The names have changed, but Mililani’s mastery of Campbell continues.
The Trojans, ranked fourth in the Star-Advertiser Top 10, opened their season Friday with the program’s 10th straight win over Campbell, pulling out a 30-26 decision in Ewa Beach.
Running back Malosi Sam and linebacker Wynden Hoohuli, both transfers from Saint Louis, powered the Trojans, who fell behind the third-ranked Sabers 12-0 in the first half before storming back.
Sam carried the load for the Mililani offense in grinding out 259 yards and three touchdowns in 43 attempts.
“I feel a little bus’ up, but we got the W and that’s what we wanted. I put everything into this,” Sam said.
Hoohuli sparked the defense with two interceptions in the second half for the Trojans, who were without head coach Rod York for their season opener.
“I just showed up today for the JV game and I guess it was personal reasons,” substitute head coach Maa Tanuvasa said of York’s absence. “I got the text and it said ‘Hey, you’re the head coach.’
“Maybe because I’ve been here the longest he put it on me. Just take it as it goes. Didn’t do much to change anything, let the coaches coach and I just called timeouts.”
While much of the state opened the high school football season with nonleague games last week, Mililani and Campbell had a week off to prepare for the opening-week showdown.
Campbell quarterback Blaine Hipa’s first pass of the season was tipped and intercepted by Mililani’s Asher Pilanca. Sam powered the Trojans to the Campbell 1 but was stopped short on fourth-and-goal from the 1 on his seventh carry of an eight-play drive.
Mililani’s next drive ended with an interception by Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu and the Sabers pounced on the sudden change. After taking a toss on a reverse, Peter Manuma pulled up and fired the ball deep for a 47-yard completion to Titus Atimalala. Two plays later, Hipa hit Atimalala short of the goal line and the junior took it in for a 21-yard touchdown.
The duo connected again early in the second quarter, with Hipa finding Atimalala open down the left side for a 90-yard strike on third-and-11. Atimalala had 179 yards on five catches in the first half but was shut out after halftime.
Mililani answered with Sam’s first touchdown, a 14-yard burst, and closed to 12-10 on a 44-yard field goal by Kaulana Navares to end the first half.
The Trojans took their first lead when Sam capped the opening drive of the second half with a 2-yard run. But Campbell responded with a 55-yard run by Jonan Aina-Chaves in his first game with the Sabers.
After Mililani tied the game with a field goal, Campbell moved ahead again when Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala picked off a pass and returned it 55 yards to give the Sabers a 26-20 lead.
The Trojans saddled up Sam again and went up on his 31-yard run up the middle early in the fourth quarter.
Mililani came up with a fumble on the ensuing possession and Navares’ third field goal gave the Trojans a 30-26 lead.
Hoohuli then came down with his second interception of the second half on a pass over the middle and Sam picked up two first downs to close out the win.
“The defense stepped up, we got some picks, got some turnovers and we finished,” Hoohuli said.
—
No. 4 Mililani 30, No. 3 Campbell 26
At Campbell High
>> Mililani (1-0, 1-0) 0 10 10 10 — 30
>> Campbell (0-1, 0-1) 6 6 14 0 — 26
Campbell — Titus Atimalala 21 pass from Blaine Hipa (kick blocked)
Campbell — Atimalala 90 pass from Hipa (pass failed)
Mililani — Malosi Sam 14 run (Kaulana Navares kick)
Mililani — FG Navares 44
Mililani — Sam 2 run (Navares kick)
Campbell — Jonan Aina-Chaves 55 run (Tamaota Mokiao-Atimalala pass from Hipa)
Mililani — FG Navares 30
Campbell — Mokiao-Atimalala 61 interception return (run failed)
Mililani — Sam 31 run (Navares kick)
Mililani — Navares FG 36
RUSHING — Mililani: Sam 43-259, Raysen Motoyama 8-31, Brendyn Agbayani 3-(minus-13), Team 1-(minus-14). Campbell: Aina-Chaves 11-81, Mokiao-Atimalala 1-11, Hipa 4-10, Sky Lactaoen 1-(minus-1).
PASSING — Mililani: Agbayani 19-28-2-180. Campbell: Hipa 8-20-3-165, Peter Manuma 1-1-0-47.
RECEIVING — Mililani: Kanoa Gibson 10-140, Mystic Sampaga, 4-19, Motoyama 2-16, Kai Banks 2-5, Sam 1-0. Campbell: Atimalala 5-179, Manuma 2-12, Chasen Torres 1-18, Aina-Chaves 1-3.
* Junior varsity — Mililani 39, Campbell 7
