[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Castle's Jared Suzui, who had six catches for 85 yards, tried to shake Farrington's Taeao Fagalele and Andrew Moi last night.
Castle surges Castle has been getting by with defense all year, and the Knights did it again last night, repeatedly pushing Farrington back in a 13-9 Oahu Interscholastic Association semifinal football victory at Aloha Stadium.
with defense
The Knights reach the OIA title game
Kailua advances to final
by shutting down Farrington 13-9
Buffanblu win shootout
Kauai slips past Kapaa
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comAs the score indicates, Farrington played its share of in-your-face defense, but the Governors were held to only 52 yards in the first half and 185 for the game.
The Knights took a 6-2 lead at the half, but trailed 9-6 before rallying for the win early in the fourth quarter after Soli Lefiti's crucial fumble recovery deep in Governors territory.
"We made a key turnover at the end, and you just can't turn the ball over in playoff football," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "Castle created that turnover and made the big defensive plays at the right time."
The Governors punted seven times in the first half as Knights defenders Lefiti, Blaze Soares, Antone Watanabe, Ernesto Lopez, John Reis and Cory Daniel -- among others -- created a chaotic atmosphere for the Farrington offense.
"Soares (11 tackles, one sack) was outstanding, making many pivotal plays," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "And Lefiti recovering that fumble was huge for us. It created a sudden change, leading to the winning touchdown."
Brandon Shimomura's 15-yard TD catch of Jacob Ramos' pass put Castle ahead for good with 8:15 to go. The play ended Ramos' erratic night on a high note. The Knights' senior quarterback went 9-for-20 for 79 yards. He threw three interceptions and was sacked six times, twice by Farrington's Soge Puaauli. The Castle offense generated just 178 yards.
It was Shimomura's first touchdown during his two years on the varsity. Later in the game, he suffered a high ankle sprain and needed crutches. "It feels like how any first touchdown would feel. It's the old-fashioned word called 'good,' " he said. "The corner who was on me broke off and went for (receiver) Ikaika (Ho), so the only adversity I had to overcome was the strong safety and I was able to beat him to the corner."
Farrington grabbed a 9-6 lead late in the third quarter. Jay Ocol's interception set up quarterback Royce Machado's 19-yard over-the-middle TD strike to Dionte Nomaaea. The Governors' only other score came in the first quarter when Puaauli dumped Ramos in his own end zone for a 2-0 lead.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Farrington's Taeao Fagalele blocked a point-after kick by Castle's Ethan Gonsalves last night.
The Knights went up 6-2 with 20 seconds to go in the half as Kawika Sebay darted in for a 5-yard score, but Farrington's Taeao Fagalele blocked Ethan Gonsalves' extra-point attempt.
"It was truly a defensive battle," Castle's Maeda said. "And, once again, it was definitely a team win. We weren't executing on offense and we made a lot of mistakes, but we did capitalize late on one of their mistakes.
"It's been a slow uphill climb this year. No one thought Castle had a chance, but here we are."
Farrington, which upset two-time defending state champion Kahuku last week, still has the state tournament to look forward to.
"We didn't play like we played last week and the week before (a first-round win over Leilehua)," Okimoto said. "Tonight, we didn't make it happen, we didn't make the plays, and you can credit Castle's defense for that."
Next week, the Knights play the winner of last night's McKinley-Kailua late game in the league's title game. Thanks to previous playoff wins over Kaimuki and Campbell, they'll also be playing in the states.
"We want the Smurfs, the blue Smurfs right there (next week)," said Shimomura, referring to the Surfriders, the Knights' windward neighbor warming up for the late game. "We have no grudge against them. We just want to play the team that's been our rivals for so long."
In the regular season, Castle beat McKinley 26-22 and lost to Kailua 14-0.
At Aloha Stadium
Farrington (6-5) 2 0 7 0 -- 9 Castle (7-4) 0 6 0 7 -- 13 Far -- Safety, Jacob Ramos sacked in end zone.
Cas -- Kawika Sebay 5 run (kick failed)
Far -- Alvin Faumui 19 pass from Royce Machado (Smith Lafaele kick)Cas -- Brandon Shimomura 15 pass from Ramos (Ethan Gonsalves kick) RUSHING -- Farrington: Matt Bell 23-88, Machado 7-(-12), Jostin Waialae 9-36, Chris Feagaimalii 1-(-9). Castle: Sebay 10-35, Ramos 13-17, Louis Mansanas 4-15, Jared Suzui 1-0.
PASSING -- Farrington: Machado 8-14-1-82. Castle: Mansanas 1-3-1-32, Ramos 9-20-3-79.
RECEIVING -- Farrington: Waialae 1-2, Dionte Nomaaea 3-34, Bell 2-19, Faumui 1-19, Feagaimalii 1-8. Castle: Suzui 6-85, Sebay 2-5, Shimomura 2-21.
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