Top Performers
Gabriel, Trojans' offense in mid-season form




Athlete of the Week: Dillon Gabriel, Mililani football
After two weekends of prep football, it's quite clear that Dillon Gabriel is in mid-season form.

The senior quarterback led Mililani's high-scoring offense in Saturday night's 57-15 win over Farrington at John Kauinana Stadium. Gabriel, a 6-foot southpaw, completed 20 of his 34 pass attempts without an interception for 354 yards and five touchdowns.

The Trojans, ranked third in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, improved to 2-0 overall (1-0 OIA Open).

"I thought Dillon did great. He didn't turn the ball over, which is the first priority, he went to the open receiver and he was able to move his feet and extend the play several times and move the chains," Mililani coach Rod York said.

Gabriel completed passes to seven different teammates, although York said the pass-heavy play call was largely due to personnel, or a lack thereof.

"It's tough because we were down to our third-string running back (Raysen Motoyama), who did pretty good, but we moved him from slot to running back and our second quarterback was still injured, so because of that we kind of went empty and we threw it a lot more," York said.

Although the run game accounted for only 37 yards, it didn't hinder Gabriel and the receiving corps. Wide receiver Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi (five catches for 91 yards, 3 TDs) and slotback Reichel Vegas (3 for 107, 2 TDs) were on the receiving end of Gabriel's five scoring strikes. Slotback Mystic Sampaga (5 for 66), wideout Ryan Chang (3 for 44) and Motoyama (2 for 31) also had multiple receptions.

"Number one, you gotta go to the open guy and number two, it's the trust that Dillon has built with those receivers and the slots," York said. "They're tight off the field and you can see it on the field. The guys are unselfish and they're able to block for each other and so is Dillon, he's able to feed everybody."

To be sure, the defense surely played a large part in the win, too. It held the Govs to a meager 80 yards of total offense, including minus-44 rushing.

"A lot of times we had a short field (to start on offense)," York said. "Our defense set everything up."

As far as Gabriel goes, York said his biggest improvements since last year have come in the weight room.

"He's probably put on about 20 pounds," York said. "He lifts at home and then he comes to school and does our lifting, but he works hard in the weight room. In fact, among the skills, I think he's the leader in the squats. We don't try to squat 500 (pounds) or anything, but he'll rep 225 or 235, 245."

Gabriel's offseason dedication in the weight room have shown on the scale — he now weighs 190 pounds — and on the field.

"You can see in his throws that he gets more zip, more pop in his throws now, but I don't think he gets enough credit for his accuracy, actually. Against Farrington he did miss a few (throws), but some of the throws that he connected on were pretty accurate. He had one roll out and on the run he threw a dart to Ryan Chang in the corner," York said.

As a sophomore first-year starter in 2016, Gabriel threw for 2,704 yards with 28 TDs and 14 interceptions. Last year, he recorded 2,842 yards and 30 TDs through the air, against eight INTs on his way to All-OIA Red Offensive Player of the Year honors. Gabriel, who has also rushed for 13 TDs in the last two seasons, picked up Second Team All-Hawaii recognition in 2017.

But the Army-commit isn't content resting on his laurels.

"The main thing that makes him different from everybody else is when he makes a mistake, he'll admit it so he can improve and get better at it and that's why he always improves his game. He's always looking to improve what he can do, at the same time, he knows the offense so well that he could coach it," York said.

So far this season, Gabriel has completed 30 of 51 passes (58.8 percent) for 522 yards. He has thrown eight touchdowns without an interception.

"He's a great teammate and a great kid to coach," York said. "He's a leader in that he's vocal and he's real excited and he's like that every practice. He's really hyped and he's always trying to motivate the next guy."

Gabriel and the Trojans will host No. 6 Kamehameha at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

 

FOOTBALL
Jonah Aina-Chaves, Saint Francis — Threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 8-of-12 passing without an interception in a win over McKinley

Jonan Aina-Chaves, Saint Francis — Rushed 18 times for 123 yards with a touchdown and caught three passes for 44 yards and another score in a win over McKinley

Kekoa Alana, Kalaheo — Scored on a 91-yard kickoff return and a 91-yard interception return in a loss to Kaiser

Aalona Aleka, Nanakuli — Rushed 27 times for 150 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Aiea

Tupu Alualu, Moanalua — Recorded three sacks in a a win over Castle

Hoku Arias, Kamehameha — Made eight tackles, four for losses, including three sacks, and rushed for a touchdown in a win over Kapolei

Sheldon Aribal, Hawaii Prep — Rushed 15 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in a win over King Kekaulike

Laa Asuega-Stark, Baldwin — Threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns without an interception on 16-of-25 passing in a loss to Bartlett (Alaska)

Shane Barry, Pearl City — Had three sacks in a win over Waialua

Kyle Bisarra, Kauai — Rushed 24 times for 172 yards and a touchdown in a win over Maui

Kamuela Boneza, Honokaa — Intercepted two passes in a win over Waimea

Babu Capanang, Aiea — Intercepted a pass and scored on a 78-yard kickoff return in a win over Nanakuli

Joseph Chin, Kaiser — Scored on a 61-yard fumble return in a win over Kalaheo

Jonah Chong, Iolani — Completed 18 of 24 pass attempts for 221 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in a win over Waipahu

Chaz Ciacci, Castle — Scored on a 4-yard interception return in a win over Moanalua

Kahanu Davis, Kapaa — Completed 13 of 26 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown and rushed twice for 63 yards and another score in a win over Konawaena

Jayden de Laura, Saint Louis — Threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns without an interception on 9-of-12 passing in a win over Waianae

Korvin Feagins, Saint Louis — Scored on a 29-yard interception return in a win over Waianae

Dillon Gabriel, Mililani — Completed 20 of 34 pass attempts for 354 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in a win over Farrington

Klayton Gascon, Waimea — Rushed 21 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waimea

Ezra Grace, Moanalua — Caught seven passes for 109 yards in a win over Castle

Jake Holtz, Damien — Completed 18 of 30 pass attempts for 189 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Radford

Trey Hunter, King Kekaulike — Caught six passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Hawaii Prep

Zecharia Kalahiki-Basque, Aiea — Caught five passes for 122 yards with a touchdown and made six tackles, including one for loss, in a win over Nanakuli

Isaac Kaleikau, Roosevelt — Intercepted two passes in a win over PAC-5

Kapena Kamai, Baldwin — Caught six passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Bartlett (Alaska)

Anstyn Kauhi, Damien — Intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over Radford

Shepherd Kekahuna, Saint Francis — Caught three passes for 77 yards with a touchdown and scored on an 87-yard interception return in a win over McKinley

Raiden Kurisu, Kapaa — Scored on a 14-yard fumble return in a win over Konawaena

Micah Kim, Moanalua — Had 2 1/2 sacks, one interception and scored the game-winning touchdown on a hook-and-lateral play in a win over Castle

Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi, Mililani — Caught five passes for 91 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Farrington

Kili-Scott Madrid, Baldwin — Caught six passes for 92 yards with two touchdowns in a loss to Bartlett (Alaska)

Mika Makekau, Iolani — Converted all seven extra-point attempts and made field goals of 20 and 24 yards in a win over Waipahu

Isaiah Mareko, Kapolei — Made 9 1/2 tackles and intercepted a pass in a loss to Kamehameha

Kyler Mento, Iolani — Made 6 1/2 tackles, including 2 1/2 sacks, and scored on a 95-yard kickoff return in a win over Waipahu

Raymond Millare, Farrington — Caught a touchdown pass and scored on a 91-yard kickoff return in a loss to Mililani

Jonah Miyazawa, Iolani — Caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waipahu

Javon Monico, Moanalua — Caught nine passes for 127 yards in a win over Castle

Mason Morishige, Roosevelt — Kicked a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired against PAC-5

Baba Nao, Kapaa — Rushed 16 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Konawaena

Lanakila Pagtolingan, Kapaa — Caught three passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in a win over Konawaena

Lanakila Pei, Iolani — Made 5 1/2 tackles, intercepted two passes, including a 12-yard pick-6, and recovered a fumble in a win over Waipahu

Blade Pfeiffer-Kekoa, Kaimuki — Scored on a 33-yard fumble return in a win over Kalani

Senituli Punivai, Castle — Intercepted three passes, including pick-6s of 86 and 78 yards and rushed for a touchdown in a loss to Moanalua

Dayton Sam, Saint Louis — Scored on a 77-yard kickoff return in a win over Waianae

Noah Sumimoto, PAC-5 — Recovered two fumbles in a loss to Roosevelt

Jonah Stephens, Kaimuki — Rushed 15 times for 127 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Kalani

Ikari Stokes, Kapolei — Caught four passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kamehameha

Keawe Strance, Hawaii Prep — Scored on a 30-yard fumble return in a win over King Kekaulike

Trent Takara, Maui — Caught six passes for 136 yards in a loss to Kauai

John Paul Tilley, Saint Francis — Intercepted two passes in a win over McKinley

Makoa Vanaman, Waimea — Scored on a 76-yard punt return and intercepted a pass in a loss to Honokaa

Reichel Vegas, Mililani — Caught three passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Farrington

Drayden Von Oelhoffen, Moanalua — Caught seven passes for 44 yards, including two touchdowns, in a win over Castle

LJ Vongsy, Aiea — Scored on a 33-yard interception return in a win over Nanakuli

Bishop Wickes, Baldwin — Rushed nine times for 94 yards with a touchdown, scored on a pair of kickoff returns, converted four PATs and a 21-yard field goal and finished with 244 all-purpose yards in a loss to Bartlett (Alaska)

Braxton Wilcox, Castle — Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a loss to Moanalua



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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