Kailua uses second-half surge to take down cross-town rival Castle
BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED AUG 26, 2023
KĀNE’OHE – The Kailua Surfriders (1-2, 1-1 league) picked up their first win of the season Friday night, scoring 20 unanswered points to beat neighbor school rival Castle (1-1, 0-1 league), 30-15, in a rainy slugfest.
The Surfriders, the designated home squad depsite the game taking place at Castle due to a current lack of field for Kailua, struck first on the back of running back Clayton Quidachay for the only score of the opening quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
Castle answered back on the first play of the second quarter, as Nathanael-Seth Rombawa sped to the front-left corner of the endzone to help the Knights knot it up, 7-7. Kailua quickly would re-take the lead, 10-7, after Kai Fraser knocked a short field goal through the uprights on the next possession for the Surfriders.
Some family magic for Castle on the next drive would help the Knights take their first lead of the night, as sophomore QB Nai Kalauokaaea found junior WR Trisen Kalauokaaea on a 4th-and-22 heave that the wideout brought down for a touchdown. Castle was successful on the two-point try and took a 15-10 lead with just under two minutes left in the first half.
It would be the last score of the night for Castle.
HSFB | HALFTIME | @HIsportsradio
— Paul Brecht (@12brecht) August 26, 2023
Kailua runs a beautiful 2-minute drill offense, but stalls out inside the Castle 20 and Kai Fraser’s FG attempt goes wide left.
Knights take a knee and head to the locker room up, 15-10.
Halftime analysis, HERE: https://t.co/FZlk3L0s8O
20 unanswered points by Kailua after halftime, three scores by three different Surfriders in the final 13 minutes of regulation would be the formula to push the Surfriders by the Knights on a damp Friday evening, 30-15.
Castle’s Nai Kalauokaaea finished the evening 9-of-19 with 158 yards passing and a touchdown for the Knights, who struggled with ball security in the second half as the rain began to fall heavier and faster.
Kailua’s signal-caller Romeo Ortiz enjoyed a productive night, completing 8-of-13 passes for 129 yards and chipped in a rushing touchdown. The Surfriders rode the wave of running backs having good nights, as Quidachay finished with 87 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries and Caysen Samson racked up 76 yards on 15 carries and a score of his own.
Castle will look to get back on track in a couple of weeks on September 8, when the Knights travel to Kapolei for a league contest. Kailua will be back in action next week on Friday, September 1, hosting Kaimuki for a non-league game with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. HT.
From Kalihi to Flushing Meadows: Andre Ilagan’s Journey Reaches the U.S. Open
Photo credit: Hawaii AthleticsAndre Ilagan grew up spending four or five hours a day on the tennis courts at Kalaukaua District Park. Next week, he'll step onto a much bigger stage. The Farrington High School graduate and former University of...
Training Camp Q&A with Hawaii Football OL Dean Briski
Dean Briski enters his final season with the Hawai‘i football team taking on a new challenge along the offensive line. The 2022 Samoana High School graduate and Pago Pago, American Samoa, native played 783 of his 788 total snaps at the left tackle...
Mana Wahine Wednesday: HPU Women’s Flag Football HC Kanda Korver
HONOLULU – Trailblazing programs need trailblazing people. Hawaii Pacific University became the first college in the islands to latch on to the runaway train of girls’ flag football popularity, announcing this past May that the school would be...
Hawai’i rolls in preseason tune-up against Chaminade
HONOLULU – Welcome back, Rainbow Wahine. The University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team swept through four sets of exhibition action against Chaminade on Monday, (25-20, 25-16, 25-10, 25-13), seeing all 15 players on the roster get action as...
First two week HS Football analysis and latest Lasquero rankings heading into Week 3
It has been a crazy first two weeks of the season with a number of thrilling games on opening weekend followed by a slew of cancellations with Hurricane Lala affecting the state. Because of the number of cancellations and numerous matchups...
Hawai’i football news, notes and takeaways from training camp’s third scrimmage
HONOLULU – Winds, rains and potential hurricanes? Despite inclement weather, the University of Hawai’i football team continued on the path of preparation for Week 0 against Stanford on Saturday morning as the team moved up the third (and final)...
Mililani squeaks by Liberty behind Cabrera-Hopkins, big defensive 2nd half
MILILANI – Weathered the storm. With Tropical Storm Lala approaching, the second-ranked Mililani Trojans (1-0) braved spotty conditions and opened up a highly anticipated 2026 campaign with a thrilling victory over Liberty (NV) on Friday...
Matt Elliott Talks Bows Athletics Club, Football Fan Experience and New Season
University of Hawai‘i Athletics Director Matt Elliott joined Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network on Friday to discuss a busy stretch for the department, from a sudden coaching change to new fundraising initiatives and the start of the 2026-27 athletic...
Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses
MĀNOA - The University of Hawai‘i football team continues to work its way through fall camp with head coach Timmy Chang encouraged by the progress he’s seeing across the roster. With the season opener drawing closer, the Rainbow Warriors remain...
Impending storm leads to Hawaii High School Football cancellations
With incoming Tropical Storm Lala heading towards the islands this weekend, administrators are starting to cancel high school football matchups this weekend. The first reported cancellation was a non-league matchup between Kailua and...