While Farrington's Apelu Sooalu was the setup man, Dayton Kealoha made the plays to put the game away.
Sooalu racked up 119 yards on the ground to help set up Kealoha for two touchdown passes to receiver Drake Miller as the Governors (3-1, 2-0 Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East) extended their winning streak over host Castle (2-2, 1-1) to three games and maintained their position as an early front-runner in league play with a 24-6 victory last night.
The Governors wasted no time getting to work. On their second offensive play - aided by good field position from an unsuccessful onside kick attempt and subsequent late hit by the Knights - Sooalu burst through a hole up the middle for a 32-yard score just a minute into the game.
"We got good field position, our offense did better from last week (a loss to Saint Louis)," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "Our scoring in the red zone was better this week, and we were happy about that."
Sooalu, doubling as a kicker, tacked on a 33-yard field goal in the first period after a stalwart defensive effort kept the Knights pinned deep in their own territory.
Then, starting the second quarter, Sooalu carried the Govs up the field with 27 yards on three carries, and set up Kealoha for another score. The first-year starter at quarterback faked a behind-the-back handoff, rolled out, and hit Miller with an impressive dart from 8 yards on fourth down to go up 17-0.
"It was a bootleg, and he was wide open, saw him coming across," Kealoha said.
He was thankful for his running back's effort.
"He gains a lot of yards, gets us in position to score, made it easier for us," the signal-caller said of his senior back.
Thanks to an overpowering effort in the trenches, Farrington kept the Knights off-balance offensively all night.
Castle's spread offense was held to 26 passing yards in the first half, and the Knights didn't push into Farrington territory until a busted Govs play pushed them back to their own 7. The ensuing punt went only to the 27, and Castle's Blake Rapozo made a clutch rollout pass to Shaydon Kehano on fourth down to set up his own quarterback sneak for a 17-6 deficit at halftime.
But early in the third quarter, Farrington again kept Castle pinned in its own territory and Kealoha found Miller - who beat his man downfield - wide open for a 37-yard score to push the lead to the final margin.
Castle coach Nelson Maeda attributed most of his team's struggles to the line.
"I think the battle was won in the trenches, and lost in the trenches offensively and defensively," Maeda said. "Four-man rush, three-man rush, we could not block them and give our quarterback time. Their team speed ... they ran down our runners. Their quarterback is a real good quarterback.
Rapozo finished with 77 yards and nearly drove the Knights to a score in the final minute, but by then it was too late.
At Castle
| Farrington (2-0, 3-1) |
10 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
- |
24 |
| Castle (1-1, 2-2) |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
- |
6 |
Farr-Apelu Sooalu 32 run (Rudy Molina kick)
Farr-FG Sooalu 33
Farr-Drake Miller 8 pass from Dayton Kealoha (Molina kick)
Cas-Blake Rapozo 1 run (kick failed)
Farr-Miller 37 pass from Kealoha (Molina kick)
RUSHING-Farrington: Sooalu 16-119, Harry Tuimaseve 10-53, Anthony Noga 4-10, Molina 3-8, Tyrell Shipley-Lagmay 2-0, James Smith 1-(-3), Team 1-(-7), Kealoha 1-(-20). Castle: Garrett Pardedes 11-40, Rapozo 10-(-10), Hans Reppuhn 1-(-2), Jaysen Ferreira 1-(-10).
PASSING-Farrington: Kealoha 5-13-0-71. Castle: Rapozo 11-25-0-74.
RECEIVING-Farrington: Miller 2-45, Ani Isumu 1-14, Sammy Park 1-8, Tuimaseve 1-4. Castle: Paredes 4-25, Lowen Rogers 3-34, Shaydon Kehano 3-12, Reppuhn 1-3.
Junior varsity-Castle 33, Farrington 14
OIA Red East
McKinley 21, Kailua 20, OT
Theodore Spencer found Ionatana Woodward in the end zone in overtime as the Tigers edged the host Surfriders.
At Kailua
| McKinley (1-0,1-2) |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
- |
21 |
| Kailua (0-2, 0-3) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
- |
20 |
McK-Justin Bassle 11 pass from Theodore Spencer (Marcus Amorin kick)
McK-Ionatana Woodward 9 pass from Spencer (kick failed)
Kail-Kapena Alameda 47 pass from Bob Lastimosa (Trey Tam kick)
Kail-Corey Lau 30 pass from Lastimosa (kick failed)
Kail-Lastimosa 2 run (Tam kick)
McK-Woodward 10 pass from Spencer (Will Starks-Togiai run)
RUSHING-Kailua: Waa Kekauoha 5-66, Isaac Sato 6-15, Lastimosa 4-11, Styren Kahale 1-(-7). McKinley: Starks-Togiai 15-105, Roy Aliksa 12-36, Spencer 5-11, Justin Bassle 1-7, Kainoa Kahalewai 3-4, Sio Fiso 1-0, Soloman Dixon 2-(-2).
PASSING-Kailua: Lastimosa 8-11-0-87, Kahale 2-4-0-17. McKinley: Spencer 3-4-1-24.
RECEIVING-Kailua: Alameda 5-61, Lau 2-22, Dustin Kalai 1-10, Shane Lono 1-8, Adam Trueman 1-3. McKinley: Alvin Ponce 1-10, Woodward 1-10, Starks-Togiai 1-4.
Junior varsity-Kailua 26, McKinley 14
OIA REd West
Kapolei 40, Nanakuli 0
The Hurricanes shut out the Golden Hawks at home behind a blistering offensive attack. Noah Pascua threw for three touchdowns, and Simione Vehikite rushed for two, as Kapolei racked up all its points before halftime.
At Kapolei
| Nanakuli (0-1, 1-2) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
0 |
| Kapolei (1-1, 2-2) |
12 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
- |
40 |
Kapo-Simione Vehikite 14 run (kick failed)
Kapo-Anu Sapla 20 pass from Noah Pascua (kick failed)
Kapo-Elijah Tagura 8 run (Micah Uehara kick)
Kapo-Vehikite 2 run (Uehara kick)
Kapo-Kalani Brackenridge 15 pass from Pascua (Uehara kick)
Kapo-Sapla 36 pass from Pascua (Uehara kick)
RUSHING-Kapolei: Vehikite 4-39, Cyril Ontai 2-39, Tagura 8-21, Seth Roman 2-15, Shaydon Akuna 1-14, Onosai Faumuina 4-12, Janson Balera 3-12, Pascua 3-10, Chad Morison 2-5, Pomai Mero 2-5, Jeremy Valdez 1-5, Trey Wise 1-(minus-1). Nanakuli: Darius Akau-Naeole 4-20, Rico Wahilani 4-7, Sean Tau 2-3, Ryan Graves 10-1, Pale-Koa Tulafale 3-0, Raven Garcia 7-(minus-17).
PASSING-Kapolei: Pascua 10-15-0-154. Nanakuli: Garcia 0-5-1-0.
RECEIVING-Kapolei: Sapla 3-61, Lyle Santiago 2-23, Roman 2-20, Tagura 1-20, Brackenridge 1-15, Donnie King 1-15. Nanakuli: none.
Junior varsity-Kapolei 21, Nanakuli 6
Also
No. 8 Waianae 42, Pearl City 28
OIA White
Moanalua 27, Anuenue 12
Quarterback Adam Francisco threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Na Menehune past Na Koa.
Francisco was the game's leading rusher and passer, racking up 193 total yards.
At Moanalua
| Anuenue (0-3, 0-4) |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
- |
12 |
| Moanalua (1-1, 2-1) |
14 |
7 |
0 |
6 |
- |
27 |
Moan-Essaye Villaver 90 kickoff return (Justin Watanabe kick)
Moan-Adam Francisco 16 run (Watanabe kick)
Moan-Michael Egami 42 pass from Francisco (Watanabe kick)
Anue-Kainoa Keanaaina 5 run (run failed)
Anue-Keanaaina 3 run (run failed)
Moan-Elijah Cruz 24 pass from Francisco (kick failed)
RUSHING-Moanalua: Francisco 7-67, Joshua Perdo 1-36, Tahje Canyon 6-31, Anthony Garingan 2-(minus-4). Anuenue: Keliikoa Aki 8-54, Kalani Puaoi 6-50, Kainoa Keanaaina 13-37, Kaipo Cullen 6-32, Kapononui Takamiya 9-31, Opunui Nahale-A 3-26, Ikaika Gante 9-21, Aina Kelii-Supnet 5-15, Kanani Armitage 1-6, Laakea Manoi-Hide 1-4, Mahuka Cullen 1-1.
PASSING-Moanalua: Francisco 5-14-0-126. Anuenue: Keanaaina 1-1-0-10, Aki 0-1-0-0, Nahale-A 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING-Moanalua: Egami 1-42, Villaver 1-40, Elijah Cruz 1-24, Shayne Feliciano 1-16, Tahje Canyon 1-4. Anuenue: Kelii-Supnet 1-10.
Kalaheo 7, Aiea 2
Levi Jackola scored the game's lone touchdown in the second quarter to pull the visiting Mustangs past Na Alii.
At Aiea
| Kalaheo (3-0, 4-0) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
- |
7 |
| Aiea (1-3, 0-3) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
- |
2 |
Kalh-Levi Jackola 5 rush (Dongwoo Kim kick)
Aiea-Miah Faatoafe safety
RUSHING-Aiea: Sean Malepeai 8-24, Titan-Otto Salausa 1-17, Freddy Taliulu 2-15. Kalaheo: Shane Stephens 6-32, Phil Tauai 6-18, Jackola 1-5, Shane Hugentugler 3-4.
PASSING-Aiea: Taliulu 8-25-2-101. Kalaheo: Tauai 7-20-1-131.
RECEIVING-Aiea: Philip Magriaga 1-24, Mason Puckett 1-40, Dalton Alcantra 3-24, Kekoa Thompson 1-7, Sedrick Nelson 1-3, Tupu Faumuina 1-3. Kalaheo: Zachary Lovelace 1-42, Edward Atanoa 2-31, Vincent Santiago 2-26, Stephens 1-22, Jackola 1-10.
Junior varsity-Kalaheo 14, Aiea 0
BIIF
Konawaena 57, Kau 0
Sam Unger rushed for 120 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns as the Wildcats routed the Trojans.
At Konawaena
| Kau (0-1, 0-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
0 |
| Konawaena (1-0, 4-0) |
21 |
21 |
7 |
8 |
- |
57 |
Kona-Sam Unger 2 run (Karratti kick)
Kona-Unger 18 run (Karratti kick)
Kona-Unger 60 run (Karratti kick)
Kona-Thomas Deniz 3 run (Karratti kick)
Kona-Mason Kahoonei 30 punt return (Karratti kick)
Kona-Burke Nagata 4 run (Karratti kick)
Kona-Deniz 21 run (Karratti kick)
Kona-Safety
RUSHING-Konawaena: Sam Unger 5-120, Nalu Kaeo 4-43, Joey Phipps 5-38, Kawika Karratti 1-27, Thomas Deniz 5-26, Charles Mendoza 5-21, TJ Reilly 3-14, Bryan Leyson 2-11, Burke Nagata 3-9. Kau: Not reported.
PASSING-Konawaena: Thomas Deniz 3-6-0-39, Sam Unger 1-5-0-5. Kau: Not reported.
RECEVING-Konawaena: Sam Unger 2-37, Thomas Deniz 1-5, Nalu Ka'eo 1-2. Kau: Not reported.
