Castle's victory long overdue

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

After its stunning 55-35 upset of Wai'anae last Friday at Aloha Stadium, the Castle High School football team celebrated at midfield as if it had just made history.

Castle receiver Ikaika Ho scoots past Wai'anae's Delbert Mundon last week. Ho scored three touchdowns in the Knights' victory. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

According to Advertiser records, the Knights' victory last week was their first over the Seariders since a 27-22 preseason win in 1987. To find another Castle regular or postseason victory over Wai'anae, you have to go back to the 1965 season, when the Knights beat the Seariders, 18-12. Wai'anae avenged that loss two weeks later by defeating Castle, 13-6, starting a streak of eight straight victories over the Knights in the next 22 years.

"Beating a top team like Wai'anae is tough to do," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said.

But at least one other O'ahu Interscholastic Association coach wasn't shocked to see the Knights pull it off.

"It was not a surprise to me," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "Maeda is a great coach, and you could see that if that offense gets going, man, it will go good. And that (Joel) Botelho — what a great kid."

Botelho, a 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior quarterback, has an arm like Randy Johnson's and feet like Allen Iverson's. He can drive defenses crazy because his accurate left-handed passes demand tight coverage, yet his scrambling ability forces you to stay honest. Most important, Botelho knows exactly when to throw and when to run.

"He is the complete machine," Maeda said. "He's quick, he's fast, and he's smart."

Livai said Castle's victory proves how dangerous the OIA Red Conference can be.

"We have to take every game very seriously," Livai said.

Maeda agreed.

"We have to keep things in perspective," Maeda said. "We've got six more brutal games left. Now we have to roll up our sleeves and get ready for McKinley."

Point afters: Joel Botelho spent his eighth and ninth grade years at St. Louis School, learning the run-and-shoot offense. His cousin is Kahi Villa, a former all-state basketball player at Kamehameha and former minor league baseball player.