The rolling thunder otherwise known as the Mililani offense put on a show Friday night in a 57-15 victory over Farrington at John Kauinana Stadium.
But it was the Trojans’ defense that made sure the Governors went back home wondering what hit them. In the end, No. 3 Mililani rolled up 377 yards, including 340 and five touchdowns from the arm of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, while holding Farrington to 77 total yards.
Defensive tackle Mykah Tuiolemotu led the wrecking crew with one of the Trojans’ nine sacks to go along with a forced fumble.
Afterward and without hesitation, Mililani coach Rod York pointed to the work of his defense.
“The defensive line in particular,” he said, when asked what he liked the most about the victory. “All 11 play together, but the D-line is special. We gotta stay healthy throughout the year and make sure we execute.”
The scoring came fast and often. In the first half, Gabriel unleashed two scoring passes each to Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi and Reichel Vegas. Raysen Motoyama added a pair of 5-yard TD runs in the first 24 minutes as the Trojans (2-0, 1-0 OIA Open) sprinted out to leads of 23-0 and 50-7.
No. 10 Farrington (1-1, 0-1 OIA Open) started slow but picked it up on offense as the game went along. Raymond Millare got the Govs on the scoreboard with a 91-yard kickoff return in which he put on a burst of speed early and then went into another gear to stay ahead of the chasing defenders. Millare also caught a 37-yard TD pass from Richard Tagataese and added a 2-point conversion.
“It sucks that we lost, but we’re going to bounce back and push even harder,” Millare said. “Shout out to my blockers and my whole team for pushing me and making me push 110 percent. They’re (the Trojans) a good team, a fast team. Good luck to them on their season.”
NEXT FRIDAY
OIA-ILH OPEN DIVISION
>> Punahou at Kapolei, 7:30 p.m.
>> Kahuku at Waianae, 7:30 p.m.
OIA-ILH DIVISION I
>> Aiea at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
>> ‘Iolani at Kailua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Waipahu at Radford, 7:30 p.m.
OIA-ILH DIVISION II
>> St. Francis at Waialua, 6 p.m.
>> Kaiser at Pearl City, 7:30 p.m.
>> Kaimuki at Roosevelt, 7:30 p.m.
MIL
>> Lahainaluna vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
NONLEAGUE
>> American Leadership Academy (Gilbert, Ariz.) at Kamehameha-Maui, 7 p.m.
>> Narbonne (Los Angeles) vs. Saint Louis, at Aloha Stadium, 7 p.m.
>> Classical Academy (Escondido, Calif.) vs. Waimea, at Hanapepe Stadium, 7 p.m.
>> Honokaa (11-man) at Molokai (8-man) 7 p.m.
Tuiolemotu and his defensive teammates kept Farrington to minus-45 rushing yards.
“It’s a good way to start the (OIA) season,” he said.
Said York: “Mykah, he’s special. He’s a team leader. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
Gabriel gave way to backup RJ Javar in the second quarter for a few series. Javar wound up scoring on a 5-yard bootleg early in the second quarter.
“I wanted to see what my second guy could do and didn’t want to wait until the fourth quarter,” York said. “I didn’t realize that he was still injured (shoulder), so we pulled him back out. We only gave him the elephant package and that bootleg.
“We got it done,” the coach added, “but the game’s over. It’s on to Kamehameha. That’s our focus now.”
Farrington first-year coach Daniel Sanchez was without one of his leaders, senior Chris Afe-Alaivanu, who was the team’s quarterback last year. He is expected back soon.
“We were too inconsistent and are still working on getting the right offensive personnel in there,” he said. “Mililani is tough. They’re always one of the best teams since Rod took over the program. Offensively, they’re a juggernaut. Defensively, they put pressure and we weren’t able to hold up to that. We’ve gotta do a better job.”
When asked if he was happy with Gabriel’s five-TD performance, York asked, “Who wouldn’t be?”
Kuboyama-Hayashi’s third TD catch, a 15-yarder from Gabriel, was the game’s only second-half TD.
—
GAME SUMMARY
No. 3 Mililani 57, Farrington 15
At Mililani H.S.
>> Farrington (1-1, 0-1) 7 8 0 0 — 15
>> Mililani (2-0, 1-0) 23 27 7 0 — 57
Mililani — Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi 58 pass from Dillon Gabriel (Liam McGehee kick)
Mililani — Reichel Vegas 13 pass from Gabriel (McGehee kick)
Mililani — Safety. Ezra Save tackles Farrington’s Richard Tagaese in his own end zone.
Mililani — Raysen Motoyama 5 run (McGehee kick)
Farrington — Raymond Millare 92 kickoff return (Andre Elijah Juan Cabuco kick)
Mililani — Motoyama 5 run (McGehee kick)
Mililani — RJ Javar 5 run (run failed)
Mililani — Kuboyama-Hayashi 5 pass from Gabriel (McGehee kick)
Farrington — Millare 37 pass from Tagataese (Millare run)
Mililani — Vegas 38 pass from Gabriel (McGehee kick)
Mililani — Kuboyama-Hayashi 15 pass from Gabriel (McGehee kick)
RUSHING — Farrington: Selau Kalani 9-33, Zion Lista 5-12, Levi Hau-Kautai 1-4, TJ Paleafei 1-0, Millare 5-(minus-2), Demetry Shoaf 1-(minus-25), Tagataese 13-(minus-61). Mililani: Motoyama 6-20, Gabriel 4-10, Javar 3-4, Dreyston Barquis 1-3.
PASSING — Farrington: Tagataese 6-20-0—122. Mililani: Gabriel 20-34-0—340, Javar 0-1-0—0.
RECEIVING — Farrington: Millare 3-75, Kalani 2-43, Paleafei 1-4. Mililani: Kuboyama-Hayashi 5-91, Mystic Sampaga 5-65, Vegas 3-97, Ryan Chang 3-43, Motoyama 2-30, Frank Luna 1-9, Keola Lanias 1-5.
* Junior varsity — Mililani 46, Farrington 12
