The look on head coach Rod York‘s face had much more meaning than the words he was saying.
It was after the Trojans’ 62-18 victory over Hilo on Friday night at Aloha Stadium, and he was speaking about the return of senior quarterback McKenzie Milton.
“He made some bad throws,” York said, before adding, “and he made some good throws.”
And right at the end of that sentence came the look, the deep look, the one that (if looks could talk) said, “Did you see those throws!? He’s back. This is a happy day. Woohoo.”
But, of course, York would never get giddy like that. He may not have even been thinking it. He is much more straight-forward and calculating. Let’s just say the look he gave was a signal that he knows his offense is back to humming mode. And humming mode could also be termed “needed mode,” meaning the Trojans in all likelihood need Milton to be on the field guiding the offense if Mililani is going to defend its state championship.
The competition will be much, much tougher than Hilo. Up next is Saint Louis and, since the Crusaders have the same type of passing offense as the Trojans, it is expected to be a shootout.
On paper (or on the computer-screen spreadsheet in these technologically improved and ‘green’ times), Mililani may get a slight edge on offense and Saint Louis may rate considerably stronger on defense.
But despite the many doubters, the Trojans have shown they can scrap on defense and that they don’t give up.
Milton came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes in his return from a serious shoulder injury. It took him six weeks to recover.
“I’m grateful and blessed to be back and to have such a speedy recovery,” Milton said.
Added York, “McKenzie came in and sparked the guys with some good throws and then they got even more inspired and we started making plays.”
Yes, another telling remark came in Hawaii Prep World’s postgame interview with York: “Let’s just say we missed him.”
Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi, a freshman QB brought up from the JV squad to start in his first varsity game, also fared well. He went 7-for-8 for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was very nerve-wracking,” Kuboyama-Hayashi said after the game.
Fellow freshman Dillon Gabriel most likely had a similar feeling one week ago in the OIA championship game against Kahuku. It was his first start, having been brought up from the JV squad as well, and he suffered a broken collarbone.
Kuboyama-Hayashi talked about his two TD throws, one a screen that Makana Tauai took 43 yards into the end zone and the other a slant into the end zone to Bryson Ventura.
“On the screen, I was thinking about trying to draw the defense in as much as possible,” he said. And Kuboyama-Hayashi paid for it by taking a bruising hit from a Hilo defender.
“(The one to Ventura), I just knew I had to drill it in there,” he added.
Mililani showed off some other quarterback options late in the game, when Nicholas Culp and Fabian Johnson-Slay scored touchdowns out of the wildcat formation.
“It’s something we work on, but don’t use much,” York said.
Culp was loving it.
“It was fun,” he said. “I had a lot of adrenaline pumping. I knew I had to impress my coaches. They didn’t know what I could do. I knew what I could do because God gave me this ability.”
The Trojans (10-2) play the Crusaders (8-1) at Aloha Stadium at 7:30 next Friday. The winner moves on to play either Kahuku (11-0) or Waianae (9-3) in the state final the following Friday.
“We’ll have to play a perfect game,” York said.
One man team. Without Milton last week they couldnt even score a point.
It’ll be an epic game next week against St. Louis considering both schools recruit their players from all aroun the state.
Good to see Kenzie back in action getting game reps to test his shoulder and shake some rust off. Makana played hard and had an outstanding game too. Nice that 2nd and 3rd teams got lots of playing time as well. Thought it was a good game for Mililani after a tough loss to Kahuku. Props to Hilo for playing to the end and not giving up. They had a good season and will be tough in the BIL next year.
On to the semi’s to play the ILH champion Crusaders in a great match-up that looks to be a shootout. Another “Gold Rush” coming on Friday at Aloha Stadium.
GO TROJANS!
We talking Hilo. I mean Hilo. C’mon Hilo. Hilo? lol
With out Milton there is no state tournament for Mililani, He means everything to the Trojans. Glad he will play against St. Louis.
How can you have one of the best RB in the State and still be a 1 man team? If only Mililani used their RB properly they wouldn’t need to rely so much on Milton.
Great to see Milton back and playing well. He definitely changes the states play field and makes it intriguing for not only STLouis but for the other bracket as well not knowing who they may face. I am a Red Raider for Life but am also a Big Fan of local athletes and it has been a great three years to see Milton play and see his mastering of the position and the system he runs at Mililani. I really wish him well on the next level and hope he is able represent Hawaii as I believe he will. Good Luck to all the remaining teams in the tournament BIG RED!
With Milton at QB it brings unison with the other players when all the parts work together as one solid unit. And as football goes offense feeding on the defense defense feeding on offense. They won together they lost together they came back together and they will need that coming into next weeks game as thats what the other team will be trying to do also. Does a good offense beat a good defense or does a good defense beat a good offense I guess we will find out next week as it starts in the trenches and it ends in the trenches not to glamorous but important.
Hilo…yes Hilo…didn’t Hilo almost beat Kahuku last year? Hilo…we’re talking Hilo…love reading the comments from what appears to be Raider Nation fan(s). Doesn’t matter what happens with the Trojans, Raider Nation fan(s) will always find something bad to say. Best wishes to all nex week. To all the Trojans fans – let’s make it a gold out this Friday the 13th!
TROJANS Crusaders game should be an epic battle of teams coached by locals and not nationally recruited ones.
Can’t wait for next week! Milton makes the Trojans a lot better. It will be a great game Crusaders vs Trojans. I am calling it right now, the winner of this game wins the States
It would be a daunting task for Kahuku with its small town population and homegrown players to beat one of these two teams in the state finals, considering the heavily recruited talent from all across the state that Mill/StLouis rely on. Heck both teams have key players on their defense that are from Kahuku so it literally would take a Kahuku player to beat Kahuku.
Mililanis only points came when Olomua stripped Kahukus runningback to force that fumble return.
Glad he’s back. Hope he stays healthy.
But he still has that same O line. How they play vs St Louis front 7 will be the key to this game.
Go Big Red
@Lee. You are 0-for-how many times this year that you’ve predicted a Kahuku loss…???
And 100% the few times you’ve realized the error of your ways.
But I like how you can’t decide which team you are a fan of. Pick one and cheer for THEM. LOL. True sign of a red raider hater = cheering for every team we play. LOL.
The only team we might lose to…might…is a Mililani team with a healthy Milton.
Crusaders?? NOT EVEN CLOSE.
See? I have ONE team.
@GobigClown- Go back to all my post I never predicted Kahuku to lose. The only game I was wrong was the Kapolei game. I thought it was going to be closer and they got blown out but I said you guys were going to win. You on the other hand have been wrong with all your predictions. Like Waianae beating mililani, Punahou winning the ILH. If I were you I wouldn’t post anymore, don’t make me search the archives and repost them again. Crusaders will be fine and yes both team could beat Kahuku. See you in the finals
Da only predictions I care about are Kahuku wins = 100%
I also predicted shutouts… And that Trojans wouldn’t score more than 14 points (guess I should’ve stuck with my gut on that = 10 points)
So I’m gonna predict IT DOESNT MATTER who wins Mililani vs St Louis. Neither of them can, or will, beat Kahuku (who will shut down Waianae = max 7 points).
I will say that a Milton-led Trojans team will give Kahuku a tougher opponent than any team St Louis puts on the field. But they will still lose.
(And guess what? Those Punahou coaches that are from Big Red Country? Giving all da inside tips to our coaches gained from playing Crusaders three times). “Scouting” HAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
Tua is better then Milton and St. Louis as a team is better then the Trojans. Anyone remember Liberty?
..and stop saying Mililani would beat Kahuku because they had their chance two weeks ago and laid a goose egg. Not to mention the cowardly chop blocking the trojan D line were taught to do which forced Kahuku O to change the play calling. In a rematch Kahuku would double its score 45-0.
NEXT! Bring on the crusaders.
I’m glad someone else noticed the chop blocking. I guess you have to do what ever you can to try and slow down the power running game.
Who cares about you guys getting insides from the Punahou coaches. Did you see what the 4-6 did to your run game. If you play the Crusaders in the finals all they have to do is run the same Defense and crash the two physical DB they have. Do you want better insides than this
Just think, this time next week probably only half the football fans will still be on here checking the blogs. The other half will be talking about how they will take it next year… lol. Good luck all.
@Lee Boy,
Kahuku scored 2 running plays straight up the middle on Mililani, not sure what game you were watching but if It werent for the chop blocking that the Trojan D-Line had strategically prepared and planned for the whole week I think Kahuku would have run all over them like how they did to Waianae and Farrington. The difference was that Waianae and Farrington actually have Big Bulls that they can match power for power for on the Line and their coaches didnt teach them to take out knees.
Because you can’t sack a quarterback by performing chop blocks, I don’t think you’ll see any of that when you play a spread passing team like St.Louis.
@hi 808
Milton had 5 tds against liberty.. do your homework..tough loss yes.. gave them the game plan that exposed Kahuku for the elementary offensive scheme it has. Almost took down the pereneal football power that kahuku is with a freshman and sophmore quarterback…(speedy recovery to Gabriel)
That Defense has holes that either Mckenzie or Tua WILL EXPOSE.
tagovailoa is an amazing talent yes. However, there is no comparrison. Open your eyes. watch some film, research your statistics. Or Keep drinking the koolaid. I could care less.
People do say ignorance is bliss.
Just be honest with yourself..you know it’s true.
Anyway..
It should be a great contest friday night. Been waiting for this game all year!!!!
Whoever calls chop blocks “cowardly” or the like doesn’t know ish about football. “You play to win the game.” That means anything within the rules of the game GOES. So, if the two fallas on Kah Oline need to take the fall, and that makes the chances of winning go up, then guess what THEY GONNA TAKE THE FALL. BTW, CHOP BLOCKS ARE LEGAL! This is the way smaller dlines stay in the game. So, accept the facts that this is the way Kahuku will take the fall. I’m calling it right now.
“I’m calling it right now”, hmmmm, lee boi and AOK sound the same.
The chop blocks didn’t only hurt Kahuku players but a couple of Mililani’s D-Lineman got hurt from that as well.
By the way, who did Mililani beat this regular season that was worth noting? Everyone made a big deal about Kahuku’s schedule, but I’m curious who people think Mililani beat that was worth noting.
Yeah but any MAN with real OLO’s knows that chop blocking is cowardly, even Darren Hernandez calling the game had to point it out because He never teaches his players to do it and never saw Farrington or Waianae do it to Kahuku when he was calling those games.
Mililani was not only chopping the Kahuku player in front of them, they were chopping at the guy to the side that couldn’t see the chop coming….and they still Lost the game. They lost the game and they lost their OLO’s of manliness! LOL, that is the true character of a Coach that will do anything to win a game to stroke his pride.
– Calling up Freshmen QB’s to play with Varsity resulting in a broken collar bone
– Allowing Milton to play putting his future in jeopardy
– Blind side Chop blocking to injure the opposing team?
SimpleSimon, Kahuku has not played anyone yet! Including Mililani….No one!
Their first REAL test will be St. Louis in the finals.
@Footballfan seriously reading your post I would have thought that Kahuku squeaked out a last second TD to win Lol. Going from 50+ per game to goose eggs on offense anyone.
@Ewa Ewa by no means will beating Mililani be an easy task. Kahuku made it look easy. It won’t be especially if Milton is ready. Your barely beating the other ILH teams. Either all of you guys are state champ caliber or not. We will find out, we take your top ILH and see what they can do.
Hahaanda,
What I meant to say is that to this day Kahuku has not yet been tested and they have not played a quality opponent and that is including the Mililani Game.
Im sorry but if you are one of those teams that did not score a point against Kahuku then you are not a quality opponent so throw Mililani on the list of the weak OIA schedule that Kahuku has played so far.
The real test for Kahuku will be against an ILH team, and if St. Louis dont score a point then damn, I guess Kahuku is the only member of the Elite Club this year
Ewa ewa so by your logic kahuku hasn’t played quality opponents besides beating more then half of the top 10 teams in the state? Ridiculous!!!
I hope the crusaders win it for the ILH because this isn’t gonna look good should it be an all oia state final..
Just amazing to be reading the bickering and opinionated remarks back and forth by supposedly adults. Sounds like a bunch of kids needing the piece of the candy. Instead of putting so much energy on predictions and bias opinions on the upcoming games or past games, why not just root for your team instead of making nasty remarks about the other teams or using if, why, when, who, should have, could have, because in the end, whoever shows up to play will be the champion. Let it be decided on the playing field and the final four teams are just as deserving to become the state champion. Whoever ends up to be the state champion, is well deserving of that title. Good luck to every team in the semi finals and just hope no one will end up with any major injuries. May the best team in this last two weeks of football be the number 1 team in the state for 2015.
@ewaewa
Chop blocks are legal. Not cowardly.
Do whatever is within the rules of the game to win.
You making some comments on a coach that I have a feeling you don’t know so well. I really cant speak to intent but Ma’a is a man of integrity and he is the defensive coodinator. I think the majority of Kahuku shares the sentiment that the Millilani Defense did a pretty good job of containing the Beast of a running game but couldnt stop Kahuku from getting into the end zone. I look forward to next round.
I wish all the luck to all the teams left in the tournament.
Good Points Northshore. Unfortunately GoBigRed & Good Story are unable to do this. The rest of the blogging world agrees with you. Those two, however, do not, as shown by their years of insulting and attacking. I would like to applaud all the kids who participate in sports. After the game is over, who really cares who won? The last time I checked, there are no areas on the college application form to write in how many state titles someone won in a high school sport. Sports are to teach character, build relationships, and create goals and try to achieve them. It’s a microcosm of the bigger picture, which is for most people go to school and eventually be a professional. Winning is nice, but winning is a byproduct of talent, execution, and dedication. Just because one team scores more points, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the winners. It just means they scored more points in a given sport. I think the winning program at the ones who get kids to work hard, work together, raise their grades, teach humility, perform community service, stay out of trouble, and graduate from high school. Now that’s a winner if you ask me.
Chop blocking is legal? That’s news. Was it just made legal for the OIA Champonship game?
If chop blocks are legal…then WHY WERE PENALTIES CALLED ON SOME OF THEM???
DOH!!! Hint: because they’re illegal.
Da only reason I can think of as to why the flags weren’t thrown EVERY time Miliani chop blocked is because the refs felt sorry for Mililanis D line getting RUNT OVAH on every play.
HAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!
GO BIG RED!
@GoLilRed Wow braddah, for someone who loves to live on this blog like you I’ve come to a point where I dislike you. Too brash, too much bickering, too much name calling. None of this points to a person from the area. Regardless of alum or not, your behavior does not exhibit those of a Kahuku-area native. But, I read what’s posted, and I’ve read many of your asinine statements. All of this was under the belief that you actually understood the game of football.
However, your ^^^^ last post shows anything but. Chop blocking is legal. To answer your question of why some were penalties and some weren’t: you are not allowed to cut a blocker who is already engaged in a block. Plain and simple.
Not because the refs felt “sorry” for Mililani. Next time you wanna comment please contribute meaningful comments, not idiotic statements with little to no thought. Thank you.
Okay everyone here it is, Chop Blocks EVERYWHERE UNIVERSALLY are ILLEGAL (one go high, another engage low). What is legal sometimes is called Cut Blocking (where one person blocks another below the waist). This is only allowed on/at the line of scrimmage but not outside of the tackles. So, if you run outside the tackle your blocker (FB or whoever cant get Cut blocked if he is off the line, that’s would be illegal.
So, recap Chop Block = Always illegal, Cut Block = On the line O.K., away from the line baaad. lol.
@AOK… DOOOOON’T EXPLAIN YO LYF!
Say hello to da Kettle, Mr. Pot. Talk about irony! How you gonna belittle me “for someone who loves to live on this blog like you” when you on here non-stop yourself??? Killing me.
I speak how the VAST MAJORITY of Big Red Country FEELS, but are too ‘humble’ to come out and say it. I bring a VOICE the the REAL feelings of MOST RR4L’s…whether they want to come on here and admit like I do. We are TIRED of being treated like 2nd Class Citizens because of the “ILH Bias” or “Cal Lee Bias” or “Mililani’s Offense is da best ever Bias” blah blah blah…
How many State Championships have we won??? With the same M.O.? RUN RUN RUN and play SHUT DOWN DEFENSE? Exactly. So go cry me a river some where else. I don’t care and will say how I feel when I feel like it. People don’t like it? Too bad. Until we lose, we will keep shutting up people’s mouf’s. End of Story.
And for all da clowns who OBVIOUSLY don’t know the difference between CHOP blocking and CUT blocking… Take a look at da post above. DUH!!!
GO BIG RED!!!!
Here is some info from the NFHS:
The term “cut blocking”is used by coaches and is not a part of NFHS football rules.
Understanding what is legal and what is not legal is all-important in addressing this concept. Cut blocking is blocking below the waist and generally means contact at the knees or lower. Some coaches refer to it as almost tripping. It is used by offensive players to slow hard-charging defensive linemen and blitzing linebackers and defensive backs. Cut blocking may be used to prevent pursuit by defensive players. Defensive players may use cut blocking to strip blockers in front of the ball carrier. For a number of reasons, it is controversial at all levels of football. Many coaches and players think it is a very dangerous and injury-causing technique. There are reasons that legal blocking below the waist can occur only under very limited circumstances under NFHS rules. One major reason is to reduce injuries, especially to knees.
WHERE IS BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST LEGAL?
By NFHS football rules, blocking below the waist is only legal in the Free Blocking Zone. The free-blocking zone is a rectangle eight yards by six yards. It is four yards on either side of the ball and three yards behind each line of scrimmage. Any below-the-waist block outside the free-blocking zone is an illegal block. If in the official’s judgment the initial contact is
below the waist, it is an illegal block. It is important to remember that the defense as well as the offense can commit this foul. There are no other criteria for this contact.
WHO CAN LEGALLY BLOCK BELOW THE WAIST?
1. Offense and Defense – may legally block below the waist in the Free Blocking Zone (FBZ).
2. All players involved in the block are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.
3. Offense – center, the guards and the tackles should normally meet this rule. The end or ends may or may not be in the Free Blocking Zone. Probably no more than six players and most likely only five players with the formations used today. If any part of a player’s body is in the zone at the snap, he is in the Free Blocking Zone.
4. Defense – Any player within four yards laterally from the ball and within one yard of the line of scrimmage is in the Free Blocking Zone.
5. The contact must be in the Free Blocking Zone.
WHEN CAN A PLAYER(S) LEGALLY BLOCK BELOW THE WAIST?
1. The exception begins at the snap.
2. The exception ends when the ball leaves the zone. If the ball should return to the FBZ (quarterback scrambling, etc.), the exception has already ended and blocking below the waist is not legal.
3. When a scrimmage kick formation is used, blocking below the waist is legal only in initial blocks after the snap by offensive and defensive linemen.
CHOP BLOCK
1. This is an illegal block.
2. This is a double-team block – one above the knees and one at or below the knees.
3. Whether or not there is a delay, it is an illegal block.
This foul carries a great risk of injury and not just to the player being blocked.
OFFICIATING THE BELOW-THE-WAIST BLOCK OR “CUT BLOCK”
NFHS – Default – Cut Blocking – Legal or Not Page 1 of 3
NFHS football rules permit blocking below the waist only in the Free Blocking Zone. This eight-yard by six-yard rectangle is centered on the ball prior to the snap. Therefore, the referee and umpire will have most of the responsibility for determining if the block(s) is/are legal. The wing officials would help in judging blocking behind the ball or blocking to prevent pursuit. Each official should follow a mental checklist prior to every snap. This would start when the ball is spotted and continues until the snap. Blocking below the waist/cut-blocking will occur quickly and last only an instant. It is imperative that officials be aware and alert for this contact. It is not like holding, which can go on for some time and officials have more time to judge the action. Officials have to be aware that if an injury occurs due to an illegal block, calling the foul and throwing the flag will not prevent the injury on that play. However, it should play a part in preventing injuries in the future. Officials have two keys in determining if a below-the-waist block is legal:
1. The players involved in the contact are in the Free Blocking Zone and on the line of scrimmage at the snap. These players/positions must be identified.
2. When the ball leaves the zone, the blocking exception is ended. Officials must know when the ball left the zone.
@GoLilRed Whatever the hell does “DOOOOON’T EXPLAIN YO LYF!” Can you please point on anywhere in my post where I mentioned anything about my “lyf”? What are you just raging in caps or something?
Are you sure you should be the mouthpiece of the north shore area? I’m not so sure the true RRFL would want that at all. You coming in here running your mouth, quoting Winston Churchill. How you gonna quote an all-time great leader of war and men to the game of football and defending your turf? Makes zero sense buddy. NEXT!
Finally, “And for all da clowns who OBVIOUSLY don’t know the difference between CHOP blocking and CUT blocking… Take a look at da post above. DUH!!!”
So you mean like yourself then, right? hahaha NEXT!
To AOK, please excuse MS. GOBIGRED. Other than blogging what else does she have? If you didn’t know she lives in Neverever Land. I also posted the info above cuz GOBIDRED likes to make up her own information and yell at everyone if they don’t believe.
Also if anyone wants to see, I found out who GOBIGRED is and would love to send some pics of her on the marching band, playing hop scotch, and laying the smack down on the gymnastic bars.
By the rules stated above Mililani’s defense is guilty of illegal Chop Blocking. It dont matter now though cause Kahuku still won but thank you for clarifying the rules there my multi personality friend.
Wow get some real winners from Kahuku, huh? What rule did you interpret to mean illegal on the part of Mililani @88? #AkamaiKHS lol nvm
@Northshore @Haleiwa Boy – well said and on point for both comments. Football is a great game, but in the end it’s still only a game.
Holy Smokes Realistic. AOK, Haleiwa Boy, North Shore…I mean are you trying to set a new record. What is that …30 names now? You could just talk to yourself in the mirror.