Castle turns Kaimuki's mistakes into 27-7 rout

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Castle running back Emil Kruse pushes into the end zone on a 1-yard run to score the Knights' second touchdown of the first quarter. Castle advances to a quarterfinal game against Campbell. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser OIA Playoffs At Aloha Stadium First round Last night's results Castle 27, Kaimuki 7 Farrington 41, Leilehua 8 Today's games Mililani vs. Nanakuli, 5:05 p.m. McKinley vs. Waipahu, 7:25 p.m.

The Knights (5-3 OIA, 5-4 overall) advance to Thursday's quarterfinal against Red West second seed Campbell (5-2, 6-2), ranked ninth in The Advertiser Top 10.

The Bulldogs (5-3, 5-4) turn in their equipment and get ready for next season, when they get promoted to the East Red.

Castle benefitted from two fourth down encroachment penalties against Kaimuki to keep a 12-play, 64-yard first-quarter drive alive that ended with running back Kawika Sebay scoring on a two-yard run.

Later, a high snap from center in punt formation by Kaimuki gave Castle possession at the Bulldogs' 18. Five plays later, running back Emil Kruse scored on a 1-yard run. The PAT failed, but Castle held a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the third quarter, Kaimuki's second lost fumble of the game was returned 36 yards by defensive back John Reis for a touchdown. On the play, linebacker Guy Humalon caused running back Daniel Tautofi to lose the ball after a two-yard gain and an apparent first down. The TD made it 20-0.

"We were very fortunate to take advantage of the miscues," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "It was a game we were just happy to win. It got kind of sloppy on our part towards the end. We need to clean a lot of those things up. We're glad we still got some life left."

The Knights began the game with starting quarterback Jacob Ramos shelved for the team's first series for disciplinary reasons, Maeda said. It wasn't like backup Louis Mansanas Jr. missed a beat. He completed 5 of 5 passes for 32 yards in his only series that resulted in Sebay's TD.

Ramos twice drew the Bulldogs into encroachment penalties by lining up behind center, then bobbing upward as if he were going into shot gun formation. The first time came on a fourth-and-6 at Kaimuki's 21; the ensuing fourth-and-1 play resulted in an easy two-yard gain by Sebay for the first down.

Later, on fourth-and-1 at the Kaimuki 5, the Bulldogs jumped again, setting up first-and-goal at the 2, where Sebay scored.

"We tried to talk about it, but couldn't get it," Kaimuki coach Ronald Oyama said about the encroachment fouls.

The Bulldogs averted a shutout, when running back Darin Fujimoto scored on a 19-yard run with 1:47 to play.

Kaimuki outgained Castle, 232-185. But two lost fumbles and six sacks negated most of the Bulldogs' yardage.

KAIMUKI (5-3, 5-4) 0 0 0 7 — 7
CASTLE (5-3, 5-4) 13 0 7 7 — 27

• Cast—Kawika Sebay 2 run (Ethan Gonsalves kick)
• Cast—Emil Kruse 1 run (kick failed)
• Cast—John Reis 36 fumble return (Gonsalves kick)
• Cast—Ikaika Ho 15 pass from Jacob Ramos (Gonsalves kick)
• Kaim—Darin Fujimoto 19 run (Ji min Kim kick)

RUSHING—Kaimuki: Shelden Sarcedo 14-18, Daniel Tautofi 17-74, Darin Fujimoto 12-53, Team 1-(minus 20), Semi Qoro 3-5, Kellen Kawasaki 3-15, David Taumalolo 2-8. Castle: Louis Mansanas Jr. 1-2, Jared Suzui 1-11, Kawika Sebay 17-68, Emil Kruse 4-1, Jacob Ramos 4-0, Aldrin Fernandez 1-5, Bryce Kalauokaaea 1-0.

PASSING—Kaimuki: Sarcedo 6-14-0—47, Tautofi 3-6-0—32. Castle: Mansanas 5-5-0—32, Ramos 6-12-1—68, Kalauokaaea 0-2-0—0.

RECEIVING—Kaimuki: Tautofi 4-37, Fujimoto 3-13, Reid Yamane 2-29. Castle: Suzui 5-75, Brandon Shimomura 2-10, Ethan Gonsalves 1-(minus 5), Robin Smith 1-9, Sebay 1-(minus 4), Ikaika Ho 1-15.