Saturday, November 10, 2001
[ PREP FOOTBALL ]
Kailua avenged recent failures against Castle by beating its Windward Oahu rival last night for a piece of the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship. Surfriders contain Botelho,
win 13-7By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe Surfriders used a stingy defense to score a 13-7 win over the Knights at Aloha Stadium. Kailua will share the OIA crown with Kahuku, which beat Aiea in the first of the OIA's dual championship games.
The victory served as redemption for the Surfriders, who lost to Castle 7-6 in last year's OIA playoffs and fell to the Knights 36-29 earlier this season.
As in their loss to Castle on Oct. 19, the Surfriders jumped out to an early lead. But unlike the first meeting, the defense shut down the Knights to preserve the win.
The Kailua defense harassed Castle quarterback Joel Botelho all night, dropping him for losses totaling 27 yards and intercepting him three times. Botelho completed 13 of 35 passes for 125 yards.
"Joel is an outstanding football player, but our defense just played outstanding," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "We told them just play safe, don't bite."
Kailua linebacker Felipo Mokofisi registered 10 tackles and two sacks. Defensive back Chaz Tabias intercepted two passes and batted away three more.
"One word to describe our defense -- tough," Tabias said. "We know we can play like this every time."
Kailua running back Brenton Harbottle led the Surfriders with 97 rushing yards against a stubborn Castle defense. Surfrider quarterback Taleki Mailau completed just 4 of 13 passes, but his second quarter touchdown pass proved to be the difference.
"We made some mistakes on offense," Johnson said. "But we're the champions tonight."
The first half was a nightmare for Botelho, who accounted for four touchdowns in the teams' last meeting, as he lost a fumble and threw three interceptions.
Botelho's second interception of the first quarter was returned 32 yards by Kailua's Kepa Kailio for the Surfriders' first touchdown.
Kailua extended its lead in the second quarter on a 10-yard pass from Mailau to David Kaihenui. The completion was the only pass in a 7-play, 57-yard drive.
Castle gained some momentum after halftime with a touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter. After a short Kailua punt, Botelho completed five of seven passes to lead the Knights on a 50-yard drive ending with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ikaika Ho.
The Knights appeared to score the tying touchdown midway through the fourth quarter when Elde Agcaoili scooped up a Mailau fumble and rumbled 80 yards to the end zone. But a personal foul penalty against Castle erased the score and moved the ball back to the Castle 48. The Knights punted after three incompletions.
Castle got its final opportunity with 2:30 remaining at its own 20. Botelho and Loren Lum used draw plays to move the ball to the Kailua 43. But on second down, Kailua's Derek Mailau and Eddie Campbell sacked Botelho at his own 48.
An option pass by Treston Kaneao fell short on third down. Down to their last gasp, the Knights attempted a hook-and-lateral on fourth down, but Kaneao was tackled by Tabias before he could flip the ball to Ho.
"I saw Joel looking this way," Tabias said. "I figured the play would come that way. It did and I hit him."
Kailua took over with 37 seconds left and ran out the clock to seal the win.
Both teams will continue their seasons next week in the state tournament. Kailua will travel to the Big Island to face Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Waiakea. Castle will take on Kauai Interscholastic Federation champ Waimea on the Garden Isle.
At Aloha Stadium
Kailua (9-2) 7 6 0 0 -- 13 Castle (8-3) 0 0 7 0 -- 7 Kai -- Kepa Kailio 32 interception return (John Heu kick)
Kai -- David Kaihenui 10 pass from Taleki Mailau (kick failed)
Cas -- Ikaika Ho 12 pass from Joel Botelho (Nolan Miranda kick)
RUSHING -- Kailua: Brenton Harbottle 23-97, Nathan Leaver 12-55, Mailau 9-36, Ranson Kepa 1-1. Castle: Joel Botelho 12-(-27), Fale Taupaki 5-11, Loren Lum 5-30.
PASSING -- Kailua: Mailau 4-13-0-52. Castle: Botelho 13-35-3-125, Treston Kaneao 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING -- Kailua: Ryan Lum 2-28, Kaihenui 2-24. Castle: Brandon Shimomura 1-2, Dayton AhNee 3-49, Ikaika Ho 2-25, Nolan Miranda 4-41, Lum 1-10, Kaneao 2-(-2).
Lahainaluna 26, Baldwin 14: Laulie Latu punched it in from a yard to give the Lunas a 7-0 lead and the defense did the rest to help the Lunas win the Maui Interscholastic League championship.
Lahainaluna compiled 10 turnovers (six interceptions, four fumbles) and scored a touchdown. Kainoa Casco had three interceptions for the Lunas, who held the Baldwin scoreless until the fourth quarter.
Lahainaluna 7 16 3 0 -- 26 Baldwin 0 0 0 14 -- 14 Lah -- Laulile Latu 1 run (Ikaika Neizman kick)
Lah -- Jaiome Alboro 5 run (Neizman kick)
Lah -- Neizman FG 30 yards
Lah -- Kievan Ferreira 17 Fumble return (kick failed)
Lah -- Neizman FG 30 yards
Bald --A.J. Garbin 87 pass from Michael Donahoo (J.J. Eno kick)
Bald -- Wela Hewahewa 2 run (Eno kick)
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