Linebackers Still Make A Difference For Castle Knights

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It’s a rare year that Castle High School doesn’t trace its success on the football field back to its line-backers.

As the Knights look ahead to July 31, the first official day of fall camp, all signs point to Castle having the prototypical linebacker core in the fold once again, according to defensive coordinator Harry Paaga.

“I’ve been blessed over the years - we’re fortunate to have them here every year,” said Paaga, a stellar linebacker himself for the Knights in the early ‘80s. “I just hope the parents in the community keep making them.”

A long list of hard-hitting assertive linebackers have passed through the Kaneohe campus over the years, including last season, when Corey Paredes and John Ufuti earned All-East honors for their efforts. Ufuti has completed his eligibility, but Paredes is back for his senior season.

Castle rode its defensive efforts to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East Division regular season title last fall, yielding just 12.5 points per game en route to an undefeated 6-0 record. The Knights’ opponents topped the 20-point plateau only once last season (in a 57-29 romp over McKinley), while holding the opposition to no more than two touchdowns in any one of their other five league encounters. A 23-6 win Sept. 6 over eventual state champion Kahuku was the most visible of Castle’s defensive gems, and helped the program to its first win over the Red Raiders in 17 years.

This fall, Paredes leads a line-backer group that will also feature Lolegi Ma’ae, Dylan Matsuda, Kawehi Zablan and Moku Bruhn.

“Corey is very active, he has a lot of lateral movement, and he’s a guy who will play both sides of the ball for us,” Paaga said of Paredes, who is a wide receiver on offense.“He’s good - he asks a lot of questions, too.”

Ma’ae recently returned from football camp at the University of Utah, where he was named the Most Valuable Player for his age group.

“He’s all ears, a real humble kid,” Paaga said of him. “He likes contact - he’s one of those hard hitters, and he reads the play well and fills the hole.”

The ability to knock heads is secondary to the right mind-set, according to Paaga.

“Talent helps, but character is what is important,” Paaga said in sizing up what makes the ideal line-backer. “I look first at how a kid handles himself - we want kids who are respectful - and I work from there.

“They have to have some tenacity in them. They’re our quarterbacks of the defense, so they have to know everyone else’s assignments.”

Bruhn was a strong safety for Castle the past three years, but made the transition to linebacker in the spring. Paaga likens Bruhn, who packs 215 solid pounds into a 6-foot frame, to former Castle stand-out Keoni Gomes, who now plays for Arizona Western.

“I remind him that Keoni made a (position) switch also,“Paaga said. “He didn’t like it at first, but he’s liking it more now. I asked him if he’d like to switch because I think it will help him get noticed by colleges since he’s bigger now. He’s a real athlete, and he’s coachable. I believe in him.”

The Knights have thrived with a 4-3 base defense throughout the Nelson Maeda era, in part, because of the flexibility it gives them, Paaga says.

“Our schemes are set up for our linebackers,“he says.“It’s a balanced defense to play against the run and the pass, and it gives us options. You can play around with it. It gives us movement with the kids we have.

“Our success with it is a reflection of the kids we have. It works for us.”