Mililani turns back Kailua with field goal block on final play

Kinue Miller | SL

Fourth ranked Mililani needed some special teams magic to escape with a season-opening win over Kailua, as Samson Sateleʻs block of Desmond McMasterʻs 37 yard field goal attempt was the difference as time expired in a 9-7 win over upset minded Kailua.

"On that last play we just had to give it our all because you know weʻre not going to lose," said Satele of the play. "I mean, it was a team effort."

A scoreless first half finally saw the seal broken when Kekoa Koong and Bless Hanalei Cabrera-Hopkins hooked up for a six yard touchdown connection midway through the third quarter. The speedy Cabrera-Hopkins also made a diving catch to convert a crucial third down and long in the final moments of regulation, broke free for a 71 yard punt return that he nearly housed, and came scintillatingly close to breaking free as a returner on at least two others.

"Heʻs an athlete, he plays all over and I feel like heʻs going to be great this year," said Satele of Cabrera-Hopkins. "Heʻs going to break out this season."

Cabrera-Hopkins led all pass catchers with five grabs for 69 yards and a score.

More special teams magic, this time a punt block by David Hosier, nearly led to a touchdown, had it not been for a heads-up play by the punter Micah Sua, who tracked the ball down in the end zone and kicked it out of bounds to limit the damage to just a safety with just under 23 seconds in the third.

Allowed to hang around by the Trojans, the Surfriders made things more than interesting with 3:04 to go, capping a drive off with an 18 yard pass play from Isaiah Keaunui-Demello to Sua that made it a 9-7 game.

Mililani tried its best to milk the final three minutes off the scoreboard, but Kailua clawed its way to within range for McMaster, relying on its passing game and the sideline as well as benefitting from a roughing call and a personal foul that allowed it to drive from its own 30 to the Trojans 27.

Both teamsʻ defenses were tenacious all night.

Kailua had 12 tackles for loss, five of them sacks, and added two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Keoki Cypriano and Ben Honebein accounted for three TFLs each and wreaked havoc on the Trojansʻ QBs all night. As for the Trojans, they totalled sevent TFLs, two of them sacks and added three pass breakups.

Kailuaʻs JJ Rezentes led all runners with 53 yards on 12 carries before leaving with an injury late in the second quarter.