Mililani RB Kilifi Malepeai runs over a Campbell defender. Malepeai scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter to give the Trojans a 14-7 lead, which they never relinquished. Mycah Yokotake | Special to SL

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Mililani RB Kilifi Malepeai runs over a Campbell defender. Malepeai scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter to give the Trojans a 14-7 lead, which they never relinquished. Mycah Yokotake | Special to SL

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MILILANI — Coming off losses to the No. 1 team in the nation and the No. 3 team in the state, No. 4 Mililani rebounded with a resounding, 52-14, win against No. 5 Campbell Saturday night at John Kauinana Stadium.

The Trojans celebrated homecoming by improving to 4-2 overall and remained in the first place at 2-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Open Division in handing the Sabers (4-1, 1-1) their first loss of the season.

Army-bound quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 26 of 44 passes for a season-high 371 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for a TD.

But it was the defense that set the tone, limiting the Sabers to 212 yards. Lineman Mykah Tuiolemotu paced the Trojans' attack with a sack and a blocked punt that set up a TD.

"Mykah, he's our captain," Mililani coach Rod York said. "He's our leader. He stepped up, very vocal and got these guys to play for one another. I'm just thankful he's on our side."

It was a rough past two weeks for the Trojans, who lost to the nation's top team in St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) and No. 3 Punahou last week. But the losses galvanized the Trojans in their resumption of their OIA portion of the season.

"It all started during practice," Tuiolemotu said. "We had some adversity within our team and we talked about it. We overcame that adversity and we came out with a different mindset this game, a better mindset than previous games. We knew we had a challenge, but the main thing was to stay together and never point fingers at anyone and you're not doing your own job. Always pick each other up, no matter what."

Indeed the Trojans did that.

The offense scored on their first series to take a 7-0 lead. But the punt return team lossed a muffed punt that set up Campbell's first TD of the game to tie it at 7 mid-way through the first quarter.

Instead of dwelling on the turnover, the Trojans responded with four consecutive TDs before the Sabers got their second and last TD of the night in the third period. After adding a field goal to make it 38-14, the Trojans got interceptions by Muelu Iosefa and Donovan Mokiao on successive series. Both turnovers were recycled into TDs, the second starting off the mercy rule running clock with 9:25 left in the game.

It was a rude awakening for the Sabers, whose schedule does not get any easier as they will host a murders' row of opponents in coming weeks: No. 3 Punahou on Saturday; No. 1 Saint Louis on Sept. 29; and No. 2 Kahuku on Oct. 6.

"We got some work to do," Campbell coach Darren Johnson said. "We got a lot more season to go. We have to fix what's broken, oil it up and get ready for next week."

The Sabers entered the game averaging 37.8 points per game in their 4-0 start.