Mililani's Robert Faleafine (with football) and McKenzie Milton (in background) are vying for the starting job at quarterback for the Trojans in 2013. Kalani Takase | SL

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072413_3.jpg - Kalani Takase | SL

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The Mililani football team is now in the "post-JM" era. That is, post Jarin Morikawa.

The record-setting, two-year starter at quarterback has graduated, leaving big shoes to fill in the middle of the Trojan offense. Who will fill those shoes is the question – one that coach Rod York asks himself everyday.

The candidates are senior Robert Faleafine (who transferred in from Saint Louis after the 2012 football season) and sophomore McKenzie Milton (who was the JV starter a year ago).

"Honestly, it's day-to-day. It's a matter of who steps up in practice each day," said York, who enters his fourth season as head coach.

Faleafine was thought to be the frontrunner after serving as a backup QB for the Saints a year ago. He's taller at 6-3 than the 5-foot-10 Milton, giving him a better view of the field, but must quickly adjust to the Trojans' spread passing attack.

Milton is young and like Faleafine lacks game experience at the varsity level, but did run the same offensive scheme on the JV level last year. Mililani coaches say Milton is a gamer and has a knack for making plays despite being undersized. They say he's cool under pressure and doesn't easily get rattled.

It is likely that York will tone down the complexities of the offense for his new quarterback – whoever it will be. York trusted Morikawa to the extent that he would let him call his own plays on the field in the hurry-up offense.

One thing you won't find York doing is lamenting the loss of Morikawa – who will attempt to walk-on at UNLV.

"We've moved on already. We're past that and need to get the next guy ready," York said at a recent practice.

Mililani will scrimmage Pearl City, Waialua, Kahuku and Kaiser on consecutthis exit next week before opening up with a road test at Moanalua on Aug. 9. The following week, Punahou visits Mililani for a Thursday night game (Aug. 15) in a rematch of a Division I state semifinal a year ago.