How they match up: Mililani vs. Punahou

MILILANI OFFENSE

The one offensive unit that may be even more potent than Punahou’s was built in Central Oahu. The Trojans are adept at spreading every defense from sideline to sideline, then handing the football to Malepeai (1,211 rushing yards, 24 rushing TDs, 5.9 YPC). The junior has grinded through battle after battle, overcoming in-game injury and racking up a relatively busy season. Malepeai’s will to survive — he rarely goes down after first contact, makes him a unique weapon on handoffs, tosses and passes. Defenses that have opted to stonewall the ground attack have seen Milton’s precision on display. He has playmakers in Timoteo (48 receptions, 871 yards, seven TDs) and Wilson (22 catches, 386 yards, six TDs) — though both have endured injuries — but Milton also doesn’t hesitate to use all of his options. A reserve slotback is as likely to get a spiral his way as any starter. Farrington kept Milton (2,918 passing yards, 28 TD passes, just seven picks) out of the end zone for the first time all season, but he was accurate (20-for-27) and didn’t throw a pick. Though the Trojans haven’t employed a true pass-catching tight end since Dakota Turner (SDSU) graduated, all that open real estate between the hash marks is gobbled up by Milton (764 rushing yards, 12 rushing TDs, 9.9 YPC), arguably the fastest QB in the islands. He may not run for a quarter or two, but on the read-option there is no one better at big-play runs, especially at the hyperspeed pace Mililani operates at. "Milton’s a great runner, very athletic," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "He understands angles very well. You’ve got to have a spy in some way and be aware of him getting loose from time to time and just minimize it as much as possible."

PUNAHOU OFFENSE

Week after week, the Buffanblu offense was a monster machine that laid waste upon virtually every defense that dared to oppose it. Then Kahuku proved the Buffanblu to be human, permitting no TDs and only 147 total yards in last week’s semifinal thriller. In spite of it all, Punahou still has the weaponry that devastated Top 10 foes this fall. Tuliloa (263.4 YPG, 67 percent completion rate) will get the ball to Noa (53 receptions, 1,052 yards, nine TDs) deep when the opportunity arises. He’ll find Ma’a on intermediate routes, putting the 6-foot-4 leaper’s unique capabilities to work. Tuliloa won’t hesitate to get the ball to his slot receivers, though the lingering leg injuries of Heisman Hosoda remain an X-factor. Hosoda sat out last week’s game but may suit up for this title tilt. Tuliloa’s accuracy gives the Buffanblu reason to trust him, but they’ll be more than happy to hand the ball to Taulapapa (109 YPG, 9.8 YPC). The junior’s north-south style of attacking defenses makes good use of a solid offensive line. The one look that Punahou hasn’t relied on much at all this season is their highly effective three-back set in the pistol. In previous seasons, including last year’s title run, then-QB Larry Tuileta used it to run the power game and occasional option. Tuliloa has speed and the ability to take hits, but there hasn’t been a need to go this deep into the playbook on most nights. If Tuliloa’s swift feet become a factor, Noa could wiggle free. "They’ve got a great running back in Taulapapa and a great offensive line, and they’ve got probably the best receiver ever in Kanawai Noa," Mililani coach Rod York said.

MILILANI DEFENSE

Everything starts up front for the Trojans with Manu, a destructive force who gets consistent penetration as a pass rusher. Manu (32 solo tackles, 63 assists, 21 hurries, 11 sacks, three fumble recoveries and six forced fumbles) is one of the state’s most highly recruited prospects and seems to be leaning toward Oregon. With Padello coming off the edge at supersonic speed, pockets collapse often enough. Mililani’s secondary has 22 interceptions this season. Safety Tielu Mamea has been a big part of that coverage, though he and the DBs would be the first to acknowledge the work being done up front.

PUNAHOU DEFENSE

The Buffanblu may have the most balanced defense in the state, if not the most experienced. They’ve been tested by run-first powerhouses and prolific passing attacks. With girth in the trenches led by Saula, and a space-eater on the edge in the tall Kaumatule, Punahou’s defensive unit has the added benefit of a seasoned linebacker crew. Moea’i and Lakalaka have the burst and closing skills to finish off plays on the edge, and their ability to blitz is a weapon. Chung keeps it all in focus as the unit’s signal-caller, the glue man (12 tackles, two forced fumbles, sack against Kahuku). He rarely blitzes, but he had four sacks in five attacks coming into the state tourney. CBs Watanabe and Oda have been persistent and resilient when solo coverage is necessary.

MILILANI SPECIAL TEAMS

Marc Matas continues to be a fairly consistent touchback machine on kickoffs for the Trojans. Jerrod Cunningham has been the starter on PATs (35 converted), though York has switched them when consistency became an issue. Their return game with Ramos, Malepeai and other offensive starters, has been solid, but not spectacular. 

PUNAHOU SPECIAL TEAMS

Jon Toner, Jon Toner, Jon Toner. It’s not like Toner (five FGs, 48 PATs) is the only good kicker on the squad, but he won the job over time and came through with fourth-quarter field goals of 35 and 48 yards in last week’s comeback win over Kahuku. Both Toner and backup Alex Trifonovitch — arguably the second-best place-kicker in the state — have touchback range on kickoffs, too. Noa’s amazing versatility is a factor here; he returned a kickoff 83 yards against Kahuku for Punahou’s only TD. Noa has also returned two punts for TDs.

SIGNATURE PLAYS

Mililani tries to get playmaker the ball

As far as signature plays go, this is not quite that for the Mililani Trojans. It is, however, a sneaky way to get the ball to dangerous RB Vavae Malepeai in open space.

Both sides of the Mililani O-line are in screen mode. The right guard and tackle flare out to the right flat, where slotback Makana Tauai, who goes in motion, becomes a decoy. The left guard and tackle go left, providing the blockers for Malepeai.

Quarterback McKenzie Milton, in the shotgun as usual, gets the snap, looks right to Tauai, then loops a spiral left to Malepeai, who leaks out of the backfield to the left hash mark. Malepeai has clear sailing.

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Punahou has too many options for foes

Pick your poison. There’s the threat of Kanawai Noa out wide, Wayne Taulapapa blasting out of the backfield, and the quick strike from quarterback Ephraim Tuliloa to big TE Matthew Christman (6-3, 235).

Now, there’s fullback C.J. Tuliloa.

This offset-I with Tuliloa in the pistol has all the markings of a quick pass to Noa or a blast between the tackles by Taulapapa.

What makes this work, besides the great sell by Tuliloa and Taulapapa on the play-action, is the first-step acceleration of Christman and C.J. Tuliloa. That separation is all Ephraim Tuliloa needs to deliver a nice, catchable pass for an relatively easy TD.

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Follow the action at HawaiiPrepWorld.com Opens in a new tab as the Star-Advertiser continues to cover the most underpublicized facet of a football game — the battle between the offensive and defensive lines. We call it “Trench Warfare.” It is where the action is and where games are often won or lost.