Late rally helps Mililani topple Saint Louis, remain unbeaten

Mililani slotback Lehiwa Kahana-Travis (2) hauls in the go-ahead touchdown on a 3rd and 18 between Saint Louis' Dallas Pelen-Talalotu (9) and Magnus Ochoco (15) in the back of the end zone with 2:55 left in the game at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium. CJ Caraang | SL

In a battle of top five teams, Millani found a way to keep its unbeaten record intact, scoring the final nine points of the game to escape with a 16-14 win over Saint Louis.

Kekoa Koong connected with Lehiwa Kahana-Travis on a 3rd and 18 pass play with 2:55 in regulation, who made a spectacular juggling catch in traffic near the back of the end zone for the game-winner.

Koong, starting his first game this season, completed 19 of 29 passes for 136 yards and two scores. Nearly half of his game total came on the two scoring plays, with the longest play of the contest a 42 yard bomb caught by Tana Togafau-Tavui in the third quarter.

After being shut out in first half and chasing the tying score heading into the final period, the ball bounced the Trojans way, literally, in the fourth.

Saint Louis started its first drive of the quarter at its own four yard line after Koong was picked off by Zanden Wilis, but disaster struck three plays later as a bad snap resulted in the ball having to be batted out of the end zone for a safety, making it a 14-9 game.

Then, stymied on three straight plays on its second drive of the period, Mililani punted from its own 32, but the downward trajectory of the ball bounced off the helmet of a Crusader, where it was recovered by Kahana-Travis to put the home team in business on the Saint Louis 30.

On the ensuing possession, a pass interference call on the first play of the drive put the ball inside the red zone, but the Trojans faced a 3rd and 8 after just a two yard plunge and an incomplete pass. A four yard keeper by Koong on the next play resulted in a holding penalty, that was accepted by the Crusaders, setting up Kahana-Travis' eventual game-clinching 3rd and 18 play.

Kahana-Travis finished with seven grabs for 61 yards, both team highs.

Saint Louis got on the board first, as starter Nainoa Lopes found Frank Abreu from 28 yards out with 1:55 left in the first to put the visiting team up 7-0.

The Crusaders eventually wrestled the lead back late in the third, when Mose Lilo connected with Kaeo Apduhan on a 20 yard pitch and catch that made it 14-7.

Strong play by both defenses saw opportunities to score few and far between.

Both teams had under 30 net yards rushing each, and much like Koong's passing total, the tandem of Lopes and Lilo had nearly half of its yardage come on chunk passing plays of 20 yards-plus.

Chevy Robinson had eight total tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Isaiah Iosefa added nine total tackles to lead the Trojans, and TJ Alualu had eight tackles, one for loss and a fumble recovery to pace the Crusaders, who had nine tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions and three hurries for the game.

In a wild finish to the game, Saint Louis had the ball on the Mililani 31 facing a fourth and one with the clock ticking with under 25 seconds in the contest, but spiked the ball on that play, resulting in a turnover on downs.