Despite a slow start, No. 3 Mililani eventually found its groove in a 54-6 vanquishing of Aiea on Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd at packed John Kauinana Stadium.

Visiting Na Alii (1-5, 1-4 Oahu Interscholastic Association Blue) started exceptionally strong against the defending Division I state champion Trojans (4-1, 4-0) by holding them on downs and then striking first.

But that first touchdown — quarterback Noah Taiese’s 6-yard run — was the apex of Aiea’s night.

Not surprisingly, Mililani’s potent offense was a big part of Na Alii’s downhill ride from there. McKenzie Milton threw for 375 yards and five touchdowns. Vavae Malepeai rushed for just 52 yards and a TD, but also had a 65-yard scoring catch-and-run. Kalakaua Timoteo, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound major target, corralled four passes for 148 yards and two TDs. His wide receiver partner, Bryson Ventura, also caught two TD passes.

"We’re ready for Farrington," Trojans coach Rod York said about the team’s next opponent, the sixth-ranked Governors, eight days after his team’s long winning streak ended in a 76-53 loss to Liberty in Henderson, Nev. "We wanted to respond well from that trip and that loss. We could have run the ball more effectively, but credit Aiea for that."

Malepeai’s 10-yard touchdown run with 7:52 left in the first quarter tied it at 6, and it was all Mililani from there. The Trojans running back, who is headed for Oregon to play for the Ducks next year, is two rushing TDs away from tying Joe Igber of ‘Iolani’s state record 56.

Aiea was without starting quarterback Kobe Kato, who suffered a concussion against Farrington in a 28-20 loss last week.

"We had to look in the cupboard and find the best athlete available for that position," Na Alii coach Wendell Say said. "Kobe was held out for precautionary reasons. We should have him back next week against Campbell. Mililani’s cupboard is always full."

In Kato’s place, Taiese took the reins and fared fairly well. He was sacked five times, but still rushed for 64 yards on 16 carries and the team’s only TD. He completed just eight of his 18 passes for 69 yards.

"They (Mililani’s defensive line) were scary coming in," said Taiese, who hasn’t played quarterback since eighth grade. "I was getting hit left and right, and they were big guys. I passed like junk and had some open guys, so I was just running."

Timoteo’s 50-yard reception set up the Trojans’ go-ahead score — Milton’s 21-yard pass to Ventura to make it 13-6. Timoteo gave his team a 20-6 lead with a 26-yard TD catch. He later added a 33-yard TD catch in the second half. Mililani led 34-6 at the half.

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," Timoteo said about last week’s loss. "It gives us motivation to fuel the fire. We lose one game and all of a sudden we’re the worst team in America, you know what I mean? All that matters is what happens with us in the locker room."

Defensive end Isaac Liva had two and a half sacks of Taiese to power the Mililani defense, which also got interceptions from Kainalu Wong and Malepeai.