Trojans to face Sabers in OIA flag football semifinals

Dhenz Agcaoili | SL

KANEOHE - Quarterback Zenn Nelson had a hand in four touchdowns and accounted for 267 yards of total offense and Mililani downed Waianae, 28-6 in a quarterfinal of the Oahu Interscholastic Association flag football tournament Tuesday night at Castle

The Trojans (6-0) advance to Wednesday's semifinal against Campbell (5-1), 5:30 p.m. at Moanalua's stadium. The other semifinal will pit Nanakuli( (5-1) against Moanalua (6-0) at 7 p.m. All four teams have secured berths into the inaugural state tournament. The four quarterfinal losers will vie for the three remaining berths starting Wednesday.

Nelson, a shooting guard for the Trojans' basketball team, employed her agility and speed to ward off the Seariders, who rushed two defenders against her. But she juked out of danger by either rushing or passing. She was 18 of 26 for 189 passing yards and three TDs (8 yards to Kamalani Marlier, 16 yards to Brooke Kurasaki and 17 yards to Sienna Maafala) and rushed 8 times for 78 yards, including a 3-yard TD run.

"It helps a lot," Nelson said of her basketball skills translating into football. "It helps me with all the footwork everything, flicking my wrist when throwing, so it helps a lot."

Despite being bookended by the two rushers, Nelson would just juke herself free, rolling to the perimeter by rushing or throwing on the run.

"I knew once the ball snapped, I just had to quickly get out and release the ball, so I put my trust in my teammates to catch the ball when I release it fast," she explained.

Basketball teammate and point guard Brooke Kurasaki was Nelson's favorite target, hauling in seven passes for 63 yards and a TD.

"She's amazing," Kurasaki said of Nelson, "she's so athletic. She can play receiver and play defense. She dioes it all."

Kurasaki showed her own versatility. She took some snaps at QB and was 3 for 3 for 21 yards. Nelson caught two of those passes for 17 yards.

In the other quarterfinal, Maya Gonsalves passed for two TDs and Jyzelle Gorion returned an interception 77 yards for a TD in the Sabers' 21-13 win against Castle.

The Knights' Dorian Pokipala threw two fourth-quarter TD passes, but time ran out on Castle.

In quarterfinals at Nanakuli, Zaira Sugui passed for 215 yards and 4 TDs in Moanalua's 32-6 win against Leilehua, while Charyssa Asinsin passed for 232 yards and 2 TDs in a 30-12 win against Kahuku.

Nanakuli (5-1) will play Moanalua (6-0) in the 7 p.m. semifinal Wednesday at Moanalua.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].