Kahuku takes to air to turn out the Knights

It happens every year: No. 1 Kahuku stands up and tells the world that it can throw the ball when it needs to.

The Red Raiders did that on Friday night, mixing the run and pass to throttle Castle 35-0 at Kahuku. The Red Raiders had more passing yards (130) than rushing yards (113).

“Everybody plays the running game,” Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. “And we have to stop it by passing. We didn’t do it very well last week (in a win over McKinley) in the rain, so we wanted to get that balance tonight.”

The Red Raiders handed the ball to Aofaga Wily twice to begin the game. Then quarterback Viliami Livai hit Kawehena Johnson from 40 yards out for Kahuku’s first touchdown after just three plays. Wily had 84 yards on 14 carries in the first half, but it was Livai who shredded the Knights initially. Livai completed his first four pass attempts, not throwing his first incomplete pass until 5 minutes before halftime, with the Red Raiders up 28-0.

Livai finished 4-for-8 for 117 yards. Backup Tuli Matagi-Wily was not nearly as efficient, going 1-for-6 for 13 yards with the second string.

Wily sat out the second half with Livai. His streak of 100-yard games ends at five, tying him with Malosi Teo for most in team history in the state championship era.

“Once we got comfortably ahead, we want to get everybody in the game,” Torres said. “We are going to need that depth and experience. Every week is a challenge in football, you have to look at it that way.”

The Knights were limited to 7 yards in the first half and never moved the ball. Castle quarterback Brandon Makekau was the only player with a rushing attempt for the Knights, but eight of those were on sacks. Kahuku had Makekau running for his life, and his only relief was to throw it.

Unfortunately, that brought him a measure of pain as well, with three interceptions.

His second pick went for a Kahuku touchdown when Lassalle Thompson and Siamau Mapu met at the quarterback, each grabbing him on a different side and forcing him to pitch it forward in a panic to Lamone Williams. Williams took the gift 47 yards to the house to give the Red Raiders a 35-0 lead.

A running clock and Kahuku emptying the bench helped keep it that way.

Kahuku plays Kaimuki next Friday at Kaiser.

The Knights dropped to 0-5 and have dropped seven in a row dating back to last year, their longest streak in the state championship era. Castle plays Kailua next week, and coach Nelson Maeda hopes to have more players available for that one. More than half of Castle’s sideline was occupied by players with orange cloth over their helmets, signifying that they missed practice the previous week and were not going to play in the first half. Castle had more coaches and staff on the sideline than available players.

“It’s a good lesson for the kids,” Maeda said. “You have to take care of your business. But really, Kahuku just toyed with us tonight. They are No. 1 for a reason.” 

Moanalua 36, Kaimuki 0

Micah Kaneshiro completed 12 of 17 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns as Na Menehune beat the Bulldogs.

Sheldon Pagba caught two passes — both for touchdowns — while Chad Aragon and Donald Lambert each hauled in one touchdown pass.