WAI'ANAE — Quarterback Keoni Napierala-Rose rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another to lead No. 9 Wai'anae over Castle, 25-13, at Raymond Torii Field last night.

The Seariders (5-4) forced seven turnovers and will advance to meet Kahuku in Friday's semifinal round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Division Tournament at Aloha Stadium. Castle's season is done at 4-5.

"We got by with this one," Wai'anae head coach Dan Matsumoto said. "Our defense created turnovers, but we still need to sharpen up on offense."

Guyson Amina led the Seariders' stingy defense with four interceptions. Charles Inferrera also came up with two picks.

"First half we got kind of bust up, but second half we just came out banging," said Amina.

Castle, which entered as the East's third seed, played without starting quarterback Blake Rapozo, who broke his left collarbone in a game against Kahuku on Oct. 10.

In his absence, two quarterbacks combined for 301 yards on 13 of 29 passing.

"We struggled a bit tonight," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "This was rough for all of us."

Wai'anae marched 82 yards on eight plays — all runs — on its opening drive. Ligsay had carries of 11, 5 and 24 yards, the last of which set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Napierala-Rose. The quarterback sneak and Terrance Akao's extra point gave the Seariders a lead they would not relinquish.

Napierala-Rose added another score on a 2-yard sneak to make it 13-0.

Castle answered back on the ensuing drive. Shaydon Kehano caught the ball from quarterback Jaysen Ferreira over a Wai'anae defender and made the safety miss on his way to a 74-yard TD that made it 13-6 with just over a minute in the first quarter. The PAT was blocked.

Both offenses struggled in the second quarter. Wai'anae ran 17 plays for minus-8 yards and Castle punted twice and turned it over on downs, managing just 27 yards on 13 plays.

Wai'anae's Tyrell Ka'aha'aina intercepted Ferreira three plays into the second half and Napierala-Rose extended the Seariders' lead on his third score, a 4-yard run, four plays later.

Ferreira completed passes of 21, 28, 35 and 24 yards on the Knights' ensuing possession, capping it with a 5-yard TD run.

Wai'anae added a late score on a 35-yard pass from Napierala-Rose to Maurice Simpson.

CASTLE (4-5) 6 0 7 0 — 13

WAI'ANAE (5-4) 13 0 6 6 — 25

Wai — Keoni Napierala-Rose 1 run (Terrance Akao kick).

Wai — Napierala-Rose 2 run (kick blocked).

Cast — Shaydon Kehano 74 pass from Jaysen Ferreira (kick blocked).

Wai — Napierala-Rose 4 run (kick blocked).

Cast — Jaysen Ferreira 5 run (Mitchell Lum kick).

Wai — Maurice Simpson 35 pass from Napierala-Rose (run failed).

RUSHING — Castle: Lowen Rogers 1-(minus 3), MLum 1-5, Garrett Paredes 6-1, Hans Reppuhn 2-(minus 8), Ferreira 6-(minus 7), Derek Hillegas 1-(minus 8). Wai'anae: Johnathan Ligsay 14-104, Danny Kekoanui 17-40, Napierala-Rose 14-(minus 17), Damien Delacruz 1-5, Kalin Sandobal 1-13, Guyson Amina 1-11, team 2-(minus 2).

PASSING — Castle: Hillegas 0-4-1—0, Ferreira 13-25-6—301. Wai'anae: Napierala-Rose 6-13-1—80.

RECEIVING — Castle: Paredes 1-(minus 1), Kehano 4-155, Reppuhn 4-73, Rogers 3-42, Kevin Aipia Jr. 1-32. Wai'anae: Ligsay 1-21, Tofia Manufekai 2-0, Jahsiah Bales 2-24, Simpson 1-35.

JV SCORE — WAI'ANAE 22, CASTLE 13.