First quarter
The Trojans drive 67 yards in eight plays, mixing it up on the ground and by air. A 33-yard strike from McKenzie Milton to Bronson Ramos sparked the drive, and after a sack, Milton found Vavae Malepeai for a 27-yard screen pass. Malepeai scored on a 10-yard run around left end, running over a defender at the 1-yard line. PAT blocked. MIL 6, CAM 0, 9:34.
Campbell’s first series stalls at its 37-yard line. Mililani drives 72 yards in 10 plays, aided by a facemask call and an offsides penalty. Milton hits Kainoa Wilson on a go route from the slot for a 21-yard TD. Malepeai runs around right end on the 2-point try. MIL 14, CAM 0, 2:55.
Another Campbell punt, another Mililani drive to paydirt. The Trojans go 84 yards in just four plays, buoyed by Milton’s 54-yard jaunt up the hashmarks. His 13-yard corner lob to Kalakaua Timoteo gives the Trojans a three-TD lead. Marc Matas, the Touchback Man on kickoffs, did the PAT this time. MIL 21, CAM 0, :29.
Second quarter
Campbell has backup QB Anthony Pablo in the game for a few plays, gaining 13 on a keeper. Then Savea was back in the game, overthrew an open receiver on third down.
The Trojans are marching again, only to find their enemy is… themselves. Shot themselves in the foot with two procedure calls. They’re in typical hurry-up, no-huddle mode. We can barely keep up with the play-by-play stats. They are at the Campbell 45, second and 20.
A targeting penalty on Campbell gives Mililani a first down on third and 10, and Malepeai carries the Trojans to the end zone. His second score is a 3-yard TD run off right tackle. MIL 28, CAM 0, 8:03.
Milton with a nicely executed play. He looked right, pump faked (I think), then came back to the left side, where Timoteo was the single receiver. He stopped on the Milton fake to the other side and the CB stopped, too. Then Timoteo took off down the sideline for an easy 47-yard TD pass. PAT kick is wide right. MIL 34, CAM 0, 4:42.
Terell Johnson eludes a multitude of tacklers near the left sideline and races 82 yards for a touchdown. MIL 34, CAM 7, :56.
Halftime
Mililani’s commitment to the running game has never wavered. Malepeai has 112 yards and two TDs on 17 carries. He sat out the last series of the first half and might be done for the night. He also has one reception for 27 yards, but is probably still a little mad about dropping another pass (low) in the flat. As a team, Mililani has run for 170 yards on 20 attempts.
Milton is 12-for-18, 191 yards, three TDs and one pick. The INT came late in the half (10 seconds left) on a deep throw to Ramos to ran his route out instead of deep. Easy pick for the Sabers. Total offense for Mililani: 361 yards.
Campbell has 132 rushing yards on 16 carries, most of it coming on Johnson’s 82-yard TD run. Savea is 3-for-7, 28 yards. Total yardage: 160 yards.
Third quarter
Trojans recover a fumble near mid-field and drive 46 yards in seven plays. Milton scores on a nifty 9-yard run, faking first to the fly sweep man, then faking to Malepeai before running around the right side untouched to the end zone. The 2-point try, a speed option left, is denied by the Sabers. MIL 40, CAM 7, 9:08.
Campbell three and out, and Mililani drives 82 yards in 14 plays. Milton to Wilson on a corner route, nicely led by the QB. Nice touch. Wilson lays out for that one. Good to see kids come back from injury and do great things, especially after supporting their teammates while they were sidelined. That’s leadership. Feel great for the kid. MIL 47, CAM 7, 4:15.
Fourth quarter
Game breezed by with the clock in mercy-rule mode. Mililani punted at the Campbell 33-yard line, got the ball back after stopping Campbell in Sabers territory. Then the Trojans started taking a knee with just under 3 minutes left.
Campbell got the ball back, drove downfield and scored on a pass from Anthony Pablo to Jenesus Tago with just a few seconds left. The 2-point pass from Pablo to Jayce Bantolina was good. FINAL: MIL 47, CAM 15.
Pre-game
Almost 4 p.m., traffic was beautifully swift, most drivers were thoughtful and the sky… the sky is blue and white with zero gray. There will be no hurricane weather tonight when No. 2 Mililani and No. 6 Campbell square off.
When I saw these teams play during the regular season, each was still unbeaten and it was a slugfest through more than two quarters. Then Mililani’s engine revved up and they left the Sabers behind in the dust and dirt of Ewa Beach. It went from an even game to a 57-28 blowout in mere minutes.
There’s a sense of urgency, sorta. The loser will move into the third-place game next week with a chance to qualify for the state tourney. Nobody I’ve talked with outside of Ewa Beach thinks the Sabers will win, but all they need is a chance. If Mililani finally has an off night, the Sabers have the defense and running game to grind out an upset win.
Kickoff for Campbell-Mililani is set for 5:30 p.m. Farrington-Kahuku will follow.
4:52 p.m.
Getting closer to game time. Scheduled for 5:30 kickoff, but both Mililani is in full pre-game mode. The Trojans tend to warm up their linemen earlier than most teams anyway. Campbell’s special teams snappers and kickers are warming up, as well as their QBs.
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