Quarterback Jarin Morikawa has been doing it all year, and he and his Mililani teammates did it again Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
A big question coming into the game was whether Morikawa and his band of receivers could keep on churning out the yardage for the fourth-ranked Trojans against the third-ranked Farrington Governors, the team that ended their season a year ago. Just because Mililani moved the ball effectively in the regular season didn’t mean they could do it in the OIA semifinals.
And it took a little bit of time to prove they could march with that same kind of smoothness in what turned out to be a 42-21 victory. But after a slow start, Morikawa settled down and went to work to lead Mililani to a big 21-6 lead at one point, all of this while the Trojans defense tried in vain to contain powerful, speedy and shifty Govs star running back Tyler Taumua.
"He’s the best quarterback we’ve ever gone against," Farrington’s Sanele Lavatai said.
Morikawa, who orally committed to Illinois State, found tight end Dakota Turner in the flats for a 12-yard score and also delivered a perfect strike to Erren Jean-Pierre for a 37-yard TD in the opening half.
The Mililani offense needed all the yards its no-huddle, run-and-shoot could muster in the second half, because Taumua was having a field day, rushing for 226 yards and two TDs, including a whopping 174 yards in the first half.
But Morikawa delivered in his five-receiver sets, finishing the game with 22 completions on 35 attempts for 357 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. It was his fourth game of the season with at least 350 yards. No other Trojans quarterback in the state championship era has thrown for more than 350 in a game.
"It was a great win," Morikawa said. "The defense held their own and our offensive line was solid. They’ve improved a lot since (the Trojans’ only loss, 17-13, against Leilehua)."
The senior tossed a perfect ball over the head of a Farrington defender into the hands of Turner for the two-way standout’s second TD of the night and a 28-15 lead. Turner, a San Diego State commit, also plays on the defensive line and forced a Govs fumble late in the game to help preserve the win.
"Jarin’s very accurate," said Jean-Pierre, who connected with Morikawa for a 55-yard touchdown after a nice throw late in the third quarter. "I got on top of the defender and he put it right there in my hands. He gets anxious on those. He wants us to get out there and on top so he can get it to us."
Morikawa, who held the game MVP trophy afterward, got a vote of confidence from a man who knows a little something about throwing a football.
Colt Brennan, the former UH star and Heisman Trophy finalist, was on the sideline at the end of the Trojans’ victory. He was awaiting the Kahuku-Leilehua nightcap and said he’s been coaching with the Red Raiders, helping in any capacity head coach Reggie Torres needs.
"I’m enjoying watching him (Morikawa)," Brennan said. "He throws a very good ball."