Trojans On State TV, Yet Again, With Match Vs. Sabers
By Jack Danilewicz
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In the world of prep football, being in the spotlight is not without its disadvantages.
Indeed, for all the exposure Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux and his team receive when they play a televised game, they also know upcoming opponents are in the audience.
“Being on TV, you really have to execute,” said Arceneaux, who is in his first year as Mililani head coach.“Teams have a lot more film on you (than usual). They can pick up more of your tendencies.”
The Trojans’ overriding tendency this fall - and in recent years under Arceneaux’s predecessor, James Millwood - has been to win. Mililani took a 5-1 record into the weekend, with its only loss a 13-9 setback to defending Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West rival Waianae back on Aug. 24. Friday night, the Trojans will once again be on public display with OC-16 set to broadcast its game against Campbell. With their regular-season finale only a week later, this weekend’s matchup with the Sabers is something of a must-win for Arceneaux’s team, which will be making its fifth appearance in statewide television.
“Campbell is a very dangerous team. I think they have one of the best defensive lines in the state. We have to do our thing and execute on offense. In this game, every detail needs to be covered.”
For its part, Campbell has flourished over the years with its wing-T offense, controlling the clock against most of its opponents, while mixing in big plays in the passing game. Mililani’s best defense could be its offense if they can turn the tables this weekend and dominate in time of possession.
“We can’t stop them - they’re very well coached - but hopefully, we can control them,” Arceneaux said of Campbell’s offense.“They wear people down, and they really bonded well together with a big win (versus Kapolei) over the weekend.”
In Campbell slotback and return specialist Samson Anguay, Mililani will face one of the state’s most exciting players. Only a sophomore, Anguay scored the Sabers’ first seven touchdowns of the season and had a 212-yard rushing day against Aiea Aug. 25.
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“We don’t want to give up the big play,“Arceneaux said.“We have to get them into a third and long and give ourselves a chance to get our defense off of the field. If we do that, we have a chance to be successful.”
Behind the play of Veni Manu, Sterling Cossey, Roman Hunt, Cody Kilthau, Kawika Ornellas and Trend’t Marsom, the Trojans have been stout defensively, having yielded no more than 14 points in any of their games.
Manu, a senior who packs 220 pounds into a 6-foot-3 frame, leads the way up front from his defensive end position.
“He’s a throwback player. Overall, our front seven have been very good.”
Offensively, the Trojans have a host of players with game-breaking skills, highlighted by quarterback Rustin Funakoshi, wide-out and return specialist Taz Stevenson (five touchdowns in his first four games) and running back Michael Among-Serra (4.9 yards per carry). Mililani is tops among West teams and fifth overall in the OIA in total offense, averaging 250.3 yards per game. Funakoshi, who is a three-year starter behind center, had thrown for 597 yards through his first four games.
“He’s made strides on and off of the field,” Arceneaux said. “He’s been a leader. It’s no secret we want to throw the ball. We want to stretch the field and make teams defend the whole field.”
Arceneaux, who was the Trojans’ offensive coordinator last year, has made a smooth transition stepping into the head job to replace Millwood, who retired during the winter after 13 seasons at Mililani. It is the second head coaching job for Arceneaux, who led Saint Louis to a runner-up finish in the 2003 state tournament.
“We’re pleased to be 5-1, but as a coach you’re never satisfied - you always want perfection on and off of the field, whether it be in our reads in practice or in our school work,” said the former standout at quarterback for both Saint Louis School and the University of Utah.“We don’t just want to have a good team - we want to have a great program and continue to grow from the great job James (Millwood) did here.”
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