After a season of anticipation and a magnificent state championship game, the Trojan conquest is complete.
Mililani and Punahou rewarded the 19,254 who endured the traffic to Halawa on Friday with a state championship shootout that wasn’t decided until Mililani quarterback McKenzie Milton ran out the final two seconds on a 53-45 victory over the Buffanblu at Aloha Stadium.
That Milton ended the game with a ball in his hands was fitting, as the junior’s 421-yard, seven-touchdown passing performance helped the Trojans earn the first state title in school history with the win in the Division I final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football Championships.
"Its kind of surreal," Milton said. "It’s insane. I’m so grateful we did it for our community most of all. I just love our guys to death. I love our coaches to death. I’m at a loss for words for the first time in a long time. It’s crazy."
Two days short of a year since falling to Punahou for last season’s state championship, Mililani took that cherished next step to complete the season at 13-0.
Four of Milton’s touchdown passes went to Kalakaua Timoteo, who ended the night with seven receptions for 117 yards, and Mililani finishing off the undefeated campaign by ending Punahou’s 19-game run of victories.
"It’s great. It’s a state championship, but at the same time it’s an everyday grind," Mililani coach Rod York said. "This will not be the defining moment for us, but it’ll definitely be a happy moment."
Punahou hadn’t dealt with defeat since losing to Kahuku in the 2012 championship game and was denied a second straight title on Friday in its fourth consecutive appearance in the final.
Punahou running back Wayne Taulapapa powered the Buffanblu with 260 yards and three touchdowns in their attempt to maintain their grip on the crown.
But Mililani answered each Punahou surge and secured the title with a turnover in the final minute.
"That was a lot of points. I don’t think I can add that high," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "Mililani’s offense put in a very good performance under pressure. We had some breakdowns, but they (the Trojans) were almost flawless, especially in the first half. We gave everything we had out there, struggling from behind the whole game. Our offense made some clutch plays. On defense we made some stops, but we didn’t have enough stops."
With Punahou driving into Mililani territory late in the fourth quarter, Taulapapa took a pitch and found room around the left side. But Mililani cornerback Ty Purcell-Apana stripped the ball loose just short of the goal line and the fumble went into and out of the end zone for a touchback, giving Mililani possession with 56 seconds left, and Mililani managed to run out the clock.
"I saw him falling down and I saw the ball sticking out, so I just stripped it," said Purcell-Apana, whose 83-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Trojans separation in the first half.
Anticipation for Friday’s rematch between the Division I champions from the ILH and OIA seemed to build since Punahou celebrated its 28-22 win in last year’s final. Both teams survived semifinal battles last Saturday to return to the championship game.
Mililani scored on six of its seven possessions in the first half, all of the scoring drives ending with Milton touchdown passes. Even the Trojans’ lone punt of the half, early in the second quarter, worked in Mililani’s favor when Kanawai Noa muffed the return and the Trojans recovered to set up their fourth offensive touchdown of the night.
With Mililani leading 13-7 and Punahou driving at the Mililani 21, Purcell-Apana jumped in front of a quick out for an interception. He raced up the sideline, then cut across the field for an 83-yard touchdown return to extend the Mililani lead.
"That was a blast, that was my first pick-six of the year," Purcell-Apana said. "I just converted to DB this year. I got my chance and took advantage of it."
Mililani then forced a three-and-out and Milton’s 13-yard fade to Timoteo pushed Mililani ahead 26-7 with 1:15 left in the first quarter.
Punahou reached the end zone on its next three drives, but Mililani held serve each time and Milton ended the half with 307 passing yards and six touchdowns.
"(The Punahou defenders) were on our guys’ hips all night. Our wides just did a good job of making grabs. (Offensive) line did a good job of moving the ball up front. Defense, they came through for us when we needed them to," Milton said.
After Milton’s sixth touchdown, Punahou had enough time to drive into Mililani territory and Jet John Toner, who hit a game-winning 48-yard field goal against Kahuku in the semifinals, hit a 53-yarder to bring the score to 46-31 at halftime
Punahou opened the third quarter by intercepting Milton’s deep ball in the end zone and drove 80 yards in 12 plays, scoring on Taulapapa’s 1-yard run to make it a one possession game at 46-38.
Malepeai had to be helped from the field on the fourth play of a 14-play Mililani march. But Milton kept the Trojans on track and his seventh touchdown was Timoteo’s fourth.
After Taulapapa’s third touchdown, the defenses took over a scoreless fourth quarter, with Mililani coming up with the stop it needed at the end.
"We picked up our defense early, they picked us up late and that’s what it’s all about," Milton said.
