Castle's Jeremy McGoldrick looks for some running room against Nanakuli. Leighland Tagawa | Special to SL

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_16092456_20160924-photo5.jpg - Leighland Tagawa | Special to SL

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KANEOHE — After a disappointing loss last year on Homecoming, Jeremy McGoldrick made sure his Senior Night ended with a victory.

"It's a great feeling and we lost by one point and it was my focus to make sure it didn't happen to us tonight," said McGoldrick.

McGoldrick accounted for four TDs and 453 of Castle's 542 yards of total offense to help the Knights beat Nanakuli, 30-16 to snap a four-game losing streak in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division game on Friday night.

With the win, the Knights improve to 3-4 overall, 2-4 OIA and will travel to Kailua on Oct. 1 in another important game to close the regular season. The Surfriders (3-3 overall, 3-3 OIA) came out with a win after knocking off No. 7 Mililani, 34-28.

"We lost to tough teams and it was nice to get a win. When you get to the nitty-gritty tail end of the season, you have to do whatever it takes to extend your season or else it will be a short season. We got some momentum and we have our work cut out for us next week," said Castle coach Nelson Maeda.

The Golden Hawks (0-7 overall, 0-6 OIA), who were seeking their first Divsion I win, have been eliminated from playoff contention and will finish the season at No. 5 Kapolei (5-1 overall, 4-1 OIA) on Sept. 30.

"It was a good game, I was looking forward to this game and it felt like an old school matchup. We're still trying to find our fit and we have to prove to ourselves and everyone that we belong here," said Nanakuli coach Keala Watson.

McGoldrick threw for 237 yards-- two TDs, rushed for 157 yards and a score and caught three passes for 59 yards and a TD.

"We had a special package in, the plan was to get the quarterbacks rotating, but Jeremy had success on the field with what we were doing so we stuck with it," said Maeda. 

"I didn't even know I was starting until right before the game. I practiced two days this week. Right before the game, coach said I would be starting," said McGoldrick.

McGoldrick scored 44 seconds into the game on a 63-yard run, but the PAT was blocked to make it, 6-0. He threw a 25-yard TD to Ulrich Naki and a 2-point conversion pass to Makana Smith, gave the Knights a 14-0 lead.

The Golden Hawks took to the air with Nainoa Banks, who threw for 322 yards and a TD, but was picked off twice in the game. Banks marched Nanakuli 87 yards in six plays capped by a 26-yard TD pass to Chyson Morgan, but the PAT failed to make it, 14-6.

McGoldrick threw a 10-yard score to Smith 32 seconds before halftime to make it, 20-6. Smith caught a team-high nine passes for 162 yards.

"I haven't been throwing the ball all year. Even in practice I was rusty, but as the game went on, I felt better. Makana is a great athlete and he's a good tool to have. He and I are changeable so we play the same positions on offense, defense and kick returns. It's nice to have him," said McGoldrick, on Smith.

The Golden Hawks gave themselves opportunities to hang in the game. Nanakuli opened up the third quarter with a 25-yard field goal by Booker with 8:13 left. Nanakuli kept it close as they recovered two of McGoldrick's fumbles both in the third quarter.

"Our defense had some stops and that was big because it could have changed the momentum," said McGoldrick.

The Golden Hawks capitalized on Samuel Lalimo's fumble recovery as Banks threw a 14-yard TD to Joey Vea-Quitog, who caught 12 passes for 115 yards. Booker's PAT made it, 20-16 with 1:46 left in the third quarter.

"We were able to spread the ball more and giving everyone touches. Everyone was hungry to get us that first win," said Watson.

Jaylen Uyemura-Lee came in at quarterback late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, threw a 33-yard score to McGoldrick to make it, 27-16 to help Castle pull away. The Knights then forced Nanakuli to go three-and-out and a roughing the passer penalty extended the drive that resulted in Costa's 35-yard field goal to put Castle up by 14.