Mililani topples depleted Castle

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mililani running back Carlo Raneses, right, gets by Castle's Antone Watanabe for a touchdown. Mililani won, 28-14. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Castle's roster was down to "26 or 27" players, Knights coach Nelson Maeda said, after 19 returnees served a suspension for being ejected in last year's state championship game loss to Saint Louis. Another dozen or so players were ruled academically ineligible.

The Knights (1-1 overall) looked strong at the start, going 74 yards in three plays after the opening kickoff and scoring on Tarann Bajet's 3-yard run and Brandon Shimomura's two-point run.

Mililani (2-0) answered with an eight-play, 65-yard drive, culminating in Carlo Raneses' 33-yard touchdown run. Darren Smith's extra point made it 8-7, which is where it stood at halftime.

Castle quarterback Louis Mansanas Jr. completed 9 of 12 passes in the first half for 176 yards.

"Mansanas was audibling and picking us apart," Trojans coach James Millwood said. "We were concerned about his running, because he's a great runner."

Mililani's first drive in the second half went 63 yards in 11 plays, ending with Maka Kahoano's 11-yard touchdown pass to Smith, who missed the extra-point attempt.

After a three-and-out by the Knights, the Trojans scored on a 35-yard halfback option pass from Jordan Perry to Jon Santos. Smith's extra point made it 20-8 with 3:09 left in the third quarter.

The Knights closed to 20-14 after Mansanas' 8-yard scoring pass to Jordan Kahoekapu, but the extra-point attempt was blocked, and Mililani recovered the ensuing onside kick with 4:12 left in the game.

Kahoano's 4-yard touchdown pass to Peter Raneses helped put Mililani up 28-14 with 2:02 remaining.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.