The Trojans got a key takeaway early in the third quarter when safety Ramsey Tacadena picked off this Tagovailoa pass just three plays after a 1-yard Malepeai touchdown run. Jim Lebeau | Special to SL

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It would be easy for one to look at Mililani's 67-21 win over Kapolei Saturday and be in awe of the home team's offensive onslaught, but that's only half the story.

Defense was a key contributor for the Trojans, who pitched a second-half shutout after holding a 35-21 halftime lead, to improve to 3-0 on the year.

The reigning Division I state champions and top-ranked team in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings looked somewhat vulnerable in the first two quarters of the contest, but made some adjustments at the intermission and clamped down on the visiting Hurricanes the rest of the way.

Kapolei, with freshman Taulia Tagovailoa making his first career start at quarterback, found some success early on. It got on the board with 0.3 seconds left in the opening quarter on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Boogie Tago-Sue, which made the score 13-7 in favor of Mililani.

The Trojans answered the score with a 60-yard Milton-to-Kalakaua Timoteo touchdown pass, but the Hurricanes drove all the way to the 1-yard line on their next possession. However, on fourth-and-goal from the 1, linebacker Maa Tanuvasa dropped Tagovailoa for a loss of 13 yards on a sack, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said that proved to be a turning point in the game.

"We were moving the ball, but ultimately we made too many mistakes and I thought that fourth-and-1 here when it was a one-score game, that was a pivotal stop for them and that kind of changed the complexion of the game, but all in all, let's face it, this is a powerhouse team with so many weapons it's tough to stop them all," Hernandez said.

After Mililani took a 27-7 lead on McKenzie Milton's 16-yard touchdown pass to Vavae Malepeai with 5:05 left in the second quarter, the Hurricanes scored twice in a span of just 58 seconds.

Tagovailoa hooked up with Jaymin Sarono for a 10-yard touchdown and two plays into Mililani's ensuing drive, defensive lineman Aizak Naulu recovered a fumble that was forced by safety Ezra Savea. Three plays after that Tagovailoa hit Savea for a 3-yard for a 3-yard scoring strike. Following the PAT by Beau Meyer, Kapolei was within 27-21 with 2:30 until halftime.

It would be, however, the last points put up on the scoreboard by the Hurricanes. Their final five drives of the game resulted in a punt, interception, back-to-back turnover-on-downs and the end of the game.

"It was just more mentally," Mililani coach Rod York said of any defensive adjustments at the intermission. "We weren't doing all the things execution-wise, so once we got on the guys, told them to settle down and they got it done."

The Trojans got a key takeaway early in the third quarter when safety Ramsey Tacadena picked off Tagovailoa just three plays after a 1-yard Malepeai touchdown run. The offense recycled the turnover into an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Milton to Timoteo, which gave Mililani a 51-21 lead.

"Yeah, definitely. Any time we get a turnover that's big," York said. "Any kind of defensive turnover gives our offense more opportunities."

That's something that goes appreciated by Milton for one.

"They were struggling early just like our offense, but they stepped up," Milton said of the Trojans' defensive unit. "A lot of young guys stepped up for us. We're pretty banged up on the d-line, so Isaac Liva was making some plays, Maa Tanuvasa was making some plays and our young (defensive backs), our two corners that are juniors (Dustin Gapusan and Kainalu Wong) stepped up and made plays."

Gapusan led the defense with seven tackles, including one for loss, and a pass breakup. Tacadena made five stops with Jalen Olomua and Tanuvasa recording four apiece. Tanuvasa made two tackles behind the line of scrimmage and also broke up a pass. Defensive end Isaac Liva also had a sack and two of Kaimana Padello's three tackles went for losses. In all, Mililani had eight tackles for losses and recorded five pass breakups.