Morikawa on target as Mililani wins Red West

Mililani wrapped up the OIA Red West title and a bye in the first round of the league playoffs with a convincing win over Waipahu on Friday night.

The week off might be the only way to slow down Trojans quarterback Jarin Morikawa.

The Mililani senior passed for a career-high 408 yards and four touchdowns and the fourth-ranked Trojans closed the regular season with a 49-14 win over the Marauders on senior night at John Kauinana Stadium.

"It’s a goal we set as a team, and the kids went out and executed," Mililani head coach Rod York said of capturing the division title before adding, "but it’s what you do in the playoffs. We know its a tough road ahead."

Waipahu (2-4 OIA Red West, 2-6 overall) has also qualified for the OIA Red playoffs despite the loss, while Mililani (5-1, 7-1) finished alone atop the OIA Red West by winning four straight following a loss at Leilehua on Sept 1.

Morikawa ended the regular season by completing 31 of 43 passes, and his yardage total was the program’s highest in the state championship era and the sixth best in the OIA in that span.

Kainoa Wilson caught four passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns, including a 51-yard bomb on the final play of the first half, while Preston Sinn finished with a game-high eight catches for 85 yards.

"We feel our weapons are our slots, and so we (create) mismatch problems against linebackers and we like to take advantage of that," Morikawa said. "All the receivers did a great job of getting the ball and making something happen. My line gave me plenty of time and the defense did a great job and they were tough all game long."

The Mililani defense turned away two Waipahu scoring threats in the first half and capped the scoring when defensive back Ian Namu intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter.

Mililani had a controlling lead by then, with an offense that went with five receivers and no huddle for most of the game. Morikawa completed 20 of 25 attempts for 276 yards in leading the Trojans to four touchdowns in five first-half possessions.

"It’s hard to sit in coverage and he’ll stay there and pick you apart," Waipahu head coach Eric Keola said. "We tried to come with some blitzes, but he has a good feel for the system."

Morikawa opened the game by going 5-for-6 for 61 yards, closing the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Turner. Two drives later, he connected on all four throws in an 80-yard march capped by an 18-yard scoring pass to Wilson. He then went 10-for-11 in moving the Trojans to the Waipahu 7 before handing the ball off for the first time in the game. Dayton Furuta took two carries to complete the drive to give Mililani a 21-0 lead.

The Marauders broke through by covering 65 yards in 1:13 late in the second quarter. A 31-yard gain by Isaiah Alama set up a 3-yard run by quarterback Kaimi Paredes with just under 14 seconds left.

Mililani recovered an onside kick with 11.8 seconds left in the half. Morikawa then dropped back and launched a pass to the goal line. Wilson outfought a Waipahu defender for the ball in the end zone for a 51-yard score as time expired, giving the Trojans a 28-7 lead.

"We took a shot and got lucky," York said. "But we tell the kids if you hustle and you do things right sometimes the ball bounces your way."