By Risa Askerooth
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The MHS varsity football team will clash against the Farrington Governors on Sept. 27 at John Kauinana Stadium for a homecoming game that will impress fans on both sides. As only the first 5,000 spectators will be admitted, the enthusiasm of both the football team and its supporters is mounting as the date approaches.
“It’s going to be packed for sure. It’s going to be a physical and highly intense game. And it should be fun though. It should be real fun,” said Wide Receiver Senior Kainoa Wilson. Head Coach Roderick York added, “The Mililani football and Mililani High School is at its all-time high so everybody wants to be there and it’s going to be exciting.”
The last time MHS played Farrington on Nov. 1, 2013 at Aloha Stadium, the Trojans took home a victory by 31 points. The team hopes to repeat history for this year’s upcoming game. “We just have to do our jobs to make sure that everything goes well. Not too worried about them, we just have to worry about ourselves, mainly, concentrate on what we have to do to win,” said Running Back Junior Vavae Malepeai, “Stick to what coaches call and just follow through with it. Try to execute as best as we can.”
With MHS off to an auspicious start, taking home victories against Kailua, Kapolei and Aiea’s football teams, the players’ enthusiasm is running high for future games and the rest of the season. “I’ve got the most confidence in my team,” stated Wilson. “People can talk about us, rank us however (they) want, but honestly I think my team is the best team in the state.”
Despite the end of football season last year, players and coaches have been training throughout the summer, with their regular practices on top of strength training and agility training. The players hope for a success against Farrington due to their dedication and the hours that they put in. “Offseason is where champions are made, that’s what we say and you know offseason training is a lot of hard work, a lot of lifting, a lot of running,” said Wilson. “Obviously it’s not the real season so you have a choice to make whether you want to get better or not. You know, it’s all up to you; how good you want to be and how bad you want it.” Malepeai added, “We kept it fun. The coaches kept it fun for us and we just enjoyed every moment of it.”
Although it’s a long way off, the team has set their sights on the championship, while recognizing the work required to get there. “They want to make another Mililani history by winning the state championship and the goal is to get there of course but we’ve got so many things to take care of. Our kids are focused and they’re definitely humble and hungry to go out there and represent Mililani,” said York.
With a new season and a new goal in mind, the team hopes to improve on the past and bring their best to the table every game. “We had a lot of young guys last year and so this year we sort of bring the experience, the matureness, the humbleness,” said Wilson. “They just buy in and they have a lot of heart and they give anything for the guy next to them.”
Despite the outcome of the homecoming game against Farrington, the team will keep training in hopes that the next game, against Moanalua on Oct. 4, will be even better than the previous one.
