KANE'OHE — Three days after a boycott of practice cast doubt on its immediate future, the Kahuku High School football team staved off Castle, 13-6, last night to clinch the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division title.

The Red Raiders, ranked No. 3 in The Avdertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 5-2 overall and 5-0 in the OIA East. Castle fell to 3-4, 3-2.

The Knights have clinched a playoff spot and can finish second with a victory over Farrington in next week's regular season finale.

Castle played even with Kahuku for three quarters last night, but handed the Red Raiders a golden opportunity in the fourth with a muffed punt that Kahuku recovered on the Knights' 1-yard line.

Kaliki Unga ran it in on the very next play and St. John Lessary's extra point put the Red Raiders up 13-6 with 9:10 remaining.

"We were our own worst enemy," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said.

The Knights made one last push, advancing to the Kahuku 28 with just under two minutes left. But on fourth-and-4, they were dropped for a six-yard loss on a swing pass and the Red Raiders were able to run the clock down to five seconds remaining before getting off a punt under heavy pressure on the game's final play.

Late in the third quarter, Castle marched down to the Kahuku 15-yard line, but on third-and-goal, Red Raiders defensive back Shiloah Te'o intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the threat.

"We just had to stick together," Te'o said. "We went through some tough times this week, a lot worse times than (during the game). But that was just an example of how we can stick together in times like that."

On Wednesday, about half of Kahuku's 96 players staged a boycott during all but the last 20 to 30 minutes of practice in protest of head coach Reggie Torres' strict rules. Thursday's practice was canceled while the players met with Department of Education district superintendent Lea Albert to discuss the issues against Torres.

The team regrouped for a short practice Friday, which Te'o described as "kind of sluggish."

Torres said the missed practice time was compounded by several key injuries. Starting offensive linemen Patrick Au and Daniel Kinikini, linebacker Paipai Falemalu and tight end Arona Tufaga all sat out last night's game due to injury.

"We had key injuries, and we didn't have as much time to work with the replacements in practice because of all the stuff going on this week," Torres said. "But Castle was tough. They're so fast, they have great team speed. They were getting to us from the edges."

The Red Raiders took a quick 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter on Lessary's 31-yard touchdown run up the middle. His extra point attempt failed.

Later in the quarter, the Knights got a big break when Kahuku fumbled on its own 2-yard line and Alika Kekoanui recovered and ran it into the end zone. Their extra point attempt also failed.

KAHUKU (5-2, 5-0) 6 0 0 7 — 13

CASTLE (3-4, 3-2) 6 0 0 0 — 6

Kahuku — St. John Lessary 31 run (kick failed)

Castle — Alika Kekoanui 2 fumble recovery (kick failed)

Kahuku — Kaliki Unga 2 run (Lessary kick)

RUSHING — Kahuku: Lessary 11-82, AJ Atuaia 6-32, Unga 10-58, Junior Mata'afa 7-23, Dustin Akiyama 1-6, Jray Galeai 7-17, Samson Manu-Olevao 1-(minus-7). Castle: Kawehi Sablan 6-15, Blake Rapozo 6-(minus-20), Devin Spotkaeff 11-74, Dylan Matsuda 4-37, Bronson Kekahuna 1-4.

PASSING — Kahuku: Galeai 0-3-0—0, Manu-Olevao 3-4-0—28. Castle: Blake Rapozo 9-20-2-59.

RECEIVING — Kahuku: Jordan Kamae 1-5, Jordan Mohetau 1-15, Wesley Touli 1-5. Castle: Kekahuna 3-15, Nainoa Haitsuka 1-7, Spotkaeff 1-2, Matsuda 2-16, Ilae 1-10, Shayne Carvalho 1-9.

JV score — Castle 15, Kahuku 8

MCKINLEY 7, FARRINGTON 7

Farrington's Anthony Fernandez carried 34 times for 165 yards and a touchdown in a tie between the Governors (3-2-2, 3-1-1) and Tigers (0-6-1, 0-4-1) in an OIA Red East game at Roosevelt. Will Starks scored on a 1-yard run for McKinley in the second quarter, and Fernandez scored on a 3-yard run in the third.

MCKINLEY (0-6-1, 0-4-1) 0 7 0 0—7

FARRINGTON (3-2-2, 3-1-1) 0 0 7 0—7

McK — Will Starks 1 run (Marcus Amorin kick)

Farr — Anthony Fernandez 3 run (Robert Molina kick)

RUSHING — McKinley: Starks 10-59, Earvin Sione 8-16, Jeremiah Fetu 6-16, Iosua Faipaua 2-16. Farrington: Fernandez 34-165, Anthony Noga 5-20, Dayton Kealoha 4-(minus 6).

PASSING — McKinley: Sione 9-15-0—55. Farrington: Kealoha 4-13-1—61.

RECEIVING — McKinley: Tavita Woodward 4-31, Theodore Spencer 2-12, Starks 2-10, Tana Woodward 1-2. Farrington: Matt Stowers 2-21, Fernandez 1-26, Faifaiese Emosi 1-14.

JV score — Farrington 28, McKinley 7

WAIPAHU 21, NANAKULI 13

Keo Palimo'o, Troy Matautia and Tyler Martin rushed for scores in the second quarter as the host Marauders beat the Golden Hawks in an OIA White game.

Palimo'o had 19 carries for 108 yards and Matautia rushed three times for 99 yards.

NANAKULI (2-5, 2-4) 7 0 0 6 — 13

WAIPAHU (5-2, 5-1) 0 21 0 0 — 21

Nana — Lalo Respicio 1 run (Dale Sopi kick)

Waip — Keo Palimo'o 11 run (Palimo'o kick)

Waip — Troy Matautia 83 run (kick failed)

Waip — Tyler Martin 43 pass rom Matautia (Matautia run)

Nana — Alika Tolentino 3 run (kick blocked)

RUSHING — Nanakuli: Tolentino 23-107, Respicio 8-27, Chadez Alvarado-Williams 2-6, Ilo Tokio 10-69, Koa Tuafale 3-7. Waipahu: Jacob Ioane 1-1, Mike Poscablo 1-0, Palimo'o 19-108, Matautia 3-99, Martin 2-15.

PASSING — Nanakuli: Respicio 8-19-0—75, Codee Lopes 0-1-1—0. Waipahu: Matautia 1-4-0—43.

RECEIVING — Nanakuli: Lopes 2-42, Lui Te'o 3-23, Nalu Garcia 2-3, Troy Alana 1-7. Waipahu: Martin 1-43.

JV score — Waipahu 19, Nanakuli 0

Reported by Tats Hikiji

ILH

KAMEHAMEHA 31, DAMIEN 6

Michael Hoke threw for one touchdown and ran for another and Pono Perez added two TD runs to help the Warriors defeat the visiting Monarchs at Kunuiakea Stadium.

Kamehameha, improved to 2-2-1 overall and 1-2 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Damien fell to 2-3-1 and 1-2.

The Warriors led 17-0 at the half and 31-0 after three quarters.

Kama Bailey led the Monarchs with 151 yards rushing, including an 11-yard touchdown.

Read his blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.