Kailua 26, Castle 21, Final
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9:29: Kailua takes two knees to run out the clock. 26-21 is your final. Kailua clinches a OIA Division I playoff spot, while Castle is eliminated. What a game.
9:28: Castle turns it over on downs after four straight incompletions. Kailua can run the clock out now with 1:04 left and no Castle timeouts.
9:23: Scratch that. Re-punt after a facemask call, and the SNAP IS FUMBLED. CASTLE HAS THE BALL AT THE KAILUA 23 WITH 1:33 LEFT.
9:22: Castle gets the ball back on its own 9 with 1:43 left and no timeouts remaining. This drive is for their season.
9:21: Kailua milks some clock but now faces fourth down and will likely punt.
9:15: Huge stop for Kailua, who forces a turnover on downs with 5:54 left.
9:10: Timeout is called after Castle gets a first down at the Kailua 18. Matthews is now up to 150 rushing yards. Castle is 13-1 all time when a player rushes for more than 150 yards.
9:06: Brandon Kohatsu appears to haul in an interception for Kailua, but it’s called back by pass interference. Castle still has the ball at the Kailua 30 with 8:18 left.
9:03: Friel gets PICKED OFF by Justice Ching. The Knights will start off at midfield with 9:08 left. Still relatively early in the fourth, but you get the feeling this drive is of the utmost importance to both teams.
9:00: Castle moves the ball into Kailua territory but can’t get another first. The punt pins Kailua in its own 15 with 10:04 left.
FOURTH QUARTER
8:54: End of the third. Castle trails 26-21 and faces second-and-10 on its own 39 to start the fourth.
8:50: Rasay takes in a 5-yard touchdown to give Kailua its first lead since the first quarter. Roberts kicks the extra point through and it’s 26-21 with 59 seconds left in the third quarter.
8:44: INTERCEPTION. Hastings Yee Hoy picks off Matthews and takes it to the Castle 30.
8:40: Just like that, Kailua scores. Raynen Ho-Mook reels in an 18-yard dime from Friel. Maka Roberts knocks the extra point through and the Castle lead is just 21-19 with 5:40 left in the third.
8:37: We’re set to resume play after the man was carried away by the ambulance. He gave a thumbs up to the crowd, so definitely a great sign.
8:25: A somber mood has taken over Alex Kane stadium after an elderly man was injured during a collision on the Kailua sideline. He appeared to have been hit in the head and has been down for about 15 minutes. The fire department has arrived to assist the man. Hopefully he is OK. His hands are moving, so definitely a positive sign.
8:08: Castle goes three-and-out. After the punt, Kailua has the ball on its own 20 with 10:17 left in the third.
8:05: Castle will start from its own 23 after the first half kickoff.
THIRD QUARTER
7:47: Castle runs out the clock to end the first half and will receive the second half kickoff up 21-12.
7:42: TOUCHDOWN SURFRIDERS. On a critical fourth-and-goal from the 5, Friel hits Samson Rasay for a 5-yard score. The PAT is no good, but Kailua cuts the lead to 21-12 with 21 seconds left in the first half. Especially with Castle receiving the second half kickoff, the Surfriders really needed that.
7:32: Kailua forces a Castle punt and gets the ball back on its own 36 with 3:45 left in the half, trailing 21-7.
7:28: Kailua calls timeout facing fourth-and-8 from the Castle 36. The Surfriders decide to punt, pinning Castle on its own 3 with 6:22 left in the first half.
7:22: TOUCHDOWN KNIGHTS. Matthews is just killing the Surfriders right now. His third rushing touchdown of the day is from 14 yards out. He’s already racked up 124 yards on 15 carries, all via direct snap. Costa’s PAT is good and Castle leads 21-6 with 7:31 left in the first half.
7:16: Kailua’s defense keeps its composure after giving up a first down but nothing else after. The punt return is FUMBLED and Kela Harbottle recovers for Castle at the Kailua 27 with 9:58 left in the second quarter.
7:10: As suspected, Kailua punts to start the second quarter. Castle gets the ball back on its own 20 with a 14-6 lead.
SECOND QUARTER
7:08: The first quarter ends with a Castle sack on first down. The Knights will likely receive a punt to start the second.
7:00: TOUCHDOWN CASTLE. Matthews takes the ball twice, the first one a 32-yard rush and the second one a 1-yard score. Costa’s PAT is good and the Knights lead 14-6 with 4:05 to go. Matthews has the Knights’ offense humming so far.
6:57: Call it the reporter jinx. Kailua goes three-and-out after a costly 28-yard loss on a fumble. After a punt from the end zone, Castle has the ball at the Kailua 33 with 4:45 left in the first.
6:53: TOUCHDOWN CASTLE. The Knights even this thing with a dominating drive of their own. Kala Matthews took the majority of the snaps at Wildcat quarterback and finished the drive with a 1-yard score. Cheydon Costa‘s PAT is good with 6:23 to go in the first. This one has the makings of a shootout early on.
6:46: TOUCHDOWN KAILUA. That was an offensive clinic from the Surfriders, who drive right down the field. Samson Rasay carries the ball four times for 52 yards and the drive is capped by a 16-yard dime from Cameron Friel to Koali’i Kohatsu. PAT is no good but the lead is 6-0 with 10:04 left in the first.
6:40: Kailua will receive to begin this game. The opening kick goes out of bounds and we’re underway.
FIRST QUARTER
6:35 p.m.: We’re a little behind on the scheduled 6:30 p.m. kickoff but should be doing so shortly. Kailua won the JV game 21-0 in front of a lively homecoming crowd. For the varsity game, there are major playoff implications for both teams. A win for Kailua would clinch an OIA Division I playoff berth, while a loss for Castle would knock it out of contention. A win for Castle would not clinch a playoff berth just yet, just as a loss for Kailua would not eliminate the Surfriders.
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Series history: Kailua leads 38-29
Castle roster
Kailua roster
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