhuku got physically man handled , mililani D was all over the field . Lucky score was only 32-0. They need an actual qb coach out there, their QBs have natural talent that is not coached up at all. U can see it in the mechanics . It was an embarrassing night for Kahuku. I know they got athletes out there and is better than what they showed last night . Coaching coaching coaching !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  3. Soleuce August 17, 2019 5:23 am

    I don’t ever hate on transfers because every school has them, us(kahuku) as well. BUT STERLING AND STEW DO BIG RED A FAVOR AND STEP DOWN! We thought Lee Leslie was bad, last season and this season is worse. Sloppy on offense and terrible special teams. KAHUKU is known for its exceptional special teams play. Ever since the ADMIN took over and started hiring and firing every other year we’ve gone down hill. The BOYS don’t deserve this! GOTTA GET BACK TO OUR ROOTS!


  4. Soleuce August 17, 2019 5:41 am

    STERLING AND STEW DO BIG RED A FAVOR AND PLS STEP DOWN


  5. Simple Simon August 17, 2019 6:00 am

    No discipline with Kahuku. If the team is getting worse and worse, you gotta make a change. Insanity is doing something over and over again, expecting a different result. Coaching gotta go. The kids don’t look disciplined. The execution is horrible. They are digressing each year. It’s so bad there, that many kids are transferring away from the state. Utah high schools have at least 8 boys that transferred from Kahuku.

    Kahuku admin gotta’ go. Coaching gotta’ go. Sterling is too weak as a coach and leader. Need some firm “parenting” (coaching) for the kids.


  6. Former.Red Raider August 17, 2019 6:21 am

    It was a nightmare watching Kahuku get thrashed by Mililani. However, the Red Raiders can still be a contender. The issue here is the attitude, focus and determination of it’s players.

    It appears that the team has no discipline and functionality. They seem to rest on the laurels as being tough. Wake up guys, or you’ll be left in the dust like last night’s performance.

    I’m a.former.Red.Raider who can remember.when we used to get thrashed by Kailua 51 to 0 back in the 60’s. Your attitude, focus and functionality must change to execute the plays on the field. Wake up or give up, that’s the alternative. It’s not the COACH, it’s the players!


  7. HI HS FAN August 17, 2019 6:56 am

    So sad for a once proud program. Multiple coaching changes. Kids transferring to out of state schools. Community upset with circumstances with the program. Administration micromanaging. What happened? How can this be fixed?


  8. notes August 17, 2019 7:20 am

    HI HS FAN, you know what happened? Cal lee and ILH recruiting happened. we always played the game the right way with homegrown players who are ROOTED not RECRUITED who play for love of the game and our community, not to chase ILH scholarship dollars

    it hurts me to say this but seems like kahuku is gonna have to join in on the recruiting game too because of what the ILH did to hawaii high school football. i dont’ hate on rod york for doing what he needs to do to win. maybe we gotta do that too


  9. Proudredraider August 17, 2019 7:35 am

    @notes no make excuses! Wether or not recruiting happens at ILH or an OIA school, we(kahuku) still have the talent to compete and win. Our kids in our community always left for Utah or ILH schools, and we still won state championships and oia’s. We have the talent still to compete this year! But coaching is terrible and it stems from the HC. Simple Simon is right he’s to weak as a leader of men. These kids don’t need friends as there coaches they need leaders! He’s to much of a players coach! We have the talent. Kahuku should never get blown out like they did last night. NEVER!!!


  10. Mayor if Mililani August 17, 2019 7:42 am

    York gotta go.
    Unacceptable behavior swept under the rug.
    Who runs Mililani?


  11. Bob hall August 17, 2019 7:57 am

    Notes
    Everbody recruits ! Don’t say rooted rnot recruited you guys do it in basketball and football. What happened to all the fans? They not winning that’s what happened. All that talk the red sea is nothing but a little puddle right now. The LU!🔵🔴


  12. Choloropicrin August 17, 2019 8:23 am

    Kahuku will be fine, just at this point in the season they’re figuring it out offensively. And on offensive Mililani outcoached and outplayed Kahuku hands down. They’ll beat Campbell as they have a better line of scrimmage, and will probably beat Kapolei, Farrington and Waianae.


  13. ??? August 17, 2019 8:29 am

    All Open division teams should be allowed to recruit!
    “Plain & simple” that is the only way to maybe keep up with STL.
    Kahuku’s A.D., principal & coach please resign!

    Great game Mililani…..


  14. Hammah Union August 17, 2019 8:31 am

    Kahuku football program is TOXIC!!!!!! And it all stems from the Administration and Coaches. TOOOOO BAD…..


  15. Think August 17, 2019 8:31 am

    Here we go again….difference between ILH schools and public is that they’re private schools that attract kids from all over the island..HELLO! NOTES… think. If the public school is successful it’s because the COACH. Look at Rod… he’s killing it at Mililani, great , smart coach. What’s wrong at Kahuku is too high expectations…. there was nothing wrong with coach Freitas couple years ago… he should have continued coaching at Kahuku


  16. Smh August 17, 2019 8:47 am

    Kahuku is still in that same mentality, run you over . Those days are over , speed and quickness trumps it. Offense is like watching a little league team. They need a qb coach. Can tell last night , qb has no mechanics, but if taught well , could do wonders . Kahuku is a better team than what showed last night , they got athletes across the board like they always do year in year out. Last night mililani D dominated a team who is much bigger. Coaching coaching coaching .


  17. 96730to89 August 17, 2019 9:03 am

    We need to stop blaming the ILH for recruiting. It takes two to tango. Parents, from the Kahuku HS communities, are sending their kids away without hesitation. The disfunction in the leadership at the admin level is obvious.

    The ILH has been plucking talent from the OIA since the beginning of time, but Kahuku had such a strong tradition that kids wouldn’t bite the bait. That tradition has faded. Find it quick. York has built Mililani’s tradition so more of his players are staying and others outside also want to jump on the wagon.

    Let’s go BIG RED. Make ’em fear the Tamahawk again!!!! Hawai’i football is wayyyyy better when Kahuku is there to chop down those ILH schools.


  18. Think August 17, 2019 9:22 am

    Thank you 96730 to 89…. well said


  19. Choloropicrin August 17, 2019 9:30 am

    Over reaction Saturday as always with Kahuku fans. Same thing every year. Please no shade my way, as I said you’ll be fine. All OIA schools feel the effect of “ILH recruiting” …Just saying.


  20. Teine Afatasi August 17, 2019 9:47 am

    Can’t help but notice that Most if not All of our Trojan’s game makers are transfers from other schools this year…(yes, I know- happens all the time, to all the schools, every year, but WOW 😮 plentiful this season ha,ha)..Hymm, where’s all of Mililani’s own that have been supporting the program for years?? Oh well, CONGRATs nonetheless, I guess a Win is a Win!!.. Go Trojans💯


  21. rrforlifebaby August 17, 2019 9:48 am

    I normally dont have anything disparaging to say about the kids, but it’s gotten worse. No heart on the Oline. No alpha dog on the oline. No discipline on the oline. We have 3 really good coaches coaching the oline, but these kids need to get there heads out of the clouds. We’ve had smaller olines who have dominated because those kids wanted to punish everybody. This years group, heck, even last years group seriously lacking in heart.

    If the kids on the oline dont step up, this season is over.

    And although Mililani dominated last night, they didn’t give St Louis a reason not to think they’re getting the koa trophy for a 4th straight year.

    RRFL!!!


  22. Reality August 17, 2019 10:32 am

    Look into Kahuku’s roster and you will find kids coming from around the island. That is fact. If you doubt that, then, you aren’t as close to the program as you think. Look it up. That is just the reality, and, it is o.k., just please don’t think that all of Kahuku’s players live in the North Shore. “Rooted, not Recruited,” is a nice phrase, but, not true. It’s ok. It is what it is.


  23. H-Man August 17, 2019 10:39 am

    Too many head coaching changes at Kahuku since Reggie Torres. Team unable to find their identity as a result. The ship will eventually right itself if the community can display some patience. Jus my humble opinion.


  24. Teineafatasi August 17, 2019 10:43 am

    Can’t help but notice that Most if not All of our Trojan’s game makers are transfers from other schools this year…(yes, I know- happens all the time, to all the schools, every year, but WOW 😮 plentiful this season ha,ha)..Hymm, where’s all of Mililani’s own that have been supporting the program for years?? Oh well, CONGRATs nonetheless, I guess a Win is a Win!!.. Go Trojans💯


  25. Coach C August 17, 2019 11:57 am

    Give prop’s to York. Off season he went and drafted. Counted up to 9 staters that was NOT on the roster last year. Wow. Not even ILH can immediately play. They need a one year sit. Even McGhee their outstanding kicker got bounced. To make room last year’s players had to leave to lower D1 school, because their were going to be benched their senior year. Nor for the community, but for ego of coaches.


  26. Coach C August 17, 2019 12:49 pm

    Teineafatasi, many Mililani players transfered out to lower division one schools. 2 at Moanalua, at Aiea and Leileihua maybe Kapolei. Pity they couldn’t finish at Mill. Some are seniors.


  27. Choloropicrin August 17, 2019 1:08 pm

    The “Rooted not recruited” phrase come from Waianae a few years ago, as they had shirts with that on…just saying. Waianae might be the only OIA school who’s rooted not recruited as no one wants to go “one way in and out” for only football. I believe waianaes production program is highly sought after for kids transferring in then the football team.


  28. ILH August 17, 2019 2:07 pm

    Maybe Kahuku needs to recruit CAL LEE /RON LEE to coach out there, then things will be great, for now, GO CRUSADERS.


  29. TARHEELS nation August 17, 2019 3:11 pm

    All I hear is a bunch of crybabies everyone on here got to much time on their on hand


  30. Losngiwndrr August 17, 2019 8:13 pm

    Saint Louis have to take out a loan to bring back,the Lee brothers as coaches, a lot of players then wanted to go to Saint Louis to play football. The Lee bros. didn’t do too good. at UH. Go figure.


  31. ??? August 17, 2019 9:03 pm

    Would LOVE to see Ron Lee leave STL for a HC job elsewhere instead of being Cal Lee’s Puppy that doesn’t get his credit.


  32. Real Talk on HawaiiPrepWorld August 17, 2019 9:38 pm

    Makoa Freitas steps in as HC for one year after Tata left and takes Kahuku to the state championship. Then doesn’t get the head coaching job the next year. Yet Sterling can’t get it together during his first year and already looks atrocious so far this year. And i bet he returns as HC for a 3rd season next year. Kahuku’s admin is a joke. Especially the athletic director Yama-whatever her name is.


  33. Real Talk on HawaiiPrepWorld August 17, 2019 9:48 pm

    Notes – bro stop it already. even us Kahuku faithful is over the whole “ILH Recruits” “Mililani & Coach York recruits” bull crap. so what if they recruit? none of that matters between the white lines. we need to focus our energy on why the heck should Sterling even be given the chance to coach a 3rd year. if he comes back a 3rd year next year, the Kahuku Athletic Director should be driven out of town.

    in regards to the game, i thought Kahuku’s defense looked good. Malosi Sam goes for 200+ yards against Campbell but was held to less than 20 this game. The game in my opinion was obviously won on special teams. Kahuku’s offense looked like Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder was calling the plays.


  34. Mililani Fan August 17, 2019 10:14 pm

    Mayor spot on. Not my style of coaching at all. Sooo many things I’d do differently from every aspect of the team administration to how business and conduct is handled. I extended my hand, but “I’m not in the inner circle”.


  35. G August 17, 2019 11:00 pm

    Check it up… to the admin, to coaches, to fans, to communities, to parents, to players, and anyone that cares, BALL UP! If you ain’t balling, you got next. Watch the grill, take a dip, water down, have a sip, have your quarters ready, regroup, stand in line and be steady. Ball in..


  36. Oahu August 18, 2019 12:19 am

    Boring game. No passing attack. Both teams no discipline. Coaches have no control.


  37. to good times August 18, 2019 3:24 am

    Already and again blaming the admin and coaches at Kahuku. Already and again blaming the ILH and Mililani. When rainy season comes around going blame the state again for not providing a decent football field for Kahuku. If Kahuku needs to travel to town going blame the league for the long travel time. Now even blaming the kids on the team. Sad.


  38. notes August 18, 2019 8:35 am

    no, what’s sad is ILH apologizers like you have no humbleness. you steal our kids from their homes and seduce them with ILH scholarship dollars and then gloat about how programs are being destroyed. us RRFL always carry ourselves with pride and humility. we always support our kids and our ohana. you just have dollars to throw at people. it’s sad what hawaii has become


  39. Casual Fan August 18, 2019 2:58 pm

    @notes – you’re blaming StL/Cal Lee & Pun/Kale Ane for stealing “your kids?” (1) you should be happy their providing “your kids” with more options & opportunities, (2) ILH are private schools with no district. If all their football players just happen to be from the north shore, oh well, and (3) recruiting is a two way street. Instead of blaming StL/Cal Lee & Pun/Kale Ane for stealing “your kids” and providing them other options, why don’t you call out the families – Tufaga’s, Wily’s, Teo’s, Uluave’s, etc for being “stolen” from your communities?


  40. Oahu August 18, 2019 11:41 pm

    Multiple St. Louis players hit with their Helmets
    Coaches gotta corect that before they seriously hurt another player. #52 the worst always putting his head down hitting with the crown.
    No discipline for one private school.


  41. Hau’ulaBoy August 19, 2019 12:55 am

    Recruiting chant is getting old. Who cares? We got who we got. They take who they take. It’s either cry and blame, or suck it up and keep playing. This team still has enough talent. The D was holding it down. The coaches have to figure out the rest. You can only be as good as those who lead you. So tighten up those chinstraps and get to work.


  42. Sedir8 August 19, 2019 6:04 am

    @Notes why do you even care if the ILH recruits? You talk as if you make the decision for these kids. Who would pass up an opportunity for a better education? Here’s a suggestion, instead of sitting behind the keyboard and ranting or complaining all day why don’t YOU put in an application to become a Kahuku football head coach? And show what it takes to make kids stay and play for YOU.


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