Vaevae Malepeai rushes pass defenders on Campbell's homecoming night in Ewa Beach. Tyler Guieb | SL

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EWA BEACH - No. 2 Mililani scored 35 unanswered second-half points, turning a nail-biter into a 57-28 rout of No. 6 Campbell Friday night to spoil the Sabers' homecoming.

Quarterback McKenzie Milton passed for 161 yards and three touchdowns and had a 76-yard TD run, running back Vavae Malepeai rushed for 153 yards and two TDs and defensive back Tielu Mamea had three interceptions, returning one 34 yards just before the half, for the Trojans, who improved to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Blue. Jacob Botelho also returned an interception 50 yards in the waning moments of the game.

"First half, we were too excited," Malepeai said of the tight first half. "We calmed down, stuck together and executed our assignments."

Running back Terrell Johnson rushed for 144 yards and TD runs of 35 and 40 yards for the Sabers (4-1), who suffered their first defeat of the season.

"It's never a good feeling to lose," Campbell defensive lineman Tristan Ludiazo said. "But I think this was a learning experience and it's not about the team that loses; it's about how teams come back from losses."

The Sabers had leads of 22-15 and 28-22 as late as four minutes, one second left in the third quarter.

Bronson Ramos' 70-yard kickoff return set up Malepeai's 9-yard TD run with Jerrod Cunningham's PAT putting the Trojans' ahead 29-28 and ignited the 35-point outburst.

The Sabers led 14-7 with 1:40 left in the first half. Though they had established a ground game, the Sabers passed on three consecutive plays, the third was intercepted by Mamea, who raced 34 yards for the score to pull Mililani to within one. An encroachment penalty on the PAT moved the ball 1 1/2 yards closer, so the Trojans went for the 2-point conversion that Malepeai provided by bolting into the end zone to give Mililani a 15-14 lead into the break.

"I saw my boys executing," Mamea said. "I saw them blocking. If it wasn't for their help executing that play, I would never have scored that touchdown.

"My coaches always told me to play over top and opportunities will come."

Campbell coach Amosa Amosa wished he could have those pass plays back.

"That was my mistake," Amosa said. "We should've just run the clock out. I told the team I owe up to it. That was my mistake; it won't happen again. Hindsight, it doesn't matter now, but I think it would've made a difference if we went up 21-7; might be a different game."

The Trojans lost the opening kickoff on a muff at their own 28, but the Sabers failed to capitalize, losing the ball on downs at the 30.

The Sabers would lose a fumble at the Trojans' 21, but Mililani failed to capitalize. The Sabers took over after a 21-yard punt to the Trojans' 40 and eventually scored on running back Austin May's 1-yard TD run that gave Campbell a 7-0 lead.

Mamea's first of three interceptions set up the Trojans' first score, a 5-yard run by Malepeai that tied the game at 7 with 10:54 in the second quarter.

The Sabers lost a fumble midway through the quarter, but Dylan Villanueva's interception off McKenzie Milton at the Saber's 20 set up Campbell's next scoring drive that ended with Bantolina's 47-yard TD pass from Ezra Savea to make it 14-7 with 3:20 in the half.

Mililani punted on its ensuing series, but that's when Mamea spoiled the Sabers' series with his interception return for a score.

Campbell regained the lead on Johnson's 35-yard TD run. Savea's pass to Kona Reiny-Aloy for the 2-point conversion gave Campbell a 22-15 lead.

The Trojans responded with Milton's 11-yard TD pass to Kalakaua Timoteo tied the game at 22 with 5:26 in the third quarter.

The Sabers scored quickly on Johnson's 41-yard run. Campbell faked a PAT, but the holder was tackled for a loss while attempting a pass to keep it 28-22 with 4:01 in the third quarter.

Ramos' long kickoff return to the Sabers' 31 set up Malepeai's 11-yard TD run. Cunningham's PAT put Mililani ahead, 29-28.

Milton, whom the Sabers had contained most of the first half, exploded for a 76-yard TD run on the read option to make it 36-28. He finished with 103 yards rushing and was had 161 yard on 20-of-28 passing.

After Mamea's third pick to Campbell's 38, the Trojans scored on Milton's 14-yard TD pass to Ramos to make it 43-28.

The Trojans scored on their ensuing series on Milton's 16-yard TD pass to Bryson Ventura to make it 50-28 with 3:55 in the game.
Botelho's 50-yard interception return capped the Trojans' scoring outburst.