A 16-point deficit didn’t keep Hawaii’s second-ranked high school football team down Friday night.
The Mililani Trojans didn’t panic and eventually seized the momentum to slowly fight back and put down visiting Liberty 34-22 in the Aloha Football Classic at John Kauinana Stadium.
It was a banner night for Hawaii teams in the two-game tournament. Besides the Trojans’ win over the Patriots from Henderson, Nev., — that state’s No. 2-ranked team — Saint Louis beat Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman 31-19 at Aloha Stadium in a battle of the states’ No. 1 teams.
It looked like Liberty (0-2) was going to make it a long, long night for the Trojans (4-0) in the early going, striking like lightning for two early touchdowns and two 2-point conversions. But those two TDs — Edward Gastelum’s 57-yard catch-and-run of a Kanyon Stoneking pass and Donte Bowers Jr.’s 27-yard interception return — were the only times the Patriots found the end zone.
>> Click here to see photos of the game between Mililani and Liberty. Opens in a new tab
Mililani got it done with a smashmouth defense to go along with a dominating offensive line that eventually opened up the passing game. All told, slippery and quick running back Jasiah Alcover gained 101 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. Wide receiver Kanoa Gibson found the holes in the Liberty defense for eight catches, 138 yards and two touchdowns on passes from quarterback Brendyn Agbayani.
“It was nothing special,” Alcover said. “They came out here looking for competition. We gave them the competition and we came out with the dub. It’s all about the team. The only reason we got so many yards was because of the O-line.”
Gibson’s 21-yard TD catch late in the first half followed by a 39-yard Dillon Fedor field goal for Liberty put the Patriots on top relatively comfortably 19-7 at halftime.
A 34-yard Agbayani to Raysen Motoyama pass led to Alcover’s 1-yard TD as Mililani pushed closer — 19-14 — with 7:34 left in the third quarter. Gibson’s second TD, this time for 30 yards, gave the Trojans their first lead, 21-19, late in the third.
Kiai Ramos’ fumble recovery deep in Liberty territory set the stage for Alcover’s 3-yard TD run to make it 27-19.
“We feed off our defense,” Trojans coach Rod York said. “They played good to hold them so our offense could get clicking. (On offense), we dominated the trenches. That’s what we rely on. The offense came to life and the run game helps. Liberty is a tough team. They’re bigger, faster and stronger than us. “
The Patriots cut it to 27-22 with 7:29 left on Fedor’s 36-yard field goal, but Mililani finished the Patriots off with an 80-yard drive capped on Micah Kim’s 10-yard TD sweep around right end.
Defensively for the Trojans, Sonny Semeatu (two sacks and another tackle for loss), Wynden Hoohuli (sack, two other tackles for loss) and Bam Amina (in on two sacks) were among the movers and shakers.
“It’s not like we gave them the game or anything,” Patriots coach Rich Muraco said. “They took it. They wanted it and they executed and we came out flat in the second half.”
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No. 2 Mililani 34, Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 22
At Mililani
>> No. 2 Mililani (4-0) 0 7 14 13 — 34
>> Liberty (0-2) 16 3 0 3 — 22
Liberty – Edward Gastelum 57 pass from Kanyon Stoneking (Maurice Hampton pass from Germie Bernard)
Liberty – Donte Bowers Jr. 27 interception return (Bowers run)
Mililani – Kanoa Gibson 21 pass from Brendyn Agbayani (Liam McGehee kick)
Liberty – Dillon Fedor FG 39
Mililani – Jasiah Alcover 1 run (McGehee kick)
Mililani – Gibson 30 pass from Agbayani (McGehee kick)
Mililani – Alcover 3 run (kick failed)
Liberty – Fedor FG 36
Mililani – Micah Kim 10 run (McGehee kick)
RUSHING – Liberty: Gastelum 12-15, Jared Tufele 2-10, Lonenoa Faoa 1-(minus-2), Zyrus Fiaseu 1-(minus-2), Stoneking 10-(minus-6). Mililani: Alcover 19-101, Kim 6-29, Kamalu DeBlake 4-18, Bam Amina 4-11, TEAM 4-(minus-4), Agbayani 1-(minus-11).
PASSING – Liberty: Stoneking 17-28-0-252, Faoa 0-1-0-0, Daniel Britt 0-1-0-0. Mililani: Agbayani 11-20-1-186.
RECEIVING – Liberty: Germie Bernard 4-74, Corey Hebert 4-37, Gastelum 2-62, Maurice Hampton 2-24, Victor Epstein 2-23, Byron Viloria 2-21, Moliki Matavao 1-11. Mililani: Kanoa Gibson 8-138, Raysen Motoyama 2-45, Kim 1-3.
