The mystery is peaking for No. 1 Kahuku and No. 2 Mililani.
While elimination games and league titles are at stake this weekend, the top two teams in the OIA Open Division — and the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 — are on an unusual journey. For the first time in years, the two powerhouse programs did not meet during the regular season.
The league’s modified, blended schedule created an ungodly number of 50-and 60-point blowout games between Open and Division I teams. It also created this: a showdown for the OIA Open crown and the likely top seed in the upcoming First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships.
For all the massive offensive output by the two teams this season, defense is where Kahuku (10-1 overall ) has built its climb into national prominence.
“This is the big test because Kahuku’s defense has always been disciplined and hard-nosed. That’s why they’re winning all those championships,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “Everything is off defense and special teams and, of course, offense. Everything is based off a short field.”
Much of the same is true for Mililani (9-1 overall) and a defensive unit that dominated its pool during the regular season. The Trojans did enough to outlast No. 3 Campbell last week, 55-37. The shift from Campbell’s pass-heavy attack to Kahuku’s balanced offense is on.
“They’ve got a two-headed monster. We’ve got to stop the run game,” York added. “They’ve got weapons, so we’ve definitely got to try and stop their offense.”
Quarterback Tagovailoa-Amosa’s football life has been wondrous in the year since he departed from a backup role at Kapolei to the starting position with the two-time Open Division state champions at Kahuku. Running the offense in last week’s 49-7 win over his former team in the OIA semifinal round is another feather in his hat.
“Tuli (Tagovailoa-Amosa), he’s dangerous now. A dual threat quarterback who can run and throw,” York said.
Tagovailoa-Amosa scored the winning TD run against Bosco.
Running back Va ‘aimalae Fonoti has looked every bit the classic Kahuku tailback on inside runs, toss sweeps and everything in between. The mastery of Kahuku’s offensive line over the past three seasons, lining up in every conceivable formation from jumbo to five-wide to the I, is almost unfair.
Kahuku’s No. 8 position in the MaxPreps national rankings hasn’t seemed to alter the core of its day-to-day grind.
“We are where we want to be at this point in the season. Healthy and peaking at the right time,” Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho said.
Mililani’s depth at wide receiver has not been truly stopped during this nine-game win streak.
“Some teams, they just target certain guys. We just target the open guy. It’s about reads,” York said. “It helps our kids move on to the next level and be more prepared. Kenzie (McKenzie Milton), Dillon (Gabriel). That’s what they did.”
Kini McMillan has 32 touchdown passes with just three interceptions, numbers that haven’t been easily reproduced since Tua Tagovailoa had 33 TDs and three picks as a sophomore at Saint Louis in 2014.
McMillan’s mastery of York’s system isn’t perfect yet, according to the longtime coach. The statistics say McMillan is real close. He is 157-for-228, a 68.9-percent completion rate. Tagovailoa’s’14 season: 163-for-236, 69.1 percent.
McMillan has passed for 2, 351 yards, or 10.3 yards per attempt. Tagovailoa had 2, 571 yards, or 10.9 per attempt in’14.
Mililani began the season with a nonconference 21-14 loss to Punahou, and has scored at least 37 points in every game. Campbell has its best defensive unit in years, but couldn’t cool down the mighty Trojan offense. Mililani might need its best performance to overcome Kahuku. Maybe a perfect game. Kahuku is still aglow in its low-key way about the 30-23 win over defending national champion St. John Bosco in September.
“The resilience our team had by overcoming a devastating defeat the week before, to regroup and defeat St. John Bosco, what a statement win,” Carvalho said. “That exhibited our hearts and mana as a team.”
The defeat was a 55-8 rout by Mater Dei over Kahuku. Recently, St. John Bosco beat Mater Dei. Bishop Gorman is now the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps rankings.
“We haven’t played our best football yet. We’re looking forward to the challenge with Kahuku. They have great coaching. They play with great heart. We’ve got to execute better,” York said.
Two dominant defenses may tilt the game into a low-scoring battle, but between McMillan and Tagovailoa-Amosa, clutch plays will probably make the difference.
“This will be Kini’s first playoff game against Kahuku,” York said. “You can’t prepare for us or Kahuku or Punahou at practice. The defenses are difficult with speed, pressure and coverage. When you get to the game, it’s mostly trying to adjust and it’s tough. A lot different.”
Kahuku has seen all it can of McMillan in the film room.
“He can run and throw the ball efficiently, ” Carvalho noted. “He’s built line a linebacker, but has all the traits and tool of a quarterback. Great arm and vision, and great legs to run and extend plays.”
The quest for an OIA and state-title three-peat has been tremendous even though Kahuku may have had more talent in 2021 and ’22. This group has learned well from those leaders and playmakers.
“We have to believe that we will win. Mililani is going to make plays, stop us or even be beating us, but we need to believe that no matter what, we will win the game,” Carvalho said.
The Trojans are just about worn out by being in Kahuku’s shadow since week one.
“Our whole team, we feel like we’ve been overlooked,” York said. “It’s extra motivation for us.”