HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Mililani Trojans and Kahuku Red Raiders have had so many epic matchups over the years that it makes sense that they would meet in the state semifinals.

Friday’s game will be their third matchup of the year, having met two weeks ago in the OIA semifinals which marked the return of veteran Mililani quarterback Kini McMillan.

The Washington commit admits he struggled after such a long absence as the Trojans lost 35-6.

“Going back to that game, I mean it was a little tough but I feel like everything happens for a reason,” Kini McMillan told Hawaii News Now. “I’m just super excited that it happened this way so we could play them.”

McMillan injured his shoulder in Week 1 and missed most of the season after undergoing surgery. Many wondered why he would even play again given his college future, but considering his Trojans were so close to a title against Kahuku last year, this opportunity was too big to pass up.

“Honestly, I just feel like it was just God’s timing and him entrusting his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers,” McMillan said. “So I’m up for the challenge and I’m completely healed now, so why not?”

“They’re a great defense, I mean, that’s pretty much what they’re known for,” McMillan said. “We kind of separate them and just have fun and do our job.”

The praise travels from central Oahu to the North Shore, where Kahuku’s new quarterback is preparing for a heavyweight showdown against the Trojans.

“I’m not going to take them lightly because they’re a good defense, they have a lot of athletes on that field, their D-line is unbelievable,” Kahuku quarterback Matai Fuiava said. “So, I mean, I’m going to prepare the same way I prepared for them in the first game, just because we beat them doesn’t mean anything, anything can happen.”

Matai Fuiava joined the Raiders during the final week of the regular season after transferring from California powerhouse St. John Bosco.

The junior just helped Kahuku win its 30th OIA championship with a victory over Campbell and has only grown more comfortable with the offense and its playmaking arsenal.

“We do everything we can, even if it means it looks ugly, we still win the game,” Fuiava said. “We had to turn it over to the defense, the defense and special teams played, but I put some things together on tape. So I hope the coaches see that.”

Although Kahuku is the top seed and OIA champion, the Red Raiders took a different path than in previous years.

This season marked the first time since 2019 that they lost two regular season games to opponents from Hawaii, but now their top brass feels they are gaining momentum and are in prime position for a fourth championship. Highly coveted consecutive state.

“We’re peaking at the right time, just like we beat Mililani, lost to them in the regular season, then beat Campbell in the championship, which we lost to them when we came back,” senior Mana Carvahlo said. “So just being able to come back and play against the exact same teams, but with a better mentality and a better work ethic and just being able to qualify them and keep them rolling.”

Kahuku’s third game against Mililani is scheduled for Friday at 4:00 p.m. Hawaii time at John Kauinana Stadium.

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