Nelson, Trojans hold off Buffanblu on final play of preseason tilt

MILILANI — A preseason girls flag football matchup in Central Oahu Tuesday night certainly had a championship-like finish.

Host Mililani rallied from a 27-12 halftime deficit and held off Punahou on the final play of the game for a 32-27 win at John Kauinana Stadium.

The Trojans were one of the top teams last year during the sport’s inaugural season in the state, but fell short of taking home any hardware to show for it in 2025. Mililani was undefeated to start the season before losing to Moanalua in the OIA championship game and also lost to eventual state champion Campbell in the state semifinals.

Junior Zenn Nelson, one of the returning standouts from last year’s squad, is ready for the Trojans to bounce back in 2026.

“I have an amazing team and amazing coaches,” said Nelson, who accounted for two scores and had an interception defensively against Punahou.

“I think we’re going to have a great year this year. Definitely a comeback year.”

Nelson’s shiftiness on the field as a quarterback saw her account for all of the Trojans’ touchdowns in their first four postseason wins in 2025 — but missed the team’s final two state tournament games after breaking her collarbone in the quarterfinals, she disclosed.

That experienced has helped Nelson tackle the upcoming season with a refocused mindset.

“I got my collarbone broken so I realized have to be grateful for every chance I get so I started working on throwing more, route running and definitely I have to start working out more to get it stronger. The coaches are really great so I’m really grateful for them,” she said.

The Trojans are under new leadership at the coaching position this year with Ed Cera coming in, but there is some familiarity as Nelson participates in Cera’s club team Island Empire.

“I’m more familiar with them so I have more of a connection so it’s easier to talk to them and they understand the game more. They brought a lot of new plays and I feel like we have more drills that we get put to work for that so I think it’s really good,” Nelson said.

There are also new additions to the Mililani team.

One is Kamehameha transfer Hayden Kaahanui-Cera, who has been playing flag football since she was four years old and adds another arm in the backfield that frees up Nelson to play multiple positions outside of quarterback.

Mililani junior quarterback Hayden Kaahanui-Cera keeps the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter. | Photo: Daniel Fujita

Kaahanui-Cera threw two TDs and also ran in two more in the win against Punahou.

“I think my team has all my back. We have really talented girls out here. Hayden is a really good quarterback so I’m glad that I have that weight off my shoulder and I felt like my stronger side was mainly wide receiver and running back so I’m glad I could do that, but we just switch on and off,” said Nelson.

Another solid addition is Lily Tavale, who Nelson got to play with on the girls basketball team during the winter season. Tavale caught the game-winning score from Kaahanui-Cera late in the fourth quarter.

“She’s a really good strong player, basketball and football so I think having her is a strong set in our starting seven,” Nelson said of Tavale.

Lily Tavale catches a 2-point conversion pass in the third quarter to cut into Punahou’s lead, 27-26. | Photo: Daniel Fujita

Of the returners, Sophie Foster showed her worth in the comeback win against the Buffanblu as a snapper and receiver. She was easily the receptions leader of the game, hauling at least 10 passes. On the game-winning drive Foster caught three passes early in the possession to help extend the drive.

“She’s a great player, all-around. I think she did a great job tonight,” Nelson said of Foster. “I think us having a good connection is really good for the team.”

While Nelson had an exceptional game, she was almost responsible for giving the game up on the penultimate play of the game when a Punahou receiver caught a pass above her and rumbled downfield eluding defenders before Sadie Kauhane came up with a stop.

Nelson said the play was a learning opportunity and also credited her teammates for helping her flush any negative thoughts.

“I should have been more aggressive going to get the ball instead of just jumping because it’s more of an advantage for them to come and get it. I was also kind of dwelling on that mistake and I really got in my head, but my teammates had my back and just said keep on going and I realized just because I make a mistake doesn’t affect my whole game.”

On the final play of the game, the Punahou quarterback rolled to their right and found a lane down the sideline and appeared to get the ball over the end zone. But when the scrum cleared, it was Mililani’s Alizae Maialoha who had the game-sealing flag pull to secure the win.

The Trojans have a number of preseason games in the next two weeks before opening up the season against ‘Aiea on March 11. That matchup will be the first game of a double-header at Moanalua.