In one fraction of a second 15 months ago, Castle High School quarterback Bryce Kalauoka'aea saw his junior football season suddenly vanish before his eyes.

Late in the first quarter of a non-league game Aug. 27, 2004, Kalauoka'aea scrambled toward the right sideline and was tackled just before going out of bounds. The play ended his season, as he suffered a torn posterior cruciate ligament and needed five months of rehabilitation.

If the injury cast any doubts about his senior campaign, Kalauoka'aea erased them in a big way by leading the Knights to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Red Conference Eastern Division title.

Capping off his spectacular comeback season, Kalauoka'aea was named OIA Red East Offensive Player of the Year after a vote of division coaches.

"Last year was disappointing for Bryce, but he recovered quickly and even got to play in the last couple games of basketball season," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "This year he was really making up for two seasons in just one year. His injured knee actually became stronger than the healthy one."

The results showed on the field.

Kalauoka'aea finished the season with 117 completions in 234 attempts for 1,581 yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games. The highlight of the season came Sept. 16, when he went 21 of 32 for 228 yards and three touchdowns in a 23-6 victory over eventual state champion Kahuku.

It turned out to be the Red Raiders' only loss, and it was the most points anyone scored against Kahuku this season.

The Red Raiders won their other 11 games largely behind a defense that posted eight shutouts and allowed an average of 5.0 points per game.

The leader of Kahuku's defense was B.J. Beatty, a 6-2, 215-pound senior who disrupted game plans and constantly stalked quarterbacks with relentless pass rushes from his end position.

Division coaches reflected their respect for Beatty by naming him Red East Defensive Player of the Year.

Beatty has made the Red East all-star first team three years in a row; his father, Byron, was OIA East Defensive Player of the Year for the Red Raiders in 1986.

B.J. Beatty was not the only standout on Kahuku's defense, which shut out every Red East opponent except Castle. Joining Beatty on the division's all-star first-team defense are lineman Micah Wily and linebackers Kevin Unga and George Tafuna.

Other first-team defensive all-stars are lineman Shayson Suzui, linebacker Corey Paredes, defensive back Scott Keiter-Charles and defensive back/utility player Lihikai Domingo of Castle; lineman John Sagapolutele and defensive back Randy Villaver of Farrington, and Kailua defensive back Nicholas Tepea.

In addition to Kalauoka'aea, Castle placed three others on the first-team offense: wide receiver Blaine Kobashigawa, lineman Clint Daniel and Domingo, who was selected both at wide receiver and utility.

Domingo caught 32 passes for 535 yards and five touchdowns. Kobashigawa had 33 catches for 373 yards and three TDs. Both players also were big threats as return men on kickoffs and punts.

Kahuku had three players selected to the first-team offense: running back Kamuela Alisa and linemen Latu Tupou and Ken Livai.

Alisa rushed for 785 yards and 13 touchdowns on 126 carries (6.2 ypc) in 12 games. Tupou, a center, and right tackle Livai were cornerstones of an offense that averaged 32.2 points per game.

Farrington was represented by running back Kenneth Faumui and lineman Whitley Fehoko. Kailua wide receiver Kenny Gibson and McKinley offensive lineman Vuni Funaki round out the first team.

Faumui rushed for 802 yards and five touchdowns on 162 carries and also caught 25 passes for 164 yards and one TD.

Besides Beatty, Kobashigawa is the only repeat selection from last year's Red East all-star first team.

Maeda was named Coach of the Year. The Knights surprisingly went 6-0 in Red East play despite starting the season with 25 players sidelined because of injuries or academic probation.

CORRECTION

Nanakuli offensive lineman Aaron Watson, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior, was selected to the OIA Red West all-star second team. His name was inadvertently omitted from the list published yesterday.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.