Castle stuns Wai'anae, 55-35
| • | Waipahu remains unbeaten in White Conference |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
A spectacular individual performance by quarterback Joel Botelho last night spurred the Castle High School football team to one of its biggest victories ever, a shocking 55-35 victory over perennial powerhouse Wai'anae at Aloha Stadium.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
The upset boosted Castle's record in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference to 2-0. Defending Red champion Wai'anae fell to 1-1.
Wai‘anae quarterback Kekoa Reyes looks for running room as Castle’s Maku Collins closes in to make the tackle.
"This is a big, big win for our program," said Castle coach Nelson Maeda, who has been teaching at the Kane'ohe school since 1984. "I think this is only the second time we've beaten them in that span. To come out on top against a team like Wai'anae, that's tough."
So was Botelho's performance.
Botelho, a 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior, completed 16 of 27 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 146 yards and one touchdown. He was not intercepted, and even punted three times for an average of 39 yards.
"He's unreal," said Castle receiver Ikaika Ho, who caught both of Botelho's touchdown passes. "Nobody could stop him."
Botelho completed 10 of his first 11 passes for 138 yards in the first quarter and a half, helping the Knights jump out to a 21-0 lead. Castle led 28-14 at intermission.
Wai'anae closed to within 42-35 with 10:02 left to play. But a 66-yard pass from Botelho to Treston Kaneao set up a one-yard touchdown plunge by Ola Keliiholokai with 9:04 left, and two field goals by Nolan Miranda sealed the victory.
Wai'anae quarterback Kekoa Reyes completed 7 of 18 passes for 165 yards and three TDs, and also rushed 20 times for 141 yards.
Castle (2-0) 7 21 14 13—55
Wai‘anae (1-1) 0 14 14 7—35
Cast—Ikaika Ho 18 pass from Joel Botelho (Nolan Miranda kick)
Cast—Ola Keliiholokai 2 run (Miranda kick)
Cast—Botelho 19 run (Miranda kick)
Waian— Sautia Lave 5 run (James Robinson kick)
Cast—Ho 23 run (Miranda kick)
Waian— Teacel Hines 44 pass from Kekoa Reyes (Robinson kick)
Cast—Keliiholokai 3 run (Miranda kick)
Waian—Chad Rodrigues 44 pass from Reyes (Robinson kick)
Cast—Ho 26 pass from Botelho (Miranda kick)
Waian—Rodrigues 85 kickoff return (Robinson kick)
Waian—Hines 12 pass from Reyes (Robinson kick)
Cast—Keliiholokai 1 run (Miranda kick)
Cast—FG Miranda 20
Cast—FG Miranda 43
RUSHING: Castle—Botelho 15-146, Ho 1-23, Keliiholokai 14-17, Fale Taupaki 2-11, Daniel Devers 3-11; Wai‘anae—Reyes 20-141, Kawena Rosario 8-25, Lave 5-19, Rodrigues 1-2.
PASSING: Castle—Botelho 16-27-0—294. Wai‘anae —Reyes 7-18-1—165.
RECEIVING: Castle—Kaneao 4-110, Ho 6-86, Loren Lum 3-51, Random Ah-Mow 3-47; Wai‘anae — Hines 3-89,Rodrigues 2-44, Rosario 2-32.
Reported by Advertiser Staff
