Defense gave Mililani  another shot at a title as the Trojans survived a 17-14 duel with Farrington on Saturday at Aloha Stadium to return to Friday’s Division I final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championship

“It’s been on the back burner honestly,” Mililani defensive lineman Rex Manu said. “I think we’ve been taking it one game at a time and ultimately it led us to this point.”

The Trojans scored on their first possession of the game and took a 14-0 lead, providing cushion for a Mililani defense that recorded five sacks, two by Manu, among its seven tackles for loss. The Trojans recovered a pivotal fumble deep in their territory in the first quarter and maintained enough separation to fend off the Governors, who fell in the semifinals for the third consecutive year and the sixth time overall.

It wasn’t all that pretty, but Trojans will take it.

“We’re happy to get the win and we’re moving on,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “Name of the game.

“Defense stepped up, we played great special teams and the offense did enough to get the win.”

Running backs Cheyne Constantino and Vavae Malepeai rushed for Mililani’s first two scores and Mililani quarterback McKenzie Milton completed 20 of 27 pass attempts for 280 yards as the Trojans overcame 12 penalties for 132 yards in the win.