Mililani senior Dillon Gabriel is back on the market.
The 6-foot dual-threat quarterback announced on social media Sunday that he has decommitted from Army and will open up his recruitment with the first signing period just a month away.
Gabriel initially committed to Army in June over offers from Air Force, Navy and Hawaii.
Gabriel is Hawaii’s career passing record holder with 9,470 yards. He recently became just the second quarterback to throw 100 career touchdown passes and now has 104 — nine behind the record holder, Timmy Chang.
Gabriel also holds the career records in completions (711) and attempts (1,209) and has at least one more game to improve on those totals.
The Trojans face Campbell in the Open Division semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships on Friday at Aloha Stadium. A win would earn Gabriel a second trip to a state final. He led the Trojans to the Division I state championship in 2016 as a sophomore.
Sasaki-Kalamau leads Roosevelt into D-II semis
Chayden Sasaki-Kalamau knew it would be just as tough the second time.
The Roosevelt senior defensive lineman and his unit put their energy into film study, reviewing every possible new wrinkle they hadn’t seen the first time the Rough Riders played Pac-Five.
Their diligence was rewarded. Roosevelt used clutch defense, including five sacks by Sasaki-Kalamau, plus a steady ground attack to stave off ILH representative Pac-Five 20-7 on a breezy Saturday night at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.
Roosevelt (12-1) will visit defending D-II state champion Lahainaluna on Saturday at Sue Cooley Stadium in the Division II semifinal round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships.
The Rough Riders had to survive before they could advance. Pac-Five (4-5) reached the state tourney only after previously unbeaten St. Francis forfeited its wins due to the use of an ineligible player.
Sasaki-Kalamau, at 6 feet 1 and 240 pounds, was consistently in the backfield when Pac-Five needed to throw the ball. Pac-Five’s premier offensive lineman, Leif Fautanu, lined up at a different position.
“It felt like the same game because it was so close. Last game I had him at tackle, and this game he was at center. I don’t want to say they’re as good as Leif, but they still put up a challenge,” Sasaki-Kalamau said.
Roosevelt beat Pac-Five in its season opener 17-15 on a field goal with no time remaining.
Bulldogs earn their frequent-flyer miles
After losing to Roosevelt in the OIA Division II title game, the path for Kaimuki to get to a state title game will include multiple trips to the outer islands.
The first was a one-hour flight to the Big Island to face BIIF champion Kamehameha-Hawaii on Saturday night in Keaau. The weather was awful, with rain coming down the entire day and evening. Yet despite five fumbles lost, including three in the fourth quarter alone, the Bulldogs came away with a 28-27 victory.
“It all came down to the desire and the will not to give up and keep fighting,” Kaimuki coach David Tautofi said. “We did enough to win and we also did enough to keep it close.”
The Bulldogs gave up an apparent game-tying touchdown with 48 seconds left on a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kaimi Like to Izayah Chartrand-Penera.
The extra point ended up wide right and the Bulldogs recovered an onside kick that the Warriors had chances to recover, only to see 6-foot-4, 345-pound Sama Paama scoop it up for Kaimuki to secure the win.
“I felt relieved that we got the win,” an exhausted Naomas Asuega-Fualaau said after rushing for 159 yards on 22 carries.
Asuega-Fualaau was one of three Bulldogs to rush for touchdowns in the victory.
Waipahu’s Kapea represents the 94 Block
The 94 Block is more than just Waipahu’s district.
It’s the gold-painted cement block, with the number attached on front, that represents a turnover chain for Waipahu’s “Humble Hammahz,” as a T-shirt revealed.
Deacon Kapea wore it well in victory, and it was well earned. Waipahu’s 20-19 semifinal win over ‘Iolani propelled the Marauders into the D-I final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships. Waipahu will play for a state crown for the first time since 2011, when it lost to ‘Iolani in the D-II state final.
Kapea intercepted three ‘Iolani passes to give him nine for the season.
The vibe after the game was exuberant. Kapea admitted it felt almost like winning another championship.
“We will prepare next week just like we prepared this week. Come back focused,” Kapea said, “and be ready to ball.”
Hilo rides bumpy wave to return to Division I final
Defending D-I state champion Hilo is on a nine-game winning streak heading into a state final for the second straight year.
That seems like a pretty good season from the outside, but Friday’s 35-24 win over Maui in the D-I semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships at Keaau High School was a microcosm for the Vikings’ season.
Six turnovers, including four lost fumbles in the third quarter alone, gave Maui (5-6) a chance to complete the upset of the Vikings (9-1), who haven’t lost since a 40-point blowout against Campbell to open the season in Ewa Beach.
Instead, the Hilo defense came up with three takeaways of its own in the fourth quarter, providing the up-and-down outcome that seems to be a theme for a Vikings squad trying to become the first team to repeat as D-I state champions since Kahuku in 2011 and ’12.
“Tonight was way too stressful,” Hilo coach Kaeo Drummondo said. “We take the ‘W’ how we get them. Tonight was really just an example of how our season has been. We’re so happy with the progression that these kids have made, but it really has been a day in and day out grind.”
Guyson Ogata led the Vikings with 79 yards receiving on three catches, including a 45-yard touchdown on a ball that was popped into the air before he caught it on the second attempt and ran it in for a 21-10 lead at the break.
“Half of my touchdowns are off bobbles or tips,” Ogata said. “I just stay focused and watch the ball and see where it goes and then I target it and get it.”
Up next
The D-I state final is set, with Waipahu facing defending champion Hilo in the second game of a tripleheader on Nov. 24 at Aloha Stadium.
The Open Division title game will be set Friday, when Campbell and OIA champion Mililani kick off a semifinal doubleheader headlined by ILH champion and defending Open state champion Saint Louis and Kahuku in the nightcap at Aloha Stadium.
Two-time defending D-II state champion Lahainaluna will host OIA champion Roosevelt on Saturday, and KIF winner Kapaa will play Kaimuki at Vidinha Stadium for a spot in the final.
