No. 6 Foothill fell to visiting Mililani (Hawaii) 34-3 on Saturday night in the Island Classic at Liberty High. Officials called the game late in the third quarter after several players were involved in an on-field altercation.
Trojans junior running back Makakoa West scored on an 8-yard run with 3:51 remaining in the quarter. After junior kicker Matthew Bolibol made the extra point, athletes from both teams exchanged shoves, which escalated to punches and players coming in from the sideline.
Falcons coach Vernon Brown said the players who left the sideline were from Mililani, not Foothill (2-1).
“We kept our kids back,” Brown said. “Our kids were back, and then they said a few of their kids got on the field, and so under the rules, they have to stop the game.”
According to Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association rules, if more than three players leave the sidelines and enter the field, the game is called on the spot. Officials called unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both teams, then ended the game. After a few minutes of deliberation with coaches, officials walked off the field.
Brown said that he’ll wait until NIAA officials review the game before drawing conclusions beyond the final score.
“We’ll know sometime next week,” Brown said. “But as of right now, I don’t know. All I do know is that we lost 34-3.”
Mililani (4-0) coach Rod York claimed the fighting was “retaliation,” saying that tempers had flared a bit. There were a few personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct calls for both teams sprinkled throughout the night.
“It happened so fast,” York said. “It’s been going on in the game. We asked for (officials) to watch it more.”
Early on, the Falcons struggled to contain the Trojans. Halfway through the first quarter, Mililani quarterback Hunter Fujikawa connected with senior receiver Bless Cabrara-Hopkins for a 9-yard touchdown.
Shortly after that, senior cornerback Shay Hunter intercepted Falcons junior quarterback Ryder Dobbs and returned it 35 yards to the end zone, putting the Trojans up 14-0.
“Just too many turnovers,” Brown said. “Guys are not being where they’re supposed to be. Not, you know, doing their job, and I don’t know if they got caught up in the moment.”
Dobbs finished 10-for-22 passing with 60 yards and an interception.
The Falcons made some adjustments, slowing down the Trojans’ powerful air attack. Roughly six minutes into the second quarter, Foothill sophomore safety Logan Jenkins recovered a Cabrara-Hopkins fumble and the Falcons suddenly had the ball deep in Mililani territory.
That led to a 35-yard field goal by senior kicker Kaden Grant, getting Foothill on the board, 14-3.
Shortly before halftime, Fujikawa found Hayden Bajet in the corner of the end zone for a 21-yard score, making it 20-3 in favor of the Trojans. Miliani scored twice more in the third quarter, on runs by Toa Sam and West.
Fujikawa completed 17 of 22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
