The good news is Kapolei and Mililani got to play a long, nearly 90-minute first half in a football scrimmage Saturday night.
But there was bad news, too. After a 10-minute break, the teams came onto the field for the second half and the referees were gone. According to bystanders, the referees thought the game was over.
Darren Hernandez, the Kapolei coach, was not happy about the referees’ disappearance. He wanted to get some work in for his other quarterbacks on the depth chart.
The Hurricanes’ Christian Rapis, who had a tough time at the start against Mililani’s defense, took all the snaps for his team. He finally got the ball rolling later against the Trojans’ subs and spearheaded a scoring drive.
Ezekiel Waiolama finished a drive off with a TD run.
More on Kapolei later.
Mililani’s offense, for the most part, was in midseason form, moving the ball at will. However, a total of three interceptions were thrown by three-year starter Dillon Gabriel and backup R.J. Javar. The Trojans also fumbled it away once.
Kilifi Malepeai and Jevon Miller scored rushing TDs for Mililani, while Reichel Vegas and Maka Hill caught scoring passes.
In addition, Asher Pilanca scored on a fumble recovery for the Trojans. Teammate Charm Lomibao and Cyrus DeRego made some hard-nosed plays on the defensive side.
“We got a lot of reps, everybody got to play, It was productive,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “Four turnovers and one to the house. The offense needs a lot of work. It doesn’t matter what 11 are on the field, we’ve got to execute better. We saw a lot of good things, too. The defense played good, but overall, we’ve got a lot of work to do as a team.”
Vegas thinks the Trojans will find their way.
“I was expecting a physical game and we were prepared for it,” he said. “We were in our zone heading here. It was definitely a physical game. I’m smaller (5-foot-6, 149 pounds), but I’m not going to back down from anyone. Honestly, I think we’re going to do well (this season). You look back at the past season, we want to do way better (OIA runner-up and a loss in the state Open Division semifinals). When it comes down to the wire, we need to lean on one another.”
For the Hurricanes, Peni Naulu had a sack and Liam McMoore and Destyn White made interceptions. White took his pick in for a touchdown.
“Mililani is a great program,” Kapolei’s Hernandez said. “You saw that tonight. Efficient. Dillon Gabriel, I will say this, is the best QB in the state. He delivered some dimes out there. They have a great chemistry with the receiving corps. They have all their ducks in a row.
“There’s some things we did well. We rushed the passer pretty good and came away with three interceptions. We did other things well on defense, including some tackles for loss. We just gotta be more consistent, and offensively, we haven’t jelled yet.”
Kapolei’s QB is going to be a sophomore, maybe it’s time they teach him to throw using the Laces on the football 😂
Hello, u mean fundamentals of throwing a football!
Christian Rapis was a backup Quarterback in Aiea, that good for him that he getting many reps in Kapolei.
Good luck to Christian Rapis. Great kid, we will miss him at Aiea. Still want to see you do well. Good luck. Blessings on your new start. Keep the grades up.
Dylan Gabriel is unreal. He may have a pro career ahead of him. The team looks loaded and scary. Top 3 team in the state this year, could easily win it all. Recruiting!
UH… u need to throw a scholarship at Ryan Chang. Kid got hurt late last year which was the beginning of the end for that Trojan offense.
It’s funny how people (???;LAN) is quick to insult a sophomore trying to better himself and his career, but I guess some individuals never grow up and will always live in the shadows hence the screen name. Haha!!
Good Luck Kapolei.
Whats up with Kapolei walking off their home field without shaking hands. Where’s the hospitality? Where’s the respect from Coach H? The refs left because everyone including Mililani thought it was finish, everyone but Coach H.
“Kap City” explain why the team walked off the field without acknowledging the visitors.
I’ve been to all their scrimmages, Kap never had a halftime. Teams take breaks but not send their team all the way to locker room after a “2 hour first half”. In fact Ive watch other teams (private and public schools) scrimmage, not single scrimmage had “HALFTIME”. Oh and by the way, they forgot to let Mililani know. The refs, fans and their own faculty staff (who was collecting the field markers) thought it was over. Kapolei H.S. Principal, Vice Principal, AD, please explain. Lets hope OC16 (Spectrum) heard how one of their commentators show his version of “SPORTSMANSHIP”
Wow, a football fan is what you claim? I’m sure REAL football fans not only attend every Kapolei scrimmages(2) waiting for something to happen to say negative shit online!!! REAL football fans ALSO READ what happened instead of adding their two cents in! Get it right, you only a spectator….