Mililani's Venaiah Meleisea puts a stiff arm on Nanakuli's Thomas Nahinu during the second quarter of an OIA Division I-Red Conference game Saturday night. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Sat, Sep 23, 2017 @ Mililani [ 6:00 pm ]

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Nanakuli

33

Mililani

44

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Nanakuli (1-7-0)	0	7	0	26	33
Mililani (10-2-0)	24	6	14	0	44

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Dillon Gabriel 310 yd 3 TD

Clyde Enos 191 yd 3 TD

Kilifi Malepeai 17 yd 1 TD

Joey Vea-Quitog 50 yd

Venaiah Meleisea 92 yd

Reno Curtis 78 yd 1 TD

MILILANI — It was a learning opportunity for the home team while it was a confidence booster for the visitors.

Mililani played its backups and third-stringers for majority of the game as it held off a late Nanakuli rally, 44-33, Saturday night at John Kauinana Stadium to clinch the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I-Red Conference title.

"Our 2s and 3s don't get too much playing time so we came in this week with that plan all along," said Mililani coach Rod York. "It was good quality work from our 2s and 3s. It was good in front of the home crowd, good to be home. We'll move on, we'll get better and we'll improve."

The Trojans, ranked third in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division I Football Power Rankings, got three touchdown passes from Dillon Gabriel and three field goals from senior Damien Santiago to improve to 7-0 and 6-0 atop the league standings.

Gabriel, a junior quarterback, completed 28 of 45 passes for 310 yards as 13 different receivers got into the box score.

Venaiah Meleisea, a starting defensive back, led the receiving effort with five receptions for 92 yards. Kaysen Higa added six receptions for 53 yards and two third quarter scores while Reichel Vegas hauled in five catches for 47 yards and a 22-yard TD to give Mililani a 24-0 lead after the first quarter.

"We just wanted to get everyone on the field and eat," said Meleisea, who also had a interception on defense."

Santiago, a 2016 All-Hawaii First Team selection, kicked field goals from 29, 25 and 38 yards in the first half and was a perfect 5-for-5 on PATs. He also scored his 100th career point after Kilifi Malepeai scored on a 1-yard run for the Trojans' second score of the game.

"I'm just happy to help the team anyway I can," said Santiago. "I know I couldn't do it without my O-line blocking for me, especially my long snapper Darius Muasau and my holder Kaysen Higa."

On the other side of the field, Nanakuli found a way to get things going in the fourth quarter to make things exciting late. The Golden Hawks (1-6, 1-5) trailed 44-7 to start the final period of play, but scored 26 unanswered points before time ran out on their comeback attempt.

"I'm definitely proud of their character, I love the resiliency," said first-year Nanakuli coach Kili Watson. "We don't wan to put ourselves in (rough) situations, but whatever hand we're dealt with, we'll find a way to get the job done."

While the loss had no impact on the standings, the Golden Hawks are hoping to ride the fourth quarter momentum as they host Kapolei (3-4, 2-4) to close out the regular season next Friday. Nanakuli controls its own destiny to make the postseason as a win over the Hurricanes will give the Golden Hawks the head-to-head tiebreaker for the conference's sixth and final playoff berth in the 12-team tournament.

"Tonight is a great illustration that with the right work ethic, attitude and mindset, we can get the job done as it showed in the last half," said Watson. "Hopefully we don't wait for the second half, and we can just get it from the very first kickoff."

Senior strong safety Chayce Morgan played a key role in the Golden Hawks' rally, scoring on a 60-yard interception return and a 28-yard fumble return.

"One thing I love about him and admire about him is he'll get the job done," Watson said on Morgan. "I'll tell him what I need and there's no excuses (from him). If I tell him to run into the wall, he'll ask ‘how fast coach?' He has a great attitude."

Clyde Enos made his first-ever start at quarterback for the Golden Hawks, completing 19 of 32 passes for 191 yards. He was picked off two times, but came back to throw three fourth quarter scores to three different receivers.

The Trojans will host Kailua (4-3, 3-3) to close out the regular season next Saturday.