Castle, Kailua in Windward clash

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mililani Stadium will play host to two of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's key showdowns this weekend.

Castle will play arch rival Kailua at 7 tonight at Mililani in an OIA Red Conference East Division game televised live by Oceanic channel 16.

Tomorrow at 7:30, Nanakuli visits Mililani in a meeting of top OIA Red West teams.

Here is a closer look at each game:

Castle vs. Kailua

Records: Castle 2-1 overall, 1-0 OIA Red East; Kailua 2-1, 1-0

Last week: Castle defeated McKinley, 21-7; Kailua defeated Roosevelt, 36-24

Advertiser Top 10 ranking: Kailua No. 8, Castle No. 10

Notable: This is one of Hawai'i's oldest and most heated rivalries, dating to 1955. ... Castle is restructu-ring its offense after starting quarterback Bryce Kalauoka'aea was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Junior Mansanas has taken the reins, offering more of a running threat and throwing from rollouts as opposed to deep drops. ... Kailua's Damien Torres rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns, and teammate Kekoa Su'a caught three passes for 122 yards. Tonight they will face one of the state's top linebackers in Castle senior Blaze Soares. ... Kailua trailed Roosevelt 14-6 at halftime before rallying for the victory.

NANAKULI at MILILANI

Records: Nanakuli 2-1 overall, 1-0 OIA Red West; Mililani 3-0, 1-0

Last week: Nanakuli defeated Damien, 21-0; Mililani defeated Punahou, 27-7

Advertiser Top 10 ranking: Mililani No. 4; Nanakuli is unranked

Notable: Mililani scored one of its biggest victories in the program's history when it beat No. 3 Punahou last week. It was one of only three victories (out of 12) by the OIA against the Interscholastic League of Honolulu in this season's experimental "crossover" series. The only other OIA wins were Kahuku's 37-17 triumph over then-No. 1 Saint Louis and Nanakuli's shutout of Damien last week. ...Nanakuli held Damien to 100 yards rushing; the Monarchs had run for 263 yards in a victory over Castle the week before.

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