No. 8 Mililani moves on with 51-35 win over Leilehua

Steve Erler | SL

Dillon Gabriel passed for 227 yards and four touchdowns and Mililani pulled away from Leilehua, 51-35, in a semifinal of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I Football State Championships at John Kauinana Stadium Friday night.

The Trojans, who are ranked eighth in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, won their third straight game to improve to 8-3.

The Mules dropped to 5-8 and ended their season by dropping three of their final four games.

After a scoreless first quarter, Leilehua drew first blood on Konapiliahi Andres' 1-yard touchdown run a few minutes into the second. However, Mililani scored 27 straight points to take a 20-point lead into halftime.

Gabrel threw touchdown passes of 22, 19 and 19 yards to Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi, Roman Tovi and Ryan Chang, respective in the period. He added a 4-yard touchdown run during the stretch. Kuboyama-Hayashi added a 9-yard TD pass from Gabriel early in the fourth quarter.

Gabriel finished 16-of-25 passing and also rushed for 56 yards on 11 carries. Jalen Olomua was the leading rusher with 13 carries for 86 yards. He also punched in a score on a 10-yard run in the third quarter and finished with six tackles, including two sacks, on defense.

Asher Pilanca had a game-high 12 tackles and forced a fumble for Mililani.

Kawai Phifer led Leilehua with 233 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Kaleoaloha Piceno threw for 205 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Damion Scandrick and Jerome Holliday led the Mules defensively with eight tackles each.

It was the third meeting between the teams this year, and the second of the postseason. Mililani won the regular-season battle, 52-35, as well as a 63-42 decision in an OIA semifinal three weeks ago.