Mililani’s fast-paced offense led to a quick lead and the Trojans dominated on defense in a 47-7 victory over visiting Farrington on Saturday.
Dillon Gabriel completed 14 of 30 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns and Mililani’s defense allowed only 17 total yards in the first half of the OIA Open Division semifinal game.
“The defense always sets it up for us,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “We have some big brothers on our team and our front seven are pretty good.”
The Trojans’ hurry-up offense racked up 418 yards, with five pass plays going for 35 yards or more.
Gabriel, who threw two interceptions, needs 6 passing yards to get to 3,000 for the season. He is already the state’s all-time leading passer.
“He had to extend some plays with his feet,” York said. “His eyes were always downfield. He took some shots, but he was able to come back. He threw a pick here and a pick there. I was happy with his performance.”
No. 3 Mililani (8-2, 6-0) will face Kahuku next week for the title. The Trojans will be competing in their seventh consecutive state tournament.
“Now we’re just focused on the OIA championship. We’re just going to take it game by game,” Gabriel said.
Farrington (2-9, 1-5), which won a three-way coin flip to get into Saturday’s game against Mililani, will play Campbell in next week’s third-place game. The winner will earn the league’s final berth in the four-team state tournament.
Mililani scored four touchdowns and made a field goal on seven first-half possessions.
Gabriel was sacked twice on the opening possession of the game, but the Trojans still scored on a 14-yard pass from Gabriel to Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi with 8:45 remaining. After an offside penalty, Kilifi Malepeai ran in the 2-point conversion.
Liam McGehee made a 37-yard field goal with 4:53 left and Malepeai scored on a 4-yard run up the middle with one second remaining in the first quarter.
An interception by Kiai Ramos set up Gabriel’s 14-yard touchdown on a screen pass to a wide-open Malepeai with 6:22 left in the second quarter. After an offside penalty, Malepeai ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 26-0.
Gabriel hit Ryan Chang on a 73-yard touchdown pass to make it 33-0 with 3:46 left before halftime. Chang received a short pass and weaved his way down the left sideline for the score.
The Governors’ best plays of the first half were the recovery of a muffed punt, Raymond Millare’s 59-yard kickoff return and an interception by Tymon Paleafei.
Meanwhile, the Trojans had 300 yards of total offense in the first half, including 256 passing from Gabriel.
Farrington broke through on a 62-yard scoring run by Selau Salani on the first possession of the second half. The Governors went with a power formation, which had three blockers lined up parallel to the line of scrimmage and in front of quarterback Chris Afe-Alaivanu.
Mililani answered quickly on Gabriel’s 27-yard scoring pass to Raysen Motoyama, who made a diving catch, to make the score 40-7 with 9:11 remaining in the third.
Gabriel and many of the other Mililani starters headed to the bench after the score.
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GAME SUMMARY
OIA OPEN DIVISION SEMIFINAL
No. 3 Mililani 47, Farrington 7
At Mililani
>> Farrington (2-9, 1-5) 0 0 7 0 — 7
>> Mililani (8-2, 6-0) 18 15 14 0 — 47
Mililani — Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi 14 pass from Dillon Gabriel (Kilifi Malepeai run), 8:45
Mililani — FG Liam McGehee 37, 4:53
Mililani — Malepeai 4 run (McGehee kick), 0:01
Mililani — Malepeai 14 pass from Gabriel (Malepeai run), 6:22
Mililani — Ryan Chang 73 pass from Gabriel (McGehee kick), 3:46.
Farrington — Selau Kalani 62 run (Andre Elijah Juan Nabuco kick), 10:31.
Mililani — Raysen Motoyama 27 pass from Gabriel (McGehee kick), 9:11
Mililani — Reichel Vegas 62 punt return (Kekoa Kuloloia kick), 0:21
RUSHING — Farrington: Kalani 12-69, Raymond Millare 6-51, Chris Afe-Alaivanu 5-17, Joseph Bailey 1-(minus 1), Team 1-(minus 1), #14 1-(minus 10). Mililani: Malepeai 6-32, RJ Javar 4-25, Gabriel 6-12, #28 1-6, Keola Lanias 1-5, Team 1-(minus 1).
PASSING — Farrington: Afe-Alaivanu 8-16-2-54, Millare 1-51. Mililani: Gabriel 14-30-2-333, Javar 5-7-0-6.
RECEIVING — Farrington: Bailey 3-17, Millare 2-10, Jace Ehia 2-16, Kalani 1-51, Isaiah Rios 1-11. Mililani: Vegas 4-101, Chang 3-123, Mystik Sampaga 2-39, Malepeai 2-18, Javon Miller 2-5, Motoyama 1-27, Kuboyama-Hayashi 1-14, Kai Banks 1-14, Dylan Cozloff 1-0, Lanias 1-0,#26 1-(minus 2).
* JV —Mililani 26, Campbell 7
