Castle out to prove it belongs as it meets Wai'anae
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The O'ahu Interscholastic Association football season is but a week old, yet two key showdowns already are upon us.
Red Conference upstart Castle (1-0) meets perennial power Wai'anae (1-0) at Aloha Stadium tonight in a 7:35 game that is critical to each team's championship and/or playoff hopes.
Also tonight, resurgent Waipahu (1-0) faces a stiff test when it visits pass-happy Kaiser (0-1) in an intriguing White Conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:30.
In other OIA games tonight, Campbell is at Mililani, Nanakuli at Moanalua, Roosevelt at Pearl City and Waialua at Radford. All games are scheduled for 7:30.
Castle shared the White title with Campbell and McKinley last year and upset Kailua in the OIA quarterfinals. After being promoted to the Red this year, Castle began the season last week by scoring four fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Mililani, 35-28.
The Knights recently got another big boost when defensive back Bronson Melemai transferred from Iolani. Melemai was a first-team Interscholastic League of Honolulu all-star last season.
Wai'anae is the defending Red champion and beat Alaska state champion Dimond (Anchorage), 27-14, in the preseason.
The Waipahu-Kaiser game pits Waipahu's stingy defense (36 yards vs. Kalani) against Kaiser's explosive offense (192 yards passing vs. Roosevelt).
Kaiser threw the ball 40 times last week, and Waipahu coach Todd Fujimori is expecting much of the same tonight.
"The key for us is our secondary," Fujimori said. "Kaiser is fast, so we need to contain their speed."
The Marauders, who were demoted from the Red after a 2-6 season in 2000, can stake a major claim as a title contender with a victory. Kaiser must avoid falling to 0-2 if it hopes to make the playoffs.
Here is a closer look at each game:
CASTLE vs. WAI'ANAE
• Where: Aloha Stadium
• When: 7:35 p.m.
• TV: Oceanic 16
• Records: Castle 1-1 overall, 1-0 OIA Red Conference; Wai'anae 2-0, 1-0.
• Last week: Castle beat Mililani, 35-28; Wai'anae beat Leilehua, 41-2.
• Facts: Castle quarterback Joel Botelho, Most Valuable Player of the White Conference in 2000, accounted for 349 yards of total offense (286 passing, 63 rushing) against Mililani. His 26-yard touchdown pass helped tie the game and his eight-yard TD run with 20 seconds remaining was the winning score. ... Wai'anae's defense allowed only 103 yards in a 41-2 victory over Leilehua last week. ... The Seariders' offense appears to be clicking with converted defensive back Kekoa Reyes calling the signals. Wai'anae scored its 41 points in the first three quarters.
WAIPAHU at KAISER
• Where: Kaiser High School, 511 Lunalilo Home Road, Hawai'i Kai
• When: 7:30 p.m.
• Records: Kaiser 1-1, 0-1 White Conference; Waipahu 2-0, 1-0.
• Last week: Kaiser lost to Roosevelt, 26-20; Waipahu beat Kalani, 41-0.
• Facts: Kaiser receiver Marc Esteban, the OIA's single-season record holder with 54 catches in 2000, caught an OIA-record 13 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns last week. ... Waipahu's offense, which finished dead last in the Red a year ago, is off to a strong start. The Marauders gained 380 yards against Kalani. "Our offensive line has really improved," Fujimori said.
