GAME NIGHT 9/5: Kapolei/Mililani

Monday night football hits the 808 state for the second time in as many years. Last year, it was lightning that forced two games to be postponed to a Monday. This year, the threat of Hurricane Lester has given us three Monday night games on the slate.

No. 4 Mililani (3-0, 3-0 OIA Red) puts itself in the drivers seat in the OIA Red with a victory over No. 8 Kapolei (2-1, 3-1). The Hurricanes have scored at least 38 points in their three wins this season but were held to 14 in the one loss.

History: Mililani leads the all-time series 10-2 and has won the last six meetings by at least 27 points. McKenzie Milton threw for 515 yards in a 67-21 win over the Hurricanes last season.

Live updates of the 6:30 p.m. kickoff at John Kauinana Stadium will follow below:

6:22 p.m. We’re a few minutes away from kickoff at John Kauinana Stadium. Picture-perfect weather. Slight breeze, no rain, no rain clouds, just a classic Waianae Mountain Range backdrop. And, oh, the high-powered offense of Kapolei is here featuring QB Taulia Tagovailoa, coordinated by June Jones.

Word up here, not confirmed, is that Mililani WR Roman Tovi will miss the game due to an eye injury. Arguably the most experienced receiver in the Trojans’ pass-catching corps.

It’s homecoming night for the Trojans, plus a TV game. Plus two teams that won’t hesitate to sling the ball up and down the field. We might be in for a long, fun game.

FINAL: Kapolei 40, Mililani 12.

At John Kauinana Stadium
Kapolei (4-1, 3-1) 14 10 8 8 — 40
Mililani (3-1, 3-1) 0 6 0 6 — 12
KAP—Wyatt Perez 19 pass from Taulia Tagovailoa (Beau Meyer kick)
KAP—Perez 35 pass from Tagovailoa (Meyer kick)
MIL—Kailiohu Kila 5 run (run failed)
KAP—Meyer FG 28
KAP—Kalani Segovia 53 interception return (Meyer kick)
KAP—Safety, Mililani fumble out of end zone
KAP—Perez 10 pass from Tagovailoa (kick blocked)
KAP—Jaymin Sarono 8 pass from Tagovailoa (Leighton Rosa pass from Tagovailoa)
MIL—Darius Muasau 1 run (pass failed)
JV—Mililani 35, Kapolei 0.

RUSHING—Kapolei: Josh Kansana 6-23, Leighton Rosa 3-8, Tagovailoa 8-(-17), Dreyden-Steele Kawewehi 2-1, Solomon Suan 2-3. Mililani: Darius Muasau 4-8, Adrian Knight 1-2, Kila 11-112, Jalen Olomua 2-2, Kaine Park 2-4, Dillon Gabriel 2-(-7),

PASSING—Kapolei: Tagovailoa 31-54-0-379, Leonard Lee 0-2-0-0. Mililani: Gabriel 12-25-3-110, Andrew Vallasdares 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING—Kapolei: Jaymin Sarono 12-139, Perez 4-75, Kansana 4-25, Isaiah Ahana 7-75, Kaeo Alvarez-Ranan 3-60, Rosa 1-5. Mililani: Vallasdares 5-35, Noah Domagsac 2-7, Ryan Chang 2-56, Kila 1-3, Roy Ibrao 1-4, Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi 1-5.

FOURTH QUARTER
That’s it for Tagovailoa, who finishes 31-for-54, 379 yards, four TDs and no picks.

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The Trojans drive 68 yards in seven plays. Muasau pounds in from the 1-yard line. PAT pass incomplete. KPO 40, MIL 12, 6:49.

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Gabriel picked off for a third time. Deflection by Leonard Lee, interception by Adam Berg near midfield. Tagovailoa still in the game. He finds Sarono, who gets into the end zone for the first time tonight on an 8-yard TD pass. Rosa catches the PAT pass from Tagovailoa. KPO 40, MIL 6, 9:08.

THIRD QUARTER
The quarter ends with Mililani on offense, ball at its 43. Tagovailoa is 27-for-47, 345 yards, three TDs, no picks. Mililani has done pretty decent defensively against him, but he is still in control, not forcing anything. Their punter has been a nice weapon, too.
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Tagovailoa is 25-for-44, 328 yards, three TDs, no picks as we head near the end of the third.

Trojans trying to fight back, and they have some momentum driving near the red zone, but Gabriel’s pass to the deep post is picked off by Kekoa Kaopuiki and returned to the Kapolei 28.

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All this guy does is catch touchdown passes. Perez does it again, beating his man to haul in a 10-yard TD strike from Tagovailoa. KPO 32, MIL 6, 7:34.

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Trojan defense again with a stop, but a 71-yard punt by Kapolei pins Mililani at its 4. First down, the snap is low to Gabriel and goes out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Wow. KPO 26, MIL 6, 10:14.

HALFTIME
At John Kauinana Stadium
Kapolei 14 10 x x — 24
Mililani 0 6 x x — 6
KAP—Wyatt Perez 19 pass from Taulia Tagovailoa (Beau Meyer kick)
KAP—Perez 35 pass from Tagovailoa (Meyer kick)
MIL—Kailiohu Kila 5 run (run failed)
KAP—Meyer FG 28
KAP—Kalani Segovia 53 interception return (Meyer kick)

JV—Mililani 35, Kapolei 0.

RUSHING—
Kapolei:
Josh Kansana 3-15,
Leighton Rosa 3-8,
Tagovailoa 3-(-6)

Mililani:
Darius Muasau 2-4,
Adrian Knight 1-2,
Kila 6-90,
Jalen Olomua 1-(-1),
Kaine Park 1-4,
Dillon Gabriel 1-(-5),

PASSING—
Kapolei:
Tagovailoa 17-32-0-222.

Mililani:
Gabriel 5-12-1-30,
Andrew Vallasdares 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING—
Kapolei:
Jaymin Sarono 9-100,
Perez 2-54,
Kansana 2-20,
Isaiah Ahana 4-48,

Mililani:
Vallasdares 3-14,
Noah Domagsac 1-7,
Ryan Chang 1-9,

SECOND QUARTER
A 45-yard kick return by Dustin Gapusan sets up the Trojans at the Kapolei 40. Gabriel finds Vallasdares wide open for a 25-yard gain and then he spikes the ball with 11 seconds left in the half. Pass interference on a trick play moves the ball to the 8 with 2.1 seconds to go. Time out.

Then another trick play, handoff to Vallasdares, who stops running right and heaves a pass to the left pylon. His pass to just a bit short as Darius Muasau dives for the ball at the goal line. Incomplete and the half ends with the visiting ‘Canes ahead 24-6.

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Big stop by the Mililani defense as Kapolei goes for it on fourth down from the 39. However, three plays later, Gabriel overthrows his target and is picked off by Kalani Segovia, who sprints down the left sideline for a 53-yard pick-6. Huge play. KPO 24, MIL 6, :33

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The ‘Canes have been deliberate, no hurry-up, even huddling before every snap. On this drive, following Mililani’s first TD, they’re in a groove. Rhythm. They began at their 35 and get to the Mililani 6 before LB Isaiah Longboy sacks Tagovailoa. Two drops later, the ‘Canes settle for a 28-yard field goal by Beau Meyer. KPO 17, MIL 6, 3:47.

Next play, Kapolei recovers a squib kick between the hash marks. First down at the Mililani 35.

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Mililani defense getting stingy and forcing a second Kapolei punt. Biggest play from scrimmage so far follows. Kailiohu Kila explodes up the middle, spins by a tackler and sprints down the left sideline for a 62-yard gain to the Kapolei 19. With the help of a defensing holding call, Mililani scores four plays later on a 5-yard run up the middle by Kila. PAT: After a penalty by Kapolei, Mililani decides to go for 2. Power I set, Jalen Olomua stopped short. KPO 14, MIL 6, 7:43.

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FIRST QUARTER
Kapolei’s third series begins at its 13, or rather, its 28 after a personal foul on Mililani during the punt. That’s 65 penalty yards on the Trojans already. The ‘Canes cover 80 yards in nine plays. Tagovailoa hits a big third-down pass to Jaymin Sarono and later finds Perez on fourth and 2 for a 35-yard TD pass. KPO 14, MIL 0, :30. The quarter ends 14-0.

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Mililani’s second series is a little more productive. Dillon Gabriel completes two short passes to Andrew Vallesdares, but then misses on his next three attempts. Good coverage and positioning by the Kapolei defense. There are a lot of mirror images when it comes to these two wide-open offenses.

Another 42-yard punt by Kainalu Wong, Kapolei takes over at its 21. Late hit by the Trojan defense is a gift for Kapolei and Rod York calls time out. He’s wasted no time in calling time outs early in games with this young roster. It usually works.

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The Trojans receive the opening kickoff and go three and out. Punt to the Kapolei 43, ball downed. Then the Hurricanes drive 57 yards in eight plays. Tagovailoa is mostly sharp, 3-for-4, 56 yards. He finds Wyatt Perez on a quick slant against zero coverage for a 19-yard TD. KPO 7, MIL 0, 8:54.

Maybe I’m too much of a UH and run-and-shoot nerd, but seeing a June Jones offense LIVE for the first time in ages… it’s making me giddy.