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Red Raiders, Knights To Face Off

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Castle Knights like Kaleo Silva are high on practicing for the Kahuku game. File photo by Nathalie Walker, staff photographer.
Castle Knights like
Kaleo Silva are high
on practicing for
the Kahuku game.
File photo by
Nathalie Walker,
staff photographer.

With 10 Oahu Interscholastic Association titles in the last 13 years, Kahuku’s football reputation always guarantees that the Red Raiders can count on getting the best effort from every opponent.

Having beaten Kahuku last September for its first win in the series in 17 years, Castle coach Nelson Maeda is quite sure his Knights will also get the best the Red Raiders have to offer when the teams meet at Kahuku at 7 p.m. Friday in what could be the league’s version of “Game of the Year.”

“I’m sure it’s a game that they’ve been waiting for,” said Maeda.“The road to the (OIA Red) East title always passes through Kahuku.”

Last year’s meeting - a 23-6 Castle win - fueled the Knights’ run to the East Red regular-season title. In typical Kahuku fashion, the Red Raiders regrouped from that game to go on to win the overall OIA title en route to their fourth state championship in six years.

Castle and Kahuku have been the East’s top two teams without peer the last two-plus seasons, each having entered last weekend winning 14 of their last 16 league games. Aside from a single loss to each other in that span, only a surprising loss by each to McKinley last month has kept the pair from running the table in regular-season play. (Kahuku was to meet fellow East leader Farrington last Friday while Castle had a bye.)

To hear Maeda tell it, there’s never an advantageous time to play the Red Raiders, certainly not two weeks after Kahuku was defeated by McKinley in one of the prep football season’s true upsets.

“Having lost to McKinley, they’re going to come out hungry against Farrington (last Friday night), and they’ll be primed and ready when they play us,” Maeda said.“It (Kahuku’s unexpected loss) is a game that will light a fire under them for the rest of their season. We have to hope they don’t have one of their better games, and that we play error-free football ourselves.”

Castle rode solid run-defense and big offensive plays to victory over Kahuku in 2005. As in most years, Maeda will count on a solid nucleus of two-way players Friday night. Linebacker/wide-out Corey Paredes and safety/wide receiver Scott Keiter-Charles have been the Knights’ all-around leaders so far in 2006, and Maeda also expected to again have the services of Jesse Humalon and Seth Estioka against the Red Raiders. Both missed the Kailua game Sept. 22 because of the flu.

Even with their return, depth is always a concern against a team as deep as Kahuku. A powerful running game has always been a characteristic of Kahuku teams through the years, and the Red Raiders are far from being one-dimensional this season with quarterback Richard Torres.

“You have to be concerned with the size and athleticism of their offensive line,” Maeda said.“If you can’t slow their run game, it’s only a matter of time before they wear you down. You have to do some things to change their rhythm, offensively, or it’s going to be a long night.

“(Torres) is a very good athlete,” he added.“He runs the option very well. In the open field, he’s very elusive. (Offensively) They have the total package.”

Castle’s defense is yielding 220 yards and 11 points per game through four regular-season games. For their part, the Knights hope to play defense in part by way of controlling the ball with their offense.

“As well as our defense has been playing, we can’t leave them on the field the whole night,” Maeda said.“We can’t go three (plays) and out against them, and we have to minimize our errors to nothing. We’ll have to be very consistent on offense. We’ve been plagued by dropped passes at inopportune times this season, so we haven’t been able to mount drives, which is what we’re going to have to do this week.”

Stellar special teams play has been a trademark of both programs over the years. It would be far from the ordinary if the game didn’t hinge on a special-teams play.

“They’ve always been productive with their special teams, whether in returns or in blocking kicks,” Maeda said.“Hopefully, we can get an advantage there.”