Quarterback Willie Ewaliko passed for 274 yards and four touchdowns to lead Castle over Waipahu. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

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08291516_DSC_6287.jpg - Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

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KANEOHE — Castle's ironman squad had just enough juice left in the tank to hold off a relentless Waipahu rally for a 35-32 Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division win Friday night.

Willie Ewaliko passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns and Royce Simeona-Townsend forced two fumbles and had a fumble recovery to help the Knights improve to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in league play. Waipahu dropped to 1-2.

"It's a nice win for us against a really tough Waipahu team," said Castle coach Nelson Maeda. "The message to the team is to be resilient and they were. The ball didn't always bounce our way, but they just kept plugging away. With just 24 players against their 60-something, very admirable on our boys part."

With most of Castle's players going both ways, the Marauders tried to wear the Knights down with a ground-and-pound offensive attack and never attempted a pass in the first quarter. Running back Gavin Quelnan led the effort with two scores and 119 of the team's total 201 rushing yards.

"I think their game plan was to try and wear us out," said Maeda. "They saw our small size and limited numbers. From the get go they came out in a heavy formation, big bodies, I-back and just tried to pound the ball against us. Fortunately for us, we were able to bounce back because they tried to just manhandle us."

In spite of this, the Knights were able to hold off a Waipahu comeback late in the fourth quarter.

"They are a super tough team," said Waipahu first-year coach Bryson Carvalho. "Regardless of their numbers, they play super hard."

The Marauders got the ball back at their own 15-yard line with 1:41 left in regulation after stopping the Knights on fourth down, but quickly faced a fourth-and-10 situation after three incompletions. On the ensuing play, Simeona-Townsend broke up what would have been a fourth down conversion catch by Storm De Asis.

"The whole defense had little ups and downs, but we stepped up when we needed to," said Simeona-Townsend. "We played our hearts out and played for each other, our families and our community."

Simeona-Townsend — a 5-foot-6, 170-pound senior — also had a sack and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ewaliko.

"He's the biggest little linebacker that Castle has," Maeda said on Simeon-Townsend. "Pound for pound he's just a little fireball. He made some nice plays tonight."

Jeremy McGoldrick hauled in the three other touchdowns tossed by Ewaliko. He sat out in the first and third quarter due to a missed practice and sickness, but was able to make an impact with four catches for 102 yards and an interception on defense.

McGoldrick gave the Knights their first lead of the game on a 35-yard reception down the right sideline. Waipahu's Jordan Williams — who had two interceptions in the contest — was defending the play exceptionally well, but Ewaliko was able to lay the ball in where only McGoldrick could get it.

"Jeremy is a big part of our offense. Once he gets going, we all get going," said Ewaliko.

McGoldrick's next touchdown of the night gave Castle the lead for good after the Marauders took a 19-14 advantage on Quelnan's seven-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left in the first half. The 5-foot-7, 140-pound junior took a screen pass 55 yards to pay dirt to help give Castle a 22-19 lead at the break.

His final touchdown of the game was on a fourth down reception with 5:30 left in regulation, giving Castle an insurance score it would need to hold off the Marauders' rally.

Other standouts for the Knights include Elijah Villanueva (two sacks), Kalani Scanlan (fumble recovery) and Taylor Bee (four catches for 78 yards).

Waipahu triggerman Blaise De Asis completed 12 of his 28 passes for 192 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also bookend the Marauders' scoring with two keepers around left end while in the flexbone formation. 

Both teams will square off with a winless team next Friday as league play continues. Castle host Leilehua for its final regular season game of the year while Waipahu returns home to take on Kaiser.