It was an often masterful performance for Mililani quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
He just didn’t feel like it was moments after No. 3 Mililani pulled away for a 42-21 win over Kapolei on Friday night.
Who felt good? Gangly sophomore defensive end Shane Kady did. The 6-foot-3, 180 pound pass rusher found himself in the middle of a surreal situation as he merely did his job. Mililani had seen its two-touchdown lead slip away as a homecoming crowd at Kapolei spurred their Hurricanes to take a 21-20 lead in the final minutes of the first half. After Junior Tuia rambled home for a 55-yard fumble return, the ship was starting to rock for Mililani.
When Kapolei got the ball back in the final minute of the first half, all the Hurricanes had to do was take a knee, perhaps, and run out the clock with a 21-20 lead. Instead, Lonenoa Faoa, who had a superb first half with 173 passing yards and two TDs, lost control of the ball as he tried to unload it from the end zone. The ball hung in the air, Kady said, for what seemed like an eternity.
“I jumped for it. The ref put his hands up,” said Kady, who scored his first touchdown in a football game since eighth grade.
That TD, he recalled, was in a JPS game. A fumble. This one, just two years later, keeps Mililani in first place in the OIA Red at 5-0 (6-0 overall). His key play spurred the Trojans to a dominant second half. Their 26-21 halftime lead — and the wild, sometimes chaotic first half – turned into a rather vanilla demonstration of Mililani’s season-long excellence on both sides of the ball.
With running back Kalifi Malepeai out of the game after taking a hard shot while catching a pass, sophomore Raysen Motoyama filled in. The 5-4, 155-pound sophomore ran hard, with power and explosiveness, a tough dude to get a clean hit on. He finished with 69 rushing yards on 12 carries, all in the second half, as Mililani took command. The ultra-fast, hurry-up tempo slowed as the lead built from 26-21 to 29-21 to 35-21 and 42-21.
Still, Gabriel wasn’t satisfied even after passing for 376 yards and three TDs. He threw two picks on deep passes that amounted, sort of, into punts, and fumbled on the play that Tuia turned into a go-ahead score.
“I saw a lot of stuff. They played back and we just trust what Coach Rod (York) called,” Gabriel said.
Cream rises to the top
Did anyone notice that kapolei was playing loud music when Mililani was on offense?
Coach Bolohead got outcoached again. Time for a change at Kapolei. And why does Kapolei coaches have their names on their shirts, it’s about the players not the coaches.nothing says look at me more than that. Kapolei has so much talent, but is outcoached
Kapolei’s sidelines did have a Pop Warner/Big Boys feel to it…don’t know who thought those shirts were a good idea…in all seriousness, I feel really bad for those talented kids out there…they deserve better…
this clearly proves mililani is not at the level of st. louis and kahuku…
@dafun this proves Mililani is on the same level or better than St. Louis/Kahuku. Not a Trojan fan but if wasn’t for turnovers and mistakes I doubt kapolei scores in double digits. Kapolei is a talented team and coaches were out coached. Mililani if healthy looks like they will be in the state finals game.
Agree with @footballfan. . . “If Healthy” Trojans in the open final. . . Too Bad for Kapolei, no second half adjustments to complement a well played 1st half from their kids. . . Punahou vs STL pt1 should be a good one. . . True test for both teams, edge punahou. . .
@Dafun, how does this prove anything? Don’t sleep on Mililani or Punahou. . .
Coaches gots to get their swag on playa…
Kapolei needs to get rid of those horrid jerseys the coaches are wearing on the sidelines. I mean C’mon, are they playing in the game or the kids?? Hernandez gotta stick to broadcasting more better😂😂🤙🏼
And Mililani will be there in the states, with St. Louis and punahou. There up there with Kahuku, they get plenty weapons on offense and defense. There hungry!!!
Trojans “ROCKED THEM LIKE A HURRICANE!” Just a few comments:
1- DJ needs to be taught some football fan etiquette…DO NOT PLAY MUSIC WHEN THE BALL IS IN PLAY. If youre going to do it, do it for both teams not just against the visiting team!
2- DJ – DO NOT ASK FOR A DANCE PARTY WHEN A PLAYER IS DOWN AND HURT
3- Refs blow whistle when forward progress stops.
Hope this isnt the norm during all Kapolei home games, if it is…3 words…E-TI-QUETTE!!
Mililani ain’t jack! We had them shaking. See you in the playoffs, where it matters
@ Hawaiian hammer, you said you had us shaking, well we definitely had you baking!!! Nevertheless we be looking forward for that rematch. Until then good luck to “BOTH” teams and good health!!