One question mark for Mililani heading into its OIA playoff opener against Kaiser on Friday night was its tendency to start slowly in recent games.

The second-ranked Trojans eased that doubt, racing to a 27-point first-quarter lead on their way to a 54-14 win in the OIA Division I quarterfinals at John Kauinana Stadium.

Further, Mililani held Kaiser running back Jensen McDaniel, the OIA’s leading rusher, to 9 yards on 14 carries in the first half.

Mililani quarterback McKenzie Milton did not attempt a pass in the second half and finished 15-for-18 for 312 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another. 

Receiver Kainoa Wilson, who hadn’t played since injuring his collarbone in the Trojans’ season-opening win against Saint Louis, had six catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

Mililani (9-0) advanced to Thursday’s OIA semifinals at Aloha Stadium.

"We had two weeks to prepare and took this as a championship game," Mililani coach Rod York said. "We took away their strength and made them go to their weakness."

McDaniel was held to 27 yards on 20 carries. Kaiser ran the ball 42 times for 102 yards, most of it well after the game was decided.

Quarterback Kalawai’a Judd completed 11 of 24 passes for 96 yards. He wasintercepted twice. Mililani defensive back Tielu Mamea took the second interception back for an 84-yard touchdown, giving the Trojans a 54-7 advantage late in the third quarter.

"A big aspect that really helped us was the scouting we got from the Kaiser and Moanalua game (last week)," said defensive tackle Rex Manu, who had one of Mililani’s five sacks. "Dominating the line and making sure the run didn’t come up the middle was what we really emphasized in practice."

Milton completed his first 13 passes and threw three touchdowns in the first quarter — two going to Wilson.

Wilson’s return helped offset an injury to Kalakaua Timoteo, the Trojans’ leading receiver with 669 yards and five touchdowns.

"We lost Kalakaua for the week and Wilson came back and did what he’s always been doing," York said. "We tried to get him on mismatches and when we did we took advantage of it."

Kaiser was without defensive back Nicolas Tom, who was injured late in last week’s win over Moanalua and was not cleared by doctors. Linebacker Parker Higgins gave it a go but was hobbled by a knee injury also suffered against Moanalua.

Cougars coach Cameron Higgins, whose team went 5-4 in his first year, said Parker Higgins, his brother, has a sprained MCL.

"We didn’t get off to a good start and were flat the whole way and never recovered from it," Cameron Higgins said. "They were owning the line of scrimmage with four guys, and when you do that, you can do anything, really, and we couldn’t put any pressure on Mililani."

McDaniel ran for both of Kaiser’s scores and finished the year with 21 rushing touchdowns.

Mililani’s Vavae Malepeai was held to 57 yards on 13 carries but scored three touchdowns.

Mil–Kainoa Wilson 10 pass from McKenzie Milton (Jerrod Cunningham kick)

Mil–Roman Tovi 20 pass from Milton (Cunningham kick)

Mil–Wilson 66 pass from Milton (kick blocked)

Mil–Vavae Malepeai 5 run (Cunningham kick)

Mil–Malepeai 3 run (run failed)

Kais–Jensen McDaniel 2 run (Matt Sai kick)

Mil–Milton 3 run (Cunningham kick)

Mil–Malepeai 12 run (Isaiah Kuloloia kick)

Mil–Tielu Mamea 84 interception return (Kuloloia kick)

Kais–McDaniel 1 run (Sai kick)

RUSHING–Kaiser: Judd 15-47, Keith Jones II 7-28, McDaniel 20-27, team 1-(minus 16). Mililani: Malepeai 13-57, Milton 3-47, Cheyne Constantino 3-0.

PASSING–Kaiser: Judd 11-24-2-96. Mililani: Milton 15-18-0-312.

RECEIVING–Kaiser: Destin Moss 4-46, Isaiah Pongasi-Adric 2-18, Justin Ikei 2-14, Jones II 1-7, Parker Higgins 1-6, McDaniel 1-5. Mililani: Wilson 6-124, Bronson Ramos 4-107, Tovi 2-32, Joshua Butac 2-18, Malepeai 1-31.