Waimea Vs. Castle When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Where: Vidinha Stadium The key is to sit back and wait for Castle to make mistakes. We already know what the Menehunes can do. They outscored the KIF 202-14 this year, captured their
Waimea Vs. Castle
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Vidinha Stadium
The key is to sit back and wait for Castle to make mistakes.
We already know what the Menehunes can do.
They outscored the KIF 202-14 this year, captured their 10th consecutive title, and modeled a running game based on efficiency-combining the finesse of RB Chelsey Barba and Rayson Cacal and the power of Jordan Dizon.
Discipline has been the Menehune forte for the length of their legacy, but is it enough to beat Castle (8-3), a team currently steaming over their playoff loss to Kailua and the first round KO they took from St. Louis in states last year?
It’s possible, but it won’t be easy.
Castle is led by the highly elusive Joel Botelho, a quick quarterback that is dangerous in the air and deadly on the run. He rushed for 406 yards this year, averaged nine per carry and 81 per game. A nice compliment to his 1,170 yards of passing.
The Knight’s also have solid receivers in Ikaika Ho, Nolan Miranda, and Treston Kaneao. With the help of Botelho’s arm, these guys have led the OIA in receptions and will be a key to the Knight’s offense.
Can the Menehune’s contain the Knight attack?
Well, the Menehunes gave up an average of less than 100 yards a game all season long and only gave up a total of 14 points in KIF play, so their defense may be able to handle Botelho.
But the true test here is the execution of the Menehune’s offense.
Waimea is facing the OIA’s worst defense this Friday. The Knights finished dead last, giving up over 300 yards of offense a game, most of it on the ground.
This leads to several questions. Can the Menehune running backs penetrate the Knight’s very, very big, defensive line? In that case, can the Menehune’s smaller, but quicker, linemen flush Botehlo out of the pocket and into danger?
When it all comes down to it, MISTAKES is what is going to determine whether Waimea will win this ball game. And it’s not the Menehunes that will make the mistakes. QB Adrian Agan has proved all year long he can run the Menehune offense and he does it with flawless execution more than flair.
In this contest, Waimea needs to do what it does best: Play flawless football and wait for Castle to make a mistake. Once the Knight’s lose their rhythm, the Menehunes will capitalize with their efficiency.
Castle’s league leaders
OIA Red Division
Team
Offense:
Castle: (2nd in OIA) 710 rushing 1192 passing, 1902 total, 380.4 average per game
Defense:
Castle: (last in OIA) giving up-1162 rushing, 724 pass, 1886 total, 377.2 a game
Individual
Rushing:
(1st) Botelho: 45 rushes, 405 total yards 9.0 per carry 81.0 per game.
Passing:
(3rd)Botelho: 75 passes, 133 complete, 1170 total yards
Receiving: Ho: 24 catches, 357 yards, 14.9 per catch, 71.4 per game.
Kaneao: 13 catches, 308 yards, 23.7 per catch 77.0 a game.
Scoring: Miranda: 3 TD’s, 4field goals, 46 total pts, 9.2 avg per game.
Keliiholokai: 3 TDs, 38 total pts., 12.7 per game
Ho: 3 TD’s 36 total pts. 12.0 per game.
Castle Knights
Record: 8-3 (OIA No. 3 seed)
Coach: Nelson Maeda (5th season at Castle, 7th overall, 31-40-3)
Tournament history: 2000; 0-1.
Streak: 1 loss
Knight knotes: Castle’s tournament debut last year ended quickly, losing to St. Louis, 48-0 … receiver/kicker Nolan Miranda leads team in scoring with 60 points, including 27 PATs and five field goals.
How they fared:
L, ‘Aiea*, 20-14
W, Mililani, 35-28
W, Wai’anae, 55-35
W, McKinley, 21-20
L, Kahuku, 57-10
W, Farrington, 44-15
W, Campbell, 23-0
W, Kailua, 36-29
W, Leilehua, 41-0
Co-semifinal
W, Waipahu, 14-13
Co-championship
L, Kailua, 13-7
*Denotes non-league games
Waimea Menehune
Record: 7-1, KIF champions
Coach: Jon Kobayashi (9th season, 51-2-1 league record only)
Tournament history: 1999, 2000; 1-2
Streak: 7 wins
Garden Isle gathering: Waimea’s fan base consists of some elderly spectators who usually don’t make the drive from the west side at night because there are no street lights en route to Lihu’e. The Menehune’s home is Hanapepe Ball Park … Waimea lists 28 players on its roster, but two are injured, leaving 26 available for action. Everyone plays, Kobayashi said.
How they fared:
L, Punahou*, 24-14
W, Hilo*, 45-0
W, Kaua’i, 29-7
W, Kapa’a, 31-0
W, Kaua’i, 40-7
W, Kapa’a, 40-0
W, Kaua’i, 21-0
W, Kapa’a, 41-0
KIF Champions
