MILILANI — A new era in Mililani High School football began with a big bang last night as the Trojans steamrolled Castle, 43-6, in a nonleague opener for both teams.

A crowd of about 2,200 at the newly christened John Kauinana Stadium watched Mililani execute cleanly in almost all phases under first-year head coach Darnell Arceneaux, who took over earlier this year for the highly successful James Millwood.

"I'm very happy and grateful for the dedication and sacrifice from the players; it's been a long spring and summer, and I'm satisfied with how far they've come so far," said Arceneaux, a former standout for Saint Louis School and the University of Utah. "All week, I was thinking, 'We can't lose both the JV and varsity games when they dedicate the stadium to Coach Kauinana.' It feels good to produce a win on this night."

The Trojans not only won, but looked brilliant at times in doing it.

After forcing Castle into a three-and-out on the game's first series, Mililani needed only four plays to score on a 58-yard touchdown drive capped by sophomore Taz Stevenson's 3-yard run.

The Trojans made it 14-0 with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter after Rustin Funakoshi's 35-yard TD pass to Trent Tamate, and went up, 20-0, on another touchdown run (5 yards) by Stevenson with 8:55 left in the half.

The Knights answered with Bronson Kekahuna's 69-yard TD scamper, but Mililani again scored quickly, this time on a 25-yard pass from Funakoshi to Moshi Mabry with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter.

Colin Lund's 44-yard field goal on the final play of the half made it 30-6.

"They were very impressive," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said of the Trojans. "Unfortunately, we didn't give them a very good game, but they just dominated in all phases. They were very sharp on offense and defense, and they'll definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the (O'ahu Interscholastic Association's) Western Division."

Stevenson opened the second half with an electrifying 87-yard kickoff return for a score.

"I thought I was watching a (University of Hawai'i) player," Maeda said. "He just out-ran everybody."

Trevor Lee capped the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown run with 6:30 left in the third quarter, prompting a running clock per the 35-point rule.

EXTRA POINT: Kauinana was honored in a 20-minute ceremony before the game, with players from each of his 13 football teams represented. Kauinana, a former all-star lineman from Kaimuki High School, was Mililani's first football coach and athletic director in 1974, retiring as football coach after the 1986 season but staying on as AD until 2001. "This is better than the Hall of Fame," he said. "It makes me feel like a king." A sign reading, "John Kauinana Stadium" was unveiled above the scoreboard to the cheers of the crowd.

CASTLE (0-1) 0 6 0 0— 6

MILILANI (1-0) 14 16 13 0—43

Mili — Taz Stevenson 3 run (Colin Lund kick)

Mili — Trent Tamate 35 pass from Rustin Funakoshi (Lund kick)

Mili — Stevenson 5 run (kick failed)

Cas — Bronson Kekahuna 69 run (kick failed)

Mili — Moshi Mabry 25 pass from Funakoshi (Lund kick)

Mili — FG Lund 44

Mili — Stevenson 87 kick return (Lund kick)

Mili — Trevor Lee 17 run (pass failed)

RUSHING — Castle: Devin Spotkaeff 8-65, Kainoa Aki 1-(minus-2), Thomas Ilae 5-(minus-18), Kekahuna 3-71, Blake Rapozo 2-0. Mililani: Michael Among-Serrao 5-41, Stevenson 2-8, Funakoshi 3-16, Lee 7-65, Geoffrey Badua 7-60, Kekai Trout 5-21, Kahi Perbera 2-7, Zach Villanueva 3-(minus-10).

PASSING — Castle: Ilae 3-11-0—36, Rapozo 9-15-1—85. Mililani: Funakoshi 5-10-0—74, Villanueva 2-2-0—39.

RECEIVING — Castle: Nainoa Haitsuka 2-22, Shayne Carvalho 1-1, Kekahuna 5-48, Nolan Yoshimura 1-8, Ilae 1-13, Ambrose Yau 1-22, Keli'i Garcia 1-7. Mililani: Tamate 4-73, Mabry 1-25, Stevenson 1-4, Lund 1-11.

JV score — Castle 35, Mililani 14.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.