For the third time in four years, Mililani will play in the HHSAA Division I state title game.
This time around, it will be in the state’s second tier of competition after the Trojans downed Leilehua 51-35.
“First of all, it’s the Division I state title. We definitely want the Open state title,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “We didn’t earn it, but we’re definitely proud and privileged to be in this tournament and we’re gonna try and finish.”
Similar to Mililani’s two previous appearances in that stretch, the Trojans used a high-powered and efficient offensive attack to get them there.
After trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, the Trojans scored 27 unanswered points heading into halftime. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was responsible for all four of his team’s touchdowns in that period. The sophomore finished 16-for-25 with 224 passing yards, tossing four scores. He ran for another touchdown, finishing with 11 rushes for 56 yards.
“Coach just said we have to execute and believe in his game plan,” he said. “He’s gonna put us in positions to flourish, so we just gotta believe that.”
“(The early deficit) had a lot to do with Leilehua,” York added. “Gotta credit Nolan Tokuda and his staff. Their team, they just never quit. You gotta give it to them. They fought hard and gave us fits all day.”
Despite being down by margins as much as 41-14 and 48-21, the Mules constantly fought to keep the score more respectable at the end.
“I’m just so proud of these guys. Hats off to Mililani. They’re such a good team. They’re an Open Division team that fell one game short,” Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. “For our guys to fight all the way through and not even look at the scoreboard … just so proud of the staff we put together and how they got the guys to play.”
Leilehua’s offense was led by senior Kawai Phifer, whose 233 receiving yards is a school single-game record, surpassing Darrien Shealy’s 217 yards in 2010, also against Mililani. Phifer attributed his performance to “the linemen blocking for us and giving our quarterbacks time to throw.”
The Trojans will now play ‘Iolani for the HHSAA Division State I on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.
