An abbreviated week of preparation necessitated a short memory for Mililani.
Four days after suffering their first loss of the season, the Trojans rebounded with a 42-0 win at Nanakuli on Friday behind a stifling defensive performance and sophomore quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s three touchdown passes.
Mililani (4-1 OIA Red) slipped to No. 8 in the Star-Advertiser’s Top 10 after a weather-delayed 40-12 loss to Kapolei on Monday. The Trojans then had three days to recover before heading out to Nanakuli (0-4, 0-5) for their first game away from home this season.
With a short turnaround, Mililani coach Rod York said his primary concern was “just our mental mind-set, because we’re young and inexperienced.
“But at the same time we’ve got capable guys. I’m proud of the guys that they were able to bounce back from a tough loss.”
In the first meeting between the schools since 2009, a 47-0 Mililani win, the Trojans defense stuffed the Golden Hawks early and Gabriel threw two touchdown passes to Ryan Chang on their way to a 26-0 halftime lead.
Mililani opened the scoring on its second possession when Gabriel connected with Chang on a 24-yard touchdown one play after a holding penalty gave the Trojans a second-and-21.
The Trojans’ next two possessions ended in missed field goals, but they finished their next drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by sophomore Kilifi Malepeai, the younger brother of former All-State running back Vavae Malepeai.
The Trojans held Nanakuli to a total of negative-10 yards in total offense, including a 30-yard loss when an errant punt snap resulted in a safety that gave Mililani a 16-0 lead.
After the ensuing free kick, Damien Santiago hit a 32-yard field goal, and Gabriel, whose first-half numbers were hampered by dropped passes, lofted a 45-yard touchdown pass to Chang with one minute left before the break.
“We struggled on offense,” York said. “So defense played a whole lot better, gave us a lot more opportunities on offense and eventually caught a little momentum.”
Gabriel completed all five of his pass attempts on the Trojans’ first drive of the second half and extended the lead with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Gapusan. After Santiago’s second field goal of the game, Kaine Park capped the scoring with a 29-yard burst up the middle.
Defensive end Tasi Malepeai finished four tackles for losses and Mykah Tuiolemotu made three stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Mililani has a bye week before playing at Kailua on Sept. 23. Nanakuli takes on Farrington on Sept. 17 at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.
