Posted on: Saturday, November 16, 2002

Special teams big boost to Knights

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Castle's special teams twice turned near disaster into touchdowns last night on plays coach Nelson Maeda certainly didn't draw up.

The two scores from the Knights' special teams, an interception return for another score and a late field goal lifted Castle over Kailua, 25-0, at Aloha Stadium for its first O'ahu Interscholastic Association football championship.

Castle's Jared Suzui dropped a punt by Koa Sniffen inside the Knights' 25, picked it up and ran 82 yards down the left sideline to make it 7-0 with 3:32 left in the first half.

"I just had to juke two guys and there was an opening right after that," Suzui said.

On his previous punt return, he fielded the ball inside the five and slipped down at the 2.

"It was tough (returning punts)," Suzui said. "They (the punt coverage team) were flying down, too."

On Kailua's ensuing possession, the Knights' Antone Watanabe intercepted a pass from Ranson Kepa on an attempted wide receiver screen and returned it 21 yards for a score. A two-point conversion run by Suzui made it 15-0 with 2:09 left in the first half.

"We were very concerned about their offensive fire power," Maeda said. "We wanted to keep their offensive unit off the field and our defense played outstanding."

With about 7:50 left in the third quarter, the Knights lined up for a 43-yard field goal attempt by Ethan Gonsalves. The kick was blocked and holder Ikaika Ho scooped up the ball at the 46 and weaved his way into the end zone to make it 22-0. Ho was credited with a 26-yard blocked field goal return (from the line of scrimmage).

"I thought I was in big trouble," Ho said. "I thought I was getting back for minus yards. Then I just saw green and one guy in the area. I just tried to make the best of it."

Said Maeda of the special team touchdowns: "We just found a way to win. We had the bounce of the ball."

It rained before the game and during the first half and both offenses struggled. At one point in the first half, the teams punted on eight consecutive possessions.

Kailua finished with 164 total yards, and quarterback Kepa fumbled the snap from center five times.

"We couldn't get anything going," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "We were fumbling the football, we were muffing snaps. We have to try and figure out how to correct it."

Castle finished with 64 total yards and both of quarterback Jacob Ramos' passes were incomplete.

"We couldn't throw the ball and we're a throwing team," Maeda said.

Castle's Kawika Sebay had 27 carries for 68 yards.