Smith sparks Castle to 47-6 win over Radford


Castle quarterback Makana Smith rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 126 yards and two scores in a 47-6 win over Radford. Brien Ing | SL

KANEOHE — Makana Smith set the tone early and his teammates followed suit Friday.

Smith, a junior quarterback, ran for a pair of first-half touchdowns and threw for two more scores after halftime to lead Castle to a dominating 47-6 win over visiting Radford before a crowd of about 600 fans on an overcast evening on the windward side.

The Knights improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, while the Rams, who moved up after winning the Division II state title last year, fell to 0-2, 0-1 in league play.

Castle finished with 437 yards of total offense, including a staggering 269 rushing.

"I can't remember the last time we even rushed for over a hundred (yards). Two sixty-nine. Wow. this goes way back," Knights coach Nelson Maeda said.

Smith rushed for a game-high 105 yards and averaged 11.7 yards per carry. He also completed 12 of 14 pass attempts for 126 yards, often escaping pressure in the backfield.

"He kept plays alive with his feet and he's very elusive on the run," Maeda said of the 5-foot-7, 145-pound Smith. "He makes something happen out of nothing."

Only one of Smith's rush attempts came on a designed run. Whatsmore, he was sacked twice for a combined loss of 20 yards.

"I just trust my line and my receivers," Smith said. "Sometimes they come in and then that's when I have to come into play and do what I need to do for my team and what I did tonight, I just did everything for the team."

Henry Nakamura-McCoy, a 160-pound sophomore, scooted for 103 yards on 15 carries, while 185-pound senior Israel Pakele finished with 47 hard-earned yards on 12 carries. Each running back found the end zone one: Nakamura-McCoy on a 4-yard run in the third quarter and Pakele on a 20-yard jaunt in the fourth that capped the scoring.

"I think we got two very consistent running backs, the line gave them some seams and we were able to get some yards," Maeda said. "It's a pleasant surprise to be able to have a run game. We've been a passing team for how many years, so it's nice."

Smith capped Castle's first two drives with 15-yard touchdown runs on identical third-and-5 situations. The first possession — which came after a three-and-out from its defense to open the game — covered 75 yards in 11 plays.

"That was a great statement," Smith said.. "It just gave us a lot of momentum going into our second drive as well."

Smith looked to his right as he dropped back in the pocket, before taking off to his left and going untouched to the front left corner of the end zone.

"I saw (wide receiver) Jeremy (McGoldrick) was in double-coverage and the (defensive) line was coming in pretty quick, but then I just saw an open gap," Smith said. "I took that gap in and I went up the seam and I got in."

Smith broke about four tackles on his second TD run, which came with just 54 seconds left in the first quarter.

"I don't know what that was. That just came out of nowhere. I broke a couple tackles, gladly, and put it in for the score," Smith said.

Castle's next score was set-up by an interception by defensive back Keola Chun. On the very next play, Nakamura-McCoy broke loose for a 47-yard pick-up and three plays later, Smith found Chris Sakuma over the top for a 14-yard touchdown pass.

It was one of two Radford turnovers that the Knights recycled into scores.

"It was very good to win the turnover battle and to turn the turnovers into points," Maeda said. "The defense was very consistent tonight."

Smith's lone hiccup — a second-quarter interception — didn't end us costing him as it led to a punt.

"It's great," Smith said. "I mean, these guys are my brothers off and on the field. I've got their backs, no matter what, and it feels great knowing that they've got my back as well. These are my brothers."

McGoldrick, a Second Team All-Hawaii utility selection last year, had game-highs of seven receptions for 101 yards. He pulled down a 20-yard scoring strike from Smith in the second quarter and danced his way along the right sideline for a 24-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep in the third.

Radford's lone score came on a 74-yard punt return by Jonah Soakai in the closing seconds of the first half. It was the second special teams' touchdown in as many weeks for Soakai, who took back the opening kickoff for an 85-yard score in a 42-6 season-opening loss to Iolani last Saturday.

Castle had a 27-6 lead at halftime.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].