The OIA Division I playoffs begin tonight. No. 8 Campbell looks to bounce back from a blowout loss against Kahuku when it hosts Castle.
Here’s our game preview.
CASTLE KNIGHTS (3-5, 3-4 OIA Red)
Head coach: John Hao
Knights roster
VS.
NO. 8 CAMPBELL SABERS (5-3, 5-2 OIA Blue)
Head coach: Darren Johnson
Sabers roster
Sabers run out the clock and will face No. 7 Leilehua in the quarterfinals next week.
Campbell picks up 23 yards on two runs but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty effectively kills the drive. After a short punt, a sack by Isaac Sevao pushes Castle back and the Knights lose possession on downs with 3:57 left.
Uyemura-Lee completes a pass to Makana Smith for 13 yards. They connect for 24 later in the drive to get to the Campbell 15. Bruce Pakele powers to the 5 on first down. He’s stopped for no gain, the Knights then pass on third and fourth down, both incomplete and Campbell holds with 7:33 left.
Two sacks by Nathaniel Thompson and Chanse Hoopai-Tofili force another Castle punt. Campbell ball at the 14. Sabers will have third and 3 to start the fourth quarter. Castle sacks Kaipo and the Sabers punt.
Tafai picks up 24 yards on first down followed by a completion to Viliami Vaimoui for 22. Tafai for 15 more. Kaipo goes back to Vaimoui deep down the middle and he makes the catch for 18 yards at the goalline. The ball comes loose late and after a discussion among the officials it’s a TOUCHDOWN CAMPBELL. PAT good. 3:16 Q3.
Castle picks up its second first down of the game but is forced to punt. The Knights get the ball back on a fumble recovery but an illegal shift on third down stalls the drive and they punt again. Campbell ball at its 22. 4:52 Q3.
Campbell ran 35 plays for 276 yards in the first half while the Castle offense was on the field for 18 plays and picked up 54 yards.
Castle goes three and out and punts. After a penalty on the return Campbell takes over at its 11. Sabers pick up a first and Campbell takes timeout with :32 left. Damien Fauolo sacks Kaipo for a loss of 5. Adkins-Kupukaa takes a screen pass to midfield to end the half.
Campbell gets the ball back when Dylan Ursua recovers the kickoff. After a Campbell penalty sets up first and 25, Tafai takes a screen pass 29 yards to the 10. Kaipo hits Gabriel Colon-Valentin over the middle. TOUCHDOWN CAMPBELL. PAT good. 2:40 Q2.
Kaipo bounces back with a 43-yard completion to Henderson on a deep post, the gets 14 more to Adkins-Kupukaa. Personal foul on Castle gives Campbell first and goal at the 7. Tafai picks up 3 then is dropped for a loss of 1. Timeout Campbell at 3:42. Bad snap results in an incomplete pass. Ariel Villanueva comes in and drills a FIELD GOAL from 22 yards out. 3:30 Q2
Adkins-Kupukaa takes the kickoff back 36 yards to the Sabers 46. On second down, Kaipo’s pass into the flat is picked off by Elijah-Po’o Kekiwi and he takes it 52 yards to the house. TOUCHDOWN CASTLE. PAT wide. 6:44 Q2.
Castle QB Jaylen Uyemura-Lee leads an eight-play drive into Campbell territory. The drive stalls at the 24 and Cheyden Costa’s 41-yard FIELD GOAL clears the crossbar. 7:50 Q2.
Tafai takes two handoffs and scores from 3 yards out on the second TOUCHDOWN CAMPBELL. PAT good. 11:20 Q2
Knights go three-and-out and punt. Adkins-Kupuka’a gets loose down the right side and steps out of bounds at the Castle 5 for a 53-yard return to close the first quarter.
Dylon Duque gives Campbell the ball back with an interception, but the Sabers come up short on fourth down and Castle takes over.
Campbell QB Krenston Kaipo completes a 19-yard pass to Jalen Henderson. After two runs, Sabers face fourth-and-3. Encroachment gives Campbell first down at the Castle 34. Tyrese Tafai bulls for 18 yards and a Castle penalty gives the Sabers first and goal at the nine. On third and goal, Tafai gets near the goal line and fumbles. Ezekiel Rombawa recovers and takes it to the end zone. But a blindside block brings it back.
Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa takes a shovel pass and a fly sweep on Campbell’s first two plays, but the Castle defense stuffs a third-down run and the Sabers punt. Castle also goes three-and-out and punts. Campbell ball at its 26. 8:47 Q1.
Castle wins the toss and defers. Campbell will receive the opening kickoff.
Campbell advances to the quarterfinals of the OIA JV playoffs with a 20-14 win over Farrington. Sabers face MIlilani next week. Varsity game coming up at about 8 p.m.
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