The Trojans trample Waianae to make it back to OIA title game

They started the regular season as the two highest- ranked OIA teams and they’ll finish it in the OIA title game.

No. 4 Mililani followed No. 2 Kahuku’s convincing victory with a solid performance of its own to close out Waianae 45-20 in the second OIA semifinal game at Aloha Stadium on Friday.

Freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel accounted for five first-half touchdowns and senior receiver Kalakaua Timoteo set a single-game Trojans record with 199 receiving yards to push Mililani into its fourth straight OIA final.

"Honestly, I’m not really too concerned about individual stats," said Timoteo, who has 36 career touchdown receptions. "All the stats don’t mean nothing. As long as my front five (offensive line) is healthy, that’s all I’m asking for."

The Trojans lost 50-13 in Kahuku in 2012 before beating Farrington and Kahuku the past two years.

The defending OIA and state champions ran their winning streak against teams from Hawaii to 22 to set up a rematch against the Red Raiders, who lost to Mililani 20-7 last season.

Kahuku (10-0) will enter the title game allowing an average of 3.2 points per game, while Mililani (9-1) is averaging 56.5 points scored this season.

"Kahuku pounds you. They have a really good secondary with Hirkley Latu and Keala Santiago," Timoteo said. "They’re not just a run-stopping defense. If we come and practice hard like we usually do, we’ll have confidence and be successful."

Gabriel, starting his second consecutive game for injured senior McKenzie Milton, missed his first throw of the game before connecting on 12 of the next 16.

Mililani’s receivers had no problem getting behind the Waianae secondary and Gabriel made the most of it, throwing four touchdown passes of at least 30 yards.

His first went to Timoteo, who surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards on the play.

Running back Vavae Malepeai, who became the fourth player to top 4,000 career rushing yards on his final run of the second quarter, added a 31-yard touchdown reception to make it 21-0 with 2:36 still remaining in the first quarter.

Timoteo got behind the defense again for a 42-yard score and Gabriel found Bryson Ventura on a 31-yard throw to make it 36-7 going into halftime.

"I’m just getting more comfortable with the team and getting more confident," Gabriel said. "(The receivers) are getting used to working with me."

Mililani gave up 99 total yards in the first half, with 41 coming on a Jurick Valdez touchdown run in which the offensive line opened a huge hole. Javen Towne added a 55-yard touchdown run three minutes into the second half and quarterback Jaren Ulu hit Isaiah Freeney for a 62-yard score in the final minute.

Mililani gave up 158 of its 316 total yards on those three plays but otherwise controlled the game.

"I think a lot of it had to do with our defensive backs," said defensive lineman Kaimana Padello, who had one of Mililani’s five sacks. "We had good one-on-one coverage, so it was just one-on-one battles up front."

Malepeai added a 48-yard run in the fourth quarter to finish with 135 yards on 22 carries.

Gabriel completed only two passes in the second half and was relieved by Kaysen Higa in the final five minutes. Gabriel finished 12-for-19 for 297 yards and ran four times for 24 yards.

Valdez finished with 98 rushing yards on 18 carries and Ulu threw for 127 yards on 4-for-10 passing for the Seariders (7-3), who will play Farrington next week for the OIA’s third and final state berth.

MILILANI

Mililani 45, Waianae 20

Mil–Kalakaua Timoteo 40 pass from Dillon Gabriel (Isaiah Kuloloia kick)

Mil–Gabriel 6 run (Kuloloia kick)

Mil–Vavae Malepeai 31 pass from Gabriel (Kuloloia kick)

Mil–Timoteo 42 pass from Gabriel (Kuloloia kick)

Wain–Jurick Valdez 41 run (Tate Ebel kick)

Mil–Bryson Ventura 31 pass from Gabriel (Malepeai run)

Wain–Javen Towne 55 run (Ebel kick)

Mil–Malepeai 1 run (pass failed)

MIl–FG Kuloloia 24

Wain–Isaiah Freeney 62 pass from Jaren Ulu (kick failed)

RUSHING–Waianae: Valdez 18-98, Towne 3-62, Kade Ambrocio 8-30, Solofua Grey 2-9, Jorell Pontes-Borje 1-4, Royce Carrick 6-3, Nicholas Keliikoa 1-0, Ulu 8-(minus 17). Mililani: Malepeai 22-135, Gabriel 4-24, Makana Tauai 1-7, Rico Sallas 1-5, Fabian Johnson-Slay 3-1, team 1-(minus 1), Kaysen Higa 1-(minus 2).

PASSING–Waianae: Ulu 4-10-0-127. Mililani: Gabriel 14-24-0-297, Higa 3-4-0-23.

RECEIVING–Waianae: Freeney 1-62, Faaoli Luafutu 1-33, Pontes-Borje 1-16, Kana’i Mauga 1-16. Mililani: Timoteo 8-199, Sallas 4-36, Ventura 1-31, Malepeai 1-31, Nicholas Culp 1-13, Roman Tovi 1-12, Johnson-Slay 1-(minus 2).