HHSAA Football
Big second half lifts Mililani over Baldwin, 49-28


  



Fri, Nov 4, 2016 @ War Memorial [ 7:00 pm ]


Final 1 2 3 4 T
Mililani (9-3-0) 14 0 14 2149
Baldwin (8-3-0) 7 14 7 028
Chayce Akaka 135 yd 1 TD
Dillon Gabriel 397 yd 4 TD
Kamaki Gouveia 177 yd 1 TD
Jalen Olomua 96 yd 3 TD
Bishop Wickes 59 yd 1 TD
Andrew Valladares 213 yd 4 TD

WAILUKU, Maui — Mililani shifted into gear before it was too late to topple Baldwin in the opening round of the Division I state tournament Friday night.

The Trojans scored 35 unanswered points to take down Maui Interscholastic League Division I champion Baldwin, 49-28, at War Memorial Stadium to advance into the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I State Football Championships.

Mililani (7-3) moves on to take on Leilehua, who squeezed out a 26-25 victory over Big Island Interscholastic Federation D1 champ Hilo, next Saturday on Nov. 12. It will be the third time this year that the two teams have faced each other.

The Bears' season is over with an 8-3 record. All of Baldwin's losses this season came against non-league opponents.

"Hats off to Baldwin, they're a helluva of a team," said Mililani coach Rod York. "Turnovers killed us, but we were able to regroup and play football. I'm proud of my kids. They showed heart and we grew up tonight."

Senior receiver Andrew Valladares was at the forefront of the Trojans' comeback bid, hauling in five passes for 213 yards and four scores. Valladares flourished on wheel routes against Baldwin and caught three second-half TD passes of 57, 17 and 28 yards.

"We looked at the defense and made adjustments at halftime," said sophomore quarterback Dillon Gabriel. "We saw that the wheel was going to be open and Andrew made a helluva of a play. Can't ask more from a wideout."

Two-way player Jalen Olomua spearheaded Mililani's ground game with 96 rushing yards and three scores on just 11 carries.

Olomua, who added 5 and 1/2 tackles and a sack, said that the team's attitude wasn't right in the first half.

"We just had to play with heart and stay disciplined," he said. "We all want to play the next week and the following week, so coach told us ‘if you don't want to play, go home. If you do, leave it all on the field right now.'"

The Trojans took an early 14-0 lead thanks to a 7-yard TD run by Olomua on the opening series and a 65-yard TD reception by Valladares, but the Bears responded.

With the running abilities of Kamaki Gouveia (18 carries, 177 yards, TD) and quarterback Chayce Akaka (two rushing TDs), Baldwin was able rattle of 28 straight points to take a 28-14 lead at the 10:08 mark of the third quarter.

Mililani's defense answered the call the rest of the way to keep the Bears off the scoreboard, which in turn jumpstarted the offense.

"They gave us good field position," Gabriel said of the defense. "We can't ask for anything more. It was a definitely a great team win."

Damien DeFrancia led the Bears in the loss with a game-high 11 and 1/2 tackles to go along with an interception.





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