Mililani's Mystic Sampaga and the Trojans will take on and Campbell's Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa and the Sabers Friday afternoon. CJ Caraang | SL

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Campbell QB Krenston Kaipo fires a screen pass against Mililani in the two teams' earlier regular season meeting. Sylvia Lee | SL

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No. 3 Mililani is not letting a convincing early-season victory against No. 5 Campbell cloud its focus.

The Trojans return to the First Hawaiian Bank Open state tournament semifinals Friday against the Sabers. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. The winner advances to the third Open championship set for Nov. 24 against the winner of the Saint Louis-Kahuku semifinal.

In last year's semifinals, the Trojans fell to eventual state champion Saint Louis, 47-23.

Two months ago, the Trojans had their way against the Sabers in a 52-14 win that set off three-game skid by Campbell. But the Sabers have won four of their last five after ending the losing streak. So the Trojans are not looking past the Sabers.

"The kids understand that that was over a month-and-a-half ago," Mililani coach Rod York said. "(The Sabers are) a lot better team. Campbell is peaking at the right time. Looks like they got the pieces of the puzzle set. It's going to be a great matchup for us."

For the Sabers, they know what they must do to halt one of the most proficient offenses in the state.

"They jumped out at us, didn't play well, and they did (play well)," Campbell coach Darren Johnson said. "We're hoping to have a better game this time."

The Sabers had their hands full defending the state's passing-yards and TD passes leader in Dillon Gabriel. He passed for 371 yards and four TDs in the rout of the Sabers. He guides an offense that has amassed 4,149 yards of offense and 57 TDs, both to top Open teams.

What makes Gabriel dangerous is that he spreads his targets. Ryan Chang has 49 receptions, followed by Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi's 37, Maka Hill's 35 and Reichel Vegas' 32. The quartet accounts for 26 of Gabriel's 37 TDs.

On the ground, the Trojans have one of the better backs in Kilifi Malepeai, but injuries have limited his touches. He has only one 100-yard rushing game. He showed what he could do when he gets the ball often, such as when he rushed for 147 yards against Punahou.

"They have kids that can play," Johnson said. "We matchup well, but we just have to make the plays."

But Campbell is not far behind. It is second among Open teams with 4,055 yards and has scored 44 TDs, third-best in its division.

Campbell QB Krenston Kaipo fires a screen pass against Mililani in the two teams' earlier regular season meeting. Sylvia Lee | SL    Purchase image

Krenston Kaipo will start at QB for the Sabers. He had time to nurse a nagging shoulder injury when freshman Blaine Hipa guided Campbell over Farrington for the last Open state berth. Both shared reps at practice this week, Johnson said. Kaipo is no slouch among is Open peers. Though fifth in the Open with 1,311 passing yards, his passer rating of 176.2 is second to Saint Louis' Jayden de Laura's staggering 198.1. (Gabriel is third at 151.2.) The concern for Mililani, or any team for that matter, is sophomore wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, a 6-foot-1 athlete in motion. He leads Open receivers in receptions (69), receiving yards (1,304), yards per catch (18.9) and TDs (14). Adding to the threat are Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala and Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa. The trio also play in the defensive secondary and will be counted on to make plays against Gabriel's prolific passing.

"They're just loaded on offense," York said. "All those guys are playing both ways, so like I said, they're a different team (from when we played them earlier). They're more seasoned and it will be a tougher game for us."

Titus Mokiao-Atimalala had a big game against the Trojans with 10 of his team's 16 receptions for 167 yards. He scored both his team's TDs.

"We gotta get everybody else open, spread it around so we can give all our players who can make plays opportunity to make plays," Johnson said.

Campbell's ground game is anchored by running back Sky Lactaoen, who leads the Open with 914 rushing yards and 11 TDs. He was held to a season-low 17 yards in the first meeting with the Trojans, but that is because the Sabers were in catch-up mode for falling behind early.

But Campbell will have to deal with one of the fiercest defensive front led by Mykah Tuiolemotu. He is joined by Ezra Save, John Tuiletufuga and Shane Kady. They showed their prowess by holding Kahuku to 88 yards in total offense in the OIA Open championship.