Posted on: Sunday, October 31, 2004

No. 7 Castle slips past Kapolei, 16-6

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ethan Gonsalves kicked three field goals and Lihikai Domingo caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Nakayama as Castle held off Kapolei, 16-6, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinal at Moanalua Stadium.

The Knights (7-2), ranked No. 7 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll, will play No. 2 Mililani (9-0) in Friday's semifinals. Kapolei's third season as a varsity program ends at 4-5.

Last night, Castle survived not only the resilient Hurricanes but also a first-half downpour and a quagmire of a field sometimes ankle-deep in mud.

"This was the absolute worst conditions I've ever seen; I've never seen anything like it," said Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez, who has been involved with prep football as a player and coach since the early 1980s. "But we can't use that as an excuse, because (the Knights) were playing on the same field with the same ball and the same rain, and yet they were throwing and running and kicking and executing. They were able to make plays in the mud, and we weren't."

That difference was seen in the first two minutes, when the Hurricanes fumbled a high punt snap and Castle capitalized two plays later when Nakayama and Domingo connected on their touchdown. Things got worse for Kapolei on its next series, when starting quarterback Jon Medeiros fumbled on fourth down and injured his ankle on the play. He did not return until late in the fourth quarter, when backup quarterback Brad Padayao was injured after a 16-yard scramble.

The Knights converted Medeiros' fumble into a 27-yard field goal by Gonsalves.

The Hurricanes closed to 10-6 with 8:06 remaining in the half on Ben Kahalehoe's 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. Gonsalves hit a 37-yard field goal with 10:32 left in the game to make it 13-6 and sealed it with a 27-yard field goal with 1:17 remaining.

Gonsalves, a three-year starter, made a 49-yard field goal earlier this season.

"We were happy just to put points on the board because we're a passing team and the conditions definitely affected what we do," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "Ethan did a heck of a job, not just with the field goals but also with his booming kickoffs and handling every punt well. Our defense really carried the load for us, too, and that was a key."

KAPOLEI (4-5) 0 6 0 0— 6
CASTLE (7-2) 10 0 0 6—16

Cast—Lihikai Domingo 26 pass from Jordan Nakayama (Ethan Gonsalves kick)

Cast—FG Gonsalves 27

Kapo—Ben Kahalehoe 45 interception return (pass failed)

Cast—FG Gonsalves 37

Cast—FG Gonsalves 27

RUSHING—Kapolei: Radford Raquedan 12-20, Jon Medeiros 6-10, Ikaika Tan 1-8, Brad Padayao 1-6; Castle: Nakayama 7-(minus-23), Tarann Bajet 12-40, Justin Kruse 4-2, Junior Mansanas 2-4.

PASSING—Kapolei: Padayao 4-12-2—35, Medeiros 3-5-1—14; Castle: Nakayama 5-17-1—78.

RECEIVING—Kapolei: Raquedan 1-4, Tommy Ross 2-5, Travis Mori 2-29, Kamuela Foki 1-5, Jimmy Stevens 1-6; Castle: Domingo 1-26, Jonathan Horner 1-8, Victor Clore 2-26, Jordan Kahoekapu 1-18.

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