Kahuku-Castle showdown tonight

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

This is the high school football game everyone has been waiting for: Kahuku vs. Castle.

The two teams, both 3-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Red Conference, square off tonight in a key showdown at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is set for about 7:35 p.m.

Castle has posted three impressive wins over Mililani, Wai'anae and McKinley. The Knights' offense, led by multi-talented quarterback Joel Botelho, has scored a total of 104 points in those games.

Kahuku, ranked No. 26 in the nation by Student Sports Inc., also has an impressive offense. The Red Raiders scored three touchdowns in a span of less than seven minutes against Mililani two weeks ago to turn a 7-5 halftime lead into a 28-5 margin.

Two other key OIA games tonight have Kailua (2-0) playing at Mililani (1-2) in a meeting of Red powers and Kalaheo (2-0) visiting 'Aiea (3-0) in a showdown of White Conference contenders.

Here is a closer look at each game:

CASTLE vs. KAHUKU

• When: 7:35 p.m.
• Where: Aloha Stadium
• TV: Oceanic Channel 16
• Records: Castle 3-1 overall, 3-0 Red Conference; Kahuku 4-0, 3-0
• Two weeks ago: Castle beat McKinley, 21-20; Kahuku beat Mililani, 34-19

• Notes: Castle, with 423 yards per game, has the OIA's top offense. Kahuku is second at 387 ypg ... Kahuku also has the Red's top defense, allowing 180 ypg; Castle has the Red's worst defense, allowing 359 ypg ... Castle has not beaten Kahuku since an 8-0 victory in the 1988 season finale.

KAILUA at MILILANI

• When: 25 minutes after 5 p.m. JV game
• Where: Mililani High School, 95-1200 Meheula Parkway
• Records: Kailua 3-0, 2-0; Mililani 2-2, 1-2
• Two weeks ago: Kailua beat Wai'anae, 27-7; Mililani lost to Kahuku, 34-19

• Notes: This will be Kailua's first OIA road game, but not its first game off campus. The Surfriders traveled more than 3,000 miles last month to notch a 29-28 preseason victory at Snow Canyon of St. George, Utah. ... Mililani displayed some clutch defense in the first half of last week's loss to Kahuku. The Trojans stopped the Red Raiders three times on fourth down deep in Mililani territory. The Trojans, who led 5-0 late in the second quarter, are the only team to hold a lead over Kahuku so far this year.

KALAHEO at 'AIEA

• When: 25 minutes after 5 p.m. JV game
• Where: 'Aiea High School, 98-1276 Ulune St.
• Records: Kalaheo 2-1 overall, 2-0 White Conference; 'Aiea 4-0, 3-0
• Two weeks ago: Kalaheo beat Kalani, 26-0; 'Aiea beat Waipahu, 26-14

• Notes: Kalaheo boasts the OIA's top defense, allowing 111 ypg and only six points in two games. ... 'Aiea ranks second in the White in offense (320 ypg) and third in defense (158 ypg). Na Ali'i also are the only team in the state with four wins. ... 'Aiea quarterback Lole Laolagi leads all O'ahu quarterbacks with eight touchdown passes.