Marcus Peters has seen plenty of football from the youth level to the NFL.
The former Kansas City Chiefs defensive back grew up in the McClymonds High School program, playing under his father, Michael Peters, and carries on a legacy for the Warriors as their first-year head coach.
Even after a 50-0 loss to Hawaii’s top-ranked team, Mililani, Peters was positive. He sought out Mililani’s versatile senior, Bless Cabrera-Hopkins, after the game to praise him.
McClymonds’ first game of the season was a litmus test, and with 29 players in uniform, they will return to Oakland, Calif., healthy and ready to contend for the CIF 3A state crown.
“I’m falling in love with what I’m doing now, coaching. Today was a tough one, but the trip we took out here is going to help us build camaraderie,” Peters said.
Mililani scored on its first four possessions and had several starters off the field by the second quarter, including running back Toa Sam, who left after a 72-yard touchdown run on his second carry.
“Today was well executed. Everybody got to eat tonight,” Sam said.
Right tackle Chaysten Maauga gave his offensive line an A-minus/B-plus.
“It’s special every day, taking it 110% every snap, blocking for my brothers every day,” he said. “We’ve got more to improve on. We’ve just got to trust God. We take every team as the same. We practice hard for everybody.”
On their second snap on offense, Sam took the handoff for a basic dive right, surged into the secondary and cut back on a safety en route to a 72-yard touchdown run. Mililani led 7-0 with 5:53 to go in the opening quarter.
McClymonds tried to move the ball with its pistol read-pass option game but punted back to the home team. Mililani needed six plays to cover 54 yards. Jayzen Joseph darted through the left side for a 9-yard TD and the Trojans led 14-0 with 11:32 remaining in the first half.
Warriors QB Ethan Hauschild launched the prettiest pass of the first half, a high, deep shot for Jessie King Jr., but the potential 40-yard gain was ruled out of bounds.
A shanked 9-yard punt by the visitors gave Mililani first down at the McClymonds 32-yard line. After a completion and an illegal hit after the whistle, Mililani had first down at the Warriors’ 11-yard line. Hunter Fujikawa found Hayden Bajet wide open for an 11-yard TD pass, and Warriors safety Prince Staten was flagged for a late hit on a defenseless player.
After a bad snap on the PAT, Cabrera-Hopkins ran the ball in for two points. Mililani led 22-0 with 9:47 left in the first half.
McClymonds got a big spark as Mililani drove for another potential score. Fujikawa fumbled on a keeper inside the 10-yard line and Zion Gowan Wilson scooped up the loose pigskin. His 52-yard return gave the Warriors first down at the Mililani 40-yard line.
On fourth-and-2 at the Mililani 7-yard line, the Warriors were flagged for illegal procedure. On the next play, 2 was bottled up and brought down out of the pocket for no gain, ending their possession.
On the next play, Fujikawa found Cabrera-Hopkins wide open downfield on busted coverage. The 88-yard TD opened Mililani’s lead to 29-0 with 2:49 remaining until the half.
Joseph suffered an injury with 3:32 left in the third quarter and was carried off the field.
After a fumble on a punt attempt by Staten, Mililani got a 4-yard TD run by West Makakoa to extend the lead to 36-0 with 1:13 left in the third stanza.
The off-and-on drizzle had an impact on McClymonds’ pistol snaps. An errant snap fell into the end zone and was recovered by Mililani’s Tayden Satele for a touchdown. It was his second fumble recovery of the game.
Leighton Magno’s 49-yard interception return to pay dirt made it 50-0 with 6:34 to go.
Michael Peters was head coach for 13 seasons. Since retiring Marcus Peters served as a volunteer assistant coach under his father.
The Warriors reached the 3A state final last season and have four state championships in school history.
Mililani travels to Nevada to play Foothill next weekend at Liberty High School’s field.
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