Scores are trickling in from across the state on Friday night, but one from Skippa Diaz Stadium still pops out.
Mililani 42, Campbell 7. The win places Mililani in the final of the OIA Open Division bracket and earns the Trojans a berth in the state championships.
“We were fortunate to get the win,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “We came out and worked the game plan, but we had three series before the half and three turnovers. So we’re still not playing good football yet, but it’s getting better. Hopefully, we’re going to improve and peak in the championship game next week.”
Mililani got an efficient performance from its offense. Emana Tarape looked composed and smooth, going 6-for-8 with four touchdown passes and 135 yards. He threw one pick, snagged by Campbell’s Hawaii-bound defensive back, Kela Moore. Other than that, the blend of a strong ground attack — Nehemiah Timoteo finished with 80 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards and two combined TDs — with Tarape’s precision was too much for the fifth-ranked Sabers.
Mililani also limited Campbell’s young offensive unit to minus-4 rushing yards and 183 yards of total offense.
“The defense played good. They did well. They played sound and did their job. They executed,” York said.
Mililani’s kicking game was sound again. The Trojans also came up with a blocked punt.
“We got a good kicker (Makel Paiva) and a good punter (Semeri Ulufale Jr.). They did good,” York said.
Mililani will await the Kahuku-Waianae winner in the final. No. 1 Kahuku has dominated OIA Open Division and is seemingly unstoppable.
“They’re No. 1 for a reason. We felt the wrath when we played them the first time,” York said, referring to a 55-20 Kahuku victory on Nov. 13. “Now let’s put it on the line and see what we’ve got now.”
Campbell is still in the running for a state berth. The Sabers will play the Kahuku-Waianae loser next week with the OIA’s third and final Open Division state berth at stake.
At Skippa Diaz Stadium
Campbell (4-3, 4-3) 0 0 0 7 — 7
Mililani (5-1, 5-1) 21 7 7 7 — 42
MIL—Jensyn McGee 33 pass from Emana Tarape (Makel Paiva kick)
MIL—Raymond Roller 30 pass from Tarape (Paiva kick)
MIL—Nehemiah Timoteo 39 pass from Tarape (Paiva kick)
MIL—Timoteo 7 run (Paiva kick)
MIL—Gavin Hunter 21 pass from Tarape (Paiva kick)
CAM—Rowen-Ray Bucao 40 pass from Chayne Kuboyama-Hayashi (Sehutha Maka-Mailei kick)
MIL—Makamale‘a Meyer 84 pass from Makavelli Novera (Paiva kick)
JV—Mililani 37, Campbell 7.
Individual statistics
RUSHING—Cam: Chauncee Lopez 3-(-6), Jonah Tofagau-Tavui 9-2, Kuboyama-Hayashi 3-0. Mil: Nehemiah Timoteo 11-80, Emana Tarape 2-5, Makavelli Novera 2-7, Tavian Hallums 8-27.
PASSING—Cam: Jonah Tofagau-Tavui 7-11-1-37, Kuboyama-Hayashi 13-27-1-150. Mil: Tarape 6-8-1-135, Novera 4-9-2-113.
RECEIVING—Cam: Dallas Fonseca-Juan 7-80, Bucao 8-77, Diego Betancourt 2-9, Tofagau-Tavui 1-9, Kingston Ishimine 2-12. Mil: Jensyn McGee 1-33, Roller 1-30, Hunter 3-41, Timoteo 1-39, Paiva 1-15, Hallums 1-(-2), Eric Stephens 1-8, Meyer 1-84.
Good job from the boyz from Troy leaving no doubt why you belong in the championship
Game should be an epic match up with the 2 most dominant team’s in the oia if your boyz and coach are able to control there emotion should be a lot closer game bring it
The truth is exactly what Coach Rod said “ They felt the wrath the last time they played!” Mililani got outcoached and outplayed! Good luck to both teams! 808vsEverybody!