Farrington is trying for its second-ever OIA football championship and first since 1990. Mililani is trying to become the first team other than Kahuku to win a second OIA Red football title since the league split into two divisions in 2003.
Both teams have won eight in a row. Here’s our preview for the game.
Live updates below.
Kickoff expected for around 8:10 p.m.
8:15 p.m.: Farrington receives the opening kickoff and goes three-and-out. Running back Sanele Lavatai was not on the field for a snap on the first series. Lavatai is battling a hamstring injury.
8:22 p.m.: Mililani with a third-and-6 on the Farrington 27 and quarterback McKenzie Milton scrambles for 17 yards. Third-and-goal from the 12 and Milton goes up top to Bronson Ramos, who nearly pulls in a diving attempt. Marc Matas with a 29-yard field goal and Mililani takes an early 3-0 lead with 7:17 left in the first quarter.
8:28 p.m.: Lavatai in to start Farrington’s second drive and runs for 4 yards. Jacob Baguio hauls in a 24-yard pass from Montana Liana on third-and-4 to put the ball at midfield. Lavatai storms through for an 8-yard run.
8:47 p.m.: Farrington heads into the second quarter trailing 9-0 as Milton scored on a 52-yard touchdown run to end the Trojans’ second drive.
8:55 p.m.: Mililani’s third possession ends when Jacob McEnroe intercepts a deep ball thrown by Milton. Farrington takes over but is backed up on its own 6-yard line.
8:58 p.m.: Another three-and-out by Farrington. Mililani is sloppy on offense with the penalties but is in definite control of this game. As soon as I type that, Farrington gets called for a 15-yard face-mask penalty and then is called for roughing-the-passer. Mililani with first-and-goal at the 9. Third-and-goal and Vavae Malepeai scores his 19th rushing TD of the season to make it 15-0 as the extra point is blocked.
9:12 p.m.: Farrington punts and Mililani runs a reverse on the return with Bronsen Ader going 42 yards to the Farrington 28.
9:17 p.m.: Robert Faleafine in the game at QB and Milton goes out wide. Go-route to Milton and Faleafine hits him for a 23-yard TD with 25 seconds left in the half. After missing two extra points, the Trojans go for 2 and Milton hits Ian Namu. Trojans lead, 23-0.
9:23 p.m.: Liana with a 14-yard pass to Baguio but Farrington elects to let the clock run out. Teams start to run off the field but referees now signaling everyone back. Apparently Farrington did call a timeout. Should be 8 seconds on the clock but looks like we’ll go with 2 instead. Farrington runs Lavatai for 3 yards and now we go to half. Fantastic.
Second half should start around 9:45 p.m.
Nevermind, Tiny Tadani is giving away a car. The second half will start at midnight. Well at least they are going deal or no deal style with opening briefcases instead of turning keys in a car door. That’s good, right?
9:43 p.m.: We’re underway in the second half. Big kick return for the Trojans puts the ball in Farrington territory to start. Mililani wastes no time as Milton to Kalakaua Timoteo for 24 yards puts the Trojans ahead, 30-0.
9:50 p.m.: Ref calls a personal foul on Mililani, then yells “wait, wait, wait” at himself with his mic still on then corrects the penalty to Farrington. Liana to Baguio on a 25-yard pass that was exactly like the 80-yard touchdown to beat Kapolei two weeks ago. Third-and-3 for Farrington and Tamatoa Silva blows up the play to force a Govs punt.
9:55 p.m.: Malepeai goes 26 yards on the first play following the punt. Farrington is in danger of looking like it’s giving up. Malepeai has surpassed Kamehameha’s Kainoa Simao as Oahu’s leading rusher this season with more than 1,200 yards. Farrington with a personal foul after the next play to give up 15 more yards and a first down. Breiden Fehoko jumps offsides on the next play. Milton on a draw up the middle for a first down.
Side note on Milton, the kids can do it all. Little off topic, but when is the last time a sophomore QB and a sophomore RB have led a team to an OIA championship? Mililani has got some amazing young talent.
10 p.m.: Dayton Furuta sighting. The Mililani fullback/linebacker is back from injury apparently, rumbling in for a 3-yard touchdown. It’s running clock in the third quarter of the OIA championship game. Trojans lead, 37-0.
10:16 p.m.: Freshman Tyler Mamea intercepts a pass for the Mililani defense. Trojans have the ball on the Farrington 20.
10:19 p.m.: Benches have been emptied as the backups get some playing time. I’m heading down to the field now.
10:20 p.m.: Check that, Aaron Kesi returns a fumble 72 yards for a touchdown and Farrington snaps a string of nine straight quarters without scoring in an OIA championship game. The Govs’ last shutout loss was in the 2011 OIA championship, 23-0 to Kahuku.
Farrington will fall to 1-6 in OIA title game while Mililani will win its second OIA championship in four years, becoming the first team other than Kahuku to win multiple OIA Red titles. Mililani will get the OIA’s seeded berth in the state tournament and *should* get a first-round bye. You never know with these state seedings.
OK, now I’m heading to the field.
COME ON GOVS!!!!
Might as well call it the night!! cheeee!!
thank you for the blog. I live in NM but I’m following the Trojans success!