Mililani RB Cheyne Constantino came on for injured starter Vavae Malepeai and rushed for 41 yards on 9 carries to lift the Trojans to a win over the Buffanblu. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Mililani RB Cheyne Constantino came on for injured starter Vavae Malepeai and rushed for 41 yards on 9 carries to lift the Trojans to a win over the Buffanblu. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Despite injuries to key components of its running attack, Mililani didn't miss a beat on offense.

The Trojans overcame injuries to right tackle Jordan Agasiva and running back Vavae Malepeai to defeat Punahou, 53-45 in the Division I title game of the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Football State Championships. 

Agasiva, a University of Hawaii commit, left the game with an apparent leg injury with the score tied 7-all in the first quarter.  Stepping into his place was 6-foot-1, 240-pound junior Tyler Santos who filled in admirably for the remainder of the game. 

"I got to step up and I got to prove myself on the field. When someone goes down I got to show myself that I can do it and I have to prove it to everyone else," Santos said on his mindset when he came in for Agasiva.  "My teammates, they were supporting me and would come up to me and tell me ‘you're ready.' They would say positive things to me and that's what help me get through this." 

The offense showed no signs of slowing down without Agasiva in the lineup. Mililani would score 46 of its 53 total points all in the first half. 

"I think our offense did well. We kept consistently moving the ball down the field," said Santos. "A good offense doesn't make one or two big plays. They make many small ones that lead up to the big play. 

Another backup who had to step into some big shoes was running back Cheyne Constantino. The Trojans lost Malepeai, an All-Hawaii running back first team selection, early in the third quarter with Punahou slowly creeping up on the scoreboard.

Although Malepeai's absence severely hampered the Trojans' offense in the second half, Constantino was able to rip off a handful of drive-extending runs. The 5-foot-9, 180-lb senior rushed for 41 yards on a season-high nine carries. 

"You just always have to be ready. You never know what can happen. You always got to be prepared, anything can happen," Constantino said on coming in place of the injured Malepeai. "Prepare for the worst; that's why I try to live by. There's no one else to fill the spot so somebody has to step up, someone has to hold it down." 

At first Constantino's carries were limited, but eventually he was given the ball more to help milk time off the clock. On the Trojans' penultimate drive, Constantino had a key 18-yard run to the Punahou 21-yard line. He also got the call on an attempt to convert a 4th-and-1 situation.

Reserve slotback Makana Tauai also had an impact with two catches for 41 yards and a 36-yard touchdown reception, his first off the year. 

"It feels good. We worked hard to get here and I just thank the Lord for this opportunity," said Tauai.

These contributions from unheralded players are what culminated in the Trojans' first state championship in school history. 

"This team has a lot of good players. Because of the depth, that's what makes us a good team. We're not just 11 strong on both sides of the ball, we're deep strong. We're 22, we're 30 people strong all the time," said Santos.