Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week
Trojans to host Seariders in OIA quarterfinal tilt




For Mililani coach Rod York, Saturday's impending playoff game against visiting Waianae will come down to one thing: Can his Trojans stop the Seariders' vaunted rushing attack?

If they do, a spot in the first-ever Open Division state tournament is the reward. Fail, and they drop to the D1 field.

"We've talked about that, but only the part where we win," York said of the quarterfinal-round matchup. "We tell them that it's time to show up now and there's no excuses. Injuries, inexperience — all of that is out the window, especially in these types of games. Either you do it, or you don't, so we're looking at this game as our championship game."

The Trojans (5-2), who are ranked ninth in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, will host the fifth-ranked Seariders (7-2) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at John Kauinana Stadium in the final game of the second weekend of the Oahu Interscholastic Association D1 tournament.

While Mililani enjoyed a bye in last week's opening round as the Red Division's No. 2 seed, Waianae took apart Kailua, 41-12, behind 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns from star running back Rico Rosario.

Rosario, a junior, has rushed for 780 yards — which ranks second in all of D1 — and 10 touchdowns on the year. He is hardly the only option for the Seariders, who also have seniors Javen Town (394 rush yards, 3 TDs), Kade Ambrocio (316, 6) and Jorell Pontes-Borjes (178, 3) at their disposal in the offensive backfield.

"They have three or four outstanding running backs-slash-slotbacks that are all playmakers," York said. "Sometimes they line up in the backfield, sometimes they line up in the slots and when they run the ball, they run confidently, they hit the hole hard and they have good vision, and they have an offensive line that blocks and finishes blocks, so those running backs just tear you up in between the tackles and outside the edges."

The Seariders are averaging a healthy 211 rushing yards per game and nearly 33 points per contest.

Defensively, the Trojans have been tough against the run, surrounding an average of just 47 rushing yards per game, but York knows this will be their toughest test to date.

"It's tough because Waianae is, of course, the usual Waianae," York said. "That offensive line is big, strong and physical."

Waianae pounded out a season-high 358 rushing yards against the Surfriders last week and totaled six TDs on the ground by five different players.

The Trojans have been relatively balanced on offense, averaging 159 rushing yards and 162 passing yards per game. They have eclipsed the 40-point mark four times this season and post just under 36 points per contest, but will be facing a Waianae defense that has allowed 14-or-more points just twice this year.

"Their defensive is extremely quick, fast and aggressive," York said of the Seariders. "Their linebackers and defensive line are just relentless. Other than Kahuku, I think they're probably the most athletic and physical defense that we'll face."

Mililani, which hasn't played since a 52-35 win at Leilehua on Sept. 30, used the bye week to get some key players back, including wide receiver Roman Tovi, offensive lineman Scottie Agasiva, defensive lineman Tasi Malepeai and linebackers Aijalon Kolone-Falaniko, Karl Gerstner and Dante James-Fainga.

"We don't really know how well it served us until we see how we play in the game, but looking at it at this point it was extremely beneficial," York said. "Any time you get starters back into the starting lineup and playing good football it's always great, but then again we'll see how we play because there are still a lot of question marks because we haven't been together."

The winner will advance to the semifinals and play the winner of the Leilehua-Kahuku quarterfinals.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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