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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. 

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.