Castle, Kailua to
meet in the middle
The OIA Red East grudge match
will be played at Mililani
It's a Windward rivalry, but this time it'll be contested on Central Oahu soil.
Rabid football fans from Castle and Kailua are expected to make the trip to the Mililani High School field in droves as the Knights and Surfriders go at it tomorrow at 7 p.m.
There's a lot at stake, chiefly school pride. The teams are also jockeying for better position in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East Conference.
"There's always two seasons for us," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "Playing Kailua is one season and the rest of the games are another season."
The game was originally scheduled for Aloha Stadium, but was changed to Mililani in anticipation of a Mike Tyson fight. Even though Tyson isn't coming to the stadium, the OIA chose to keep the game at Mililani, where it will be televised by OC-16.
Castle has won four of the last six contests against the Surfriders, but Kailua leads the series 32-20.
Led by linebackers Blaze Soares and Keoni Gomes and defensive end Victor Clore, the Knights (1-0, 2-1) have displayed discipline on defense once again this year.
The trick for Castle, however, is to stop the potent rushing game of the Surfriders (1-0, 2-1), which is led by a huge offensive line and the power running of Kekoa Su'a and Damien Torres.
"But what makes them dangerous is that they're throwing the ball more with quarterback Kelroy Kohatsu," Maeda said.
Both teams are tied with top-ranked Kahuku in the Red East and can't afford to stumble now.
Offensively, Castle is trying to generate more consistency after losing quarterback Bryce Kalauokaaea to a knee injury. One of the OIA's top passers a year ago, Kalauokaaea has a torn ACL and probably won't make it back before the season is out.
Backup QB Louis Mansanas Jr. can scramble and make things happen, seemingly out of nowhere.
Another key game this week features Kapolei at Aiea.
Memories are fresh from last year's crunching OIA White Conference (D-II) championship battle in which Na Alii outlasted the Hurricanes 22-15.
"Yes, we were disappointed last year, but a win now won't erase that," said Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez, whose team is 0-2 and playing its first official Red West Conference (D-I) game.
Both teams moved up from the White and are getting a feel for where they belong in the Red -- top, middle of the pack or bottom.
"To me, this game (tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.) will determine the outcome of our season, probably," said Aiea coach Wendell Say, whose team is 0-1 in the conference and 1-2 overall after winning the D-II state title a year ago. "I think memories from last year's game will carry our players to do their best. I think it will turn out to be a game just like last year."
Kapolei quarterback Brad Padayao showed toughness leading the spread option in the second half of a loss to Saint Louis last week. He'll continue to rotate with Jon Medeiros.
Defensively, the Hurricanes rely on their linebacker corps of Kaiea Ebanez, Ben Kahalehoe and Po'okela Ahmad. Defensive back Kainoa Kaheaku-Enhada, who missed most of the Saint Louis game with turf toe, is back.
Aiea gets mileage from accurate quarterback Kali Kuia and 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea, who Hernandez calls "an animal."
Kuia threw the winning touchdown pass in last year's D-II state championship game victory over Damien.
"They have a very good offense and are very balanced running out of the 'I' formation," Hernandez said about Na Alii. "They give you a heavy diet of the draw and they also like to throw shovel passes."
Hernandez is concerned because the Hurricanes had trouble handling the draw against Saint Louis last week.
Kapolei is trying to break a four-game losing streak, dating back to last year.
"We're playing against three of the best teams in the state in our first three games (Kailua, Saint Louis and Aiea)," Hernandez said.
It doesn't get any easier. The Hurricanes play at Red West leader Mililani (3-0) on Sept. 18.
Other key games
Pac-Five (3-0) of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu visits Leilehua (1-0 Red West, 2-0) in an interleague game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a chance at a fourth straight win.Also on Saturday, Nanakuli (1-0 Red West, 2-1) takes a shot at undefeated Mililani, while Radford (2-0, 2-1) hosts Kaiser (1-1, 1-2) in an important OIA White game.
"We're in for another hard game against a top team in the White," said Kaiser coach David Maeva, whose Cougars lost to Campbell 28-21 last week. "It's a pretty even conference."
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