Injury ends Milton's storybook prep career

Mililani quarterback McKenzie Milton might have re-separated his right shoulder after taking a hit after throwing a pass in the second quarter of the Division I semifinals against Saint Louis. Steve Erler | Special to SL

The storybook football life of McKenzie Milton was not supposed to end this way.

An incredible career came to an end with five minutes, 10 seconds left in the first half when Mililani's third-year starting quarterback took a hit after throwing an incomplete in Mililani's 56-30 loss in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I state football semifinals Friday night at Aloha Stadium.

Milton said he might have re-separated his right shoulder, which was in a sling when he returned in street clothes for the second half.

"I think I re-separated it," Milton said. "It's fine. I have a lot of time to recover."

Milton ended the game completing 5 of 14 passes for 82 yards with three interceptions. He entered the game having thrown just four. He finished his career complete 515 of 788 passes for 7,325 yards and 81 TDs against 22 interceptions.

The dynamic read-option QB led the Trojans to two state title games, winning last year's 53-45 thriller against Punahou.

‘It's definitely disappointing," Milton said. "I was proud of our guys, the way they fought. It's just been a blessing to be a Trojan the past four years."

Milton's pass to Kalakaua Timoteo near the goal line fell incomplete after Saint Louis' Isaiah Tufaga met the receiver head on. Tufaga was ejected from the game for targeting, but off-setting penalties nullified the play. Backup Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi came in for Milton on fourth-and-10 from the 30 and threw an incomplete pass, turning over the ball on downs.

"Things happen," Trojans coach Rod York said. "Football is a microcosm of life. During the heat of the battle, you have to move on to the next guy."

The way things were going, it is uncertain if the Trojans would have made a comeback behind Milton.

"The turnovers killed us," York said. "That's the way it goes. You can't make mistakes against Saint Louis. Credit coach Cal Lee and the Crusaders. They went down there and created those turnovers."

As for Milton, a college career beckons. He has verbally committed to play for the University of Hawaii, but whether former coach Norm Chow's replacement will honor the scholarship offer is unknown.

"I'm still committed to UH, but if the new coach doesn't want me, then I'll probably explore my options," Milton said.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].