It took some luck for Kaiser to hang on for the win.

One week after its upset of Kahuku, No. 10 Kaiser was challenged for most of the game, then held on for a 28-23 win over Castle in an OIA Red game on Friday night.

"We’re lucky we got out of here with a ‘W’," said Kaiser coach Cameron Higgins. "I’ll take an ugly win over a pretty loss. We’re nowhere near where we need to be. Castle really should’ve won this game."

Jensen McDaniel rushed 24 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns to lead Kaiser (4-2, 4-2 OIA Red).

Castle (1-5, 1-5), which lost its fifth straight game, kept pace with Kaiser, controlled the tempo and was within striking distance for most of the game. The Knights last won Aug. 29 at Waipahu. 

"They just never let up," said Kaiser’s Keliionuuanu Colton. "It was their homecoming and their seniors pulled through. They did great."

Colton blocked Willie Ewaliko’s punt attempt and took the ball into the end zone to put the Cougars ahead 14-7 with 9:54 left in the second quarter. 

"I just got in, it was a struggle," Colton said of the play. "They (teammates) told me ‘Keep it up, all day Nuu.’ "

The Knights tied it a minute later on Taylor Bee’s touchdown reception from Ewaliko and Laura Tyler’s PAT. Ewaliko had ample time to move in the pocket and find Bee in the end zone, and the Castle quarterback kept his team in the game with 13-for-20 passing for 148 yards in the first half. 

The Cougars pulled ahead with 1:56 left in the second on Kalawaia Judd’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Destin Moss. Matt Sai’s PAT gave Kaiser a 21-14 lead at halftime. 

At halftime, Higgins reminded his team to finish the game.

"I just said we have it within our grasp, it’s zero-zero, we got to finish," Higgins said. 

"That’s what we harp on every day in practice. Finish to the fourth quarter, don’t take the foot off the pedal. Thankfully we came out of here with that ‘W’."

Momentum swung in the Knights’ favor after a safety midway through the third quarter, followed by a long drive that brought them to the Kaiser 11.

After an incomplete pass by Ewaliko, the Cougars sacked the Knights twice and then blocked Tyler’s field-goal attempt with 1:11 remaining.

McDaniel’s second rushing touchdown and Sai’s PAT gave the Cougars a 28-16 lead with 8:43 left. Castle closed to 28-23 after Chad Figueroa’s 20-yard touchdown reception and Tyler’s extra-point kick with 1:27 left. 

Kaiser recovered the on-side kick and ran out the clock.

"We’re not satisfied with the win, we’re coming back and we’re getting better every week," Colton said.

Kais–Jensen McDaniel 24 run (Matt Sai kick)

Cast–Royce Simeona-Townsend 20 pass from Willie Ewaliko (Laura Tyler kick)

Kais–Keliionuuanu Colton blocked punt return (Sai kick)

Cast–Taylor Bee 39 pass from Ewaliko (Tyler kick)

Kais–Destin Moss 17 pass from Kalawaia Judd (Sai kick)

Cast–safety

Kais–McDaniel 8 run (Sai kick)

Cast–Chad Figueroa 20 pass from Ewaliko (Tyler kick)

RUSHING–Kaiser: McDaniel 24-83, Judd 8-74. Castle: Dane Kamalu 5-61, Ewaliko 6-35, Quinn Aquino 7-11, Isaiah Lewis 2-0.

PASSING–Kaiser: Judd 15-18-0-122. Castle: Ewaliko 25-38-0-236.

RECEIVING–Kaiser: Moss 10-80, McDaniel 3-16, Isaiah Pongasi-Adric 1-19, Parker Higgins 1-7. Castle: Chad Figueroa 10-90, Lewis 7-54, Taylor Bee 3-49, Simeona-Townsend 3-33, Sione Pikula 1-6, Aquino 1-4.

Junior varsity–Castle 35, Kaiser 7