A desperate Waianae team needing a win to save its season got exactly that.

After scoring only 16 points in its first three games, the Seariders broke out for six touchdowns in a 42-28 victory over No. 4 Mililani last night in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West game at John Kauinana Stadium.

Puletua and James Wilson each rushed for two touchdowns as the Seariders steamrolled Mililani’s defense for 275 rushing yards in a victory that saved a season that was quickly spiraling out of control.

"It was rough knowing that we had to go against a tough team like Mililani that is so explosive," Waianae coach Daniel Matsumoto said. "I think our O-line did well tonight, and our running backs ran extra hard tonight. They knew it was important for us to do well tonight."

The win helped Waianae avoid an 0-4 start, something unheard of for the traditional powerhouse from the west side.

The Seariders (1-1, 1-3) came through doing what they do best, pounding away with a punishing ground game that Mililani (1-1, 3-1) couldn’t stop. Whether it was Bryson Panui (11 carries for 72 yards) rumbling up the middle or Jaylen Michell (11-for-62) bouncing to the outside, the Seariders sliced and diced their way back to .500 in league play.

"Our team has never been 0-3 before, so we had to push and come out with a win and let people know Waianae is in this thing, man," Mitchell said. "We had to run it down their throats. That’s what we do."

The teams traded touchdowns into the third quarter when the Seariders went on a 21-0 run. Waianae scored touchdowns on its first three possessions in the second half, capped off by a 16-yard scoring run from James Wilson with 7 minutes remaining.

"We always say on our team the defense is the big brothers and the offense is the younger brothers, and because we lost on the defensive side, everything went downhill from there," Mililani coach Rod York said. "It’s on me. I need to do a better job of coaching, and we’ll get things corrected."

Mililani quarterback Trent McKinney threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Hassan Richardson, who had eight catches for 102 yards.

Waianae rode the back of 300-pound fullback Kennedy Tulimasealii, who rumbled into the end zone from 3 yards out to give the Seariders an early 3-0 lead.

Mililani answered on a 4-yard touchdown pass from McKinney to Richardson, and the teams traded scores until a crucial turnover near the end of the first half.

Junior Leighton Panui recovered a fumbled punt by the Trojans with less than 2 minutes remaining, giving Waianae the ball deep in Mililani territory.

Five plays later, Puletua Wilson plunged into the end zone from 6 yards for the first of his two scores to give Waianae a 21-14 lead going into halftime.

"Our line did what they had to do to for the team," Wilson said. "This is the start of a new beginning for us, and we’re just going to come out hard on Monday every week preparing for the next game."