Moanalua rallies late to snatch Division I state flag football title from Mililani

MILILANI – Delayed but not denied.

A year after falling just short of Hawai’i’s first-ever girls’ flag football state crown, Na Menehune can hoist the Koa Head Trophy they came so close to in 2025.

Powered by a plethora of talented returners, Moanalua (16-1) used a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and a stingy defensive performance to sneak by Mililani (10-7-1) in the 2026 HHSAA/Hawaii Dental Service Girls’ Flag Football Division I state championship game at Mililani High School on Saturday night, 13-6.

Moanalua QB Breidi-Ann Higa completed 16-of-30 passes for 148 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on the way to earning All-Tournament team honors for Na Menehune. It wrapped up an unbelievable freshman campaign for Higa, who led the state with 75 touchdown passes to go along with her 4,052 passing yards.

Saturday was far from an offensive showcase for the fabulous freshman though, seeing her held to 72 passing yards through the first three quarters with no touchdowns and an interception. Higa figured out the Mililani defense in the fourth quarter, going for 76 yards and two passing scores in the final 12 minutes to help rally Na Menehune to a title.

Mililani struck after Higa’s interception set the Trojans up near midfield, seeing QB Zenn Nelson cap off a quick six-play scoring drive with a 4-yard TD strike to sophomore Zayah Solmirin to go up 6-0 with 4:25 remaining in the opening quarter.

After the teams traded stops for the next three quarters, Moanalua finally evened up the Division I championship score as Higa marched Na Menehune down the field and hit junior WR Qingstinn Rose Yoshihara for a 3-yard TD with 8:37 left to play.

Sophomore star Jodie Keo, who has led Na Menehune in catches, yards and touchdown receptions for the past two seasons, was held in check for most of the night before breaking free for her lone catch of the game in the final minute, hauling in a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown for Moanalua with 38 seconds to play. Keo also made the All-Tournament team, one of five Na Menehune players to receive the honors.

Sophomore WR/DB Ioarana Simanu was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and made her impact felt on both sides of the ball on Saturday night, leading Moanalua with five catches for 65 yards on offense while tacking on eight flag pulls, a pass breakup and her 13th interception of the year on defense.

Denied of repeating as OIA champions this year, Moanalua entered the HHSAA Division I state bracket as an unseeded wildcard with an opening round matchup against 2025 state runner-up Leilehua.

Given a chance to atone for last year’s heartbreaking upset against the Mules in the state quarterfinal, Moanalua squeezed out a 19-13 victory over Leilehua in the first round and handled No. 3 Konawaena in the 2026 quarterfinals with a 25-14 win.

Simanu and Keo each went for over 100 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats and followed it up in the semifinals against defending state champion Campbell with a combined 11 catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns as the entire state continued to search for the answers to stopping the Moanalua dynamic duo.

Mililani had a few counters, helping result in the M&M championship matchup being the lowest scoring game in the Division I bracket. The Trojans stymied Na Menehune’s offense to the tune of a season-low 13 points, but the Mililani attack couldn’t muster up a second score and ultimately fell in the defensive duel.

Despite being held in check for most of the night, Moanalua head coach Ladd Mokiao said his confidence never wavered in his group to rally as the final 12 minutes hit.

“With this team, anything’s possible,” Mokiao said. “I knew that if the defense could just keep us hanging around and just let me and the offense just figure it out, sooner or later we was going to get that thing in the end zone.”

QB Zenn Nelson did a little bit of everything for Mililani in the loss, throwing for 47 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 46 yards. The junior was one of three Trojans to earn All-Tournament team honors with teammates Alizae Royelle Maialoha and Lilyanah-Tiare Tavale.

Tavale had five flag pulls and an interception for the Trojans in the championship against Moanalua while Maialoha had the last of her 9.0 sacks in the tournament on Saturday night along with three more flag pulls in the loss.

Senor athlete Zaira Sugui had a game-high 12 pulls for Moanalua and added a sack along with a pass breakup on the way to earning All-Tournament recognition. Sophomore rusher Styralynn Hoakalei Reyes had seven flag pulls and 2.0 sacks in the championship for Na Menehune, joining four other Moanalua players on the All-Tournament team roster.