Castle kicker Laura Tyler was 5-for-5 on extra-point attempts and converted a 28-yard field goal in a win over McKinley. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

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Athlete of the Week: Laura Tyler, Castle football

Like any good coach, Castle's Nelson Maeda tries to prepare his players for anything that may come, but even in this, his 20th season leading the Knights' football program, Maeda never saw anything like he did Friday night.

Castle picked up just its second victory of the 2014 season with a 38-6 win over McKinley, but it wasn't a scoring play that drew the biggest cheers that night. Laura Tyler, a senior placekicker, was a perfect 5 for 5 on extra-point attempts and even converted a 28-yard field goal. Perhaps her only blemish in the game was a 41-yard field goal try she had blocked, but she quickly made up for it.

"I remember vividly watching it as it happened," Maeda recalled. "The kick was a little bit low, but to compound that we had a breakdown in protection so (McKinley) blocked it and I guess that player didn't realized that a blocked kick is a live ball so the McKinley player picked it up, ran down the sideline and she just made a beeline to intercept the runner. He tried to go airborne and hurdle someone and Laura came up and just took him down, she didn't even flinch."

Maeda said the tackle probably saved a score, but certainly won over the crowd and Tyler's teammates.

"She was the talk of the whole stadium with her textbook tackle and the players were hooting and hollering for her. It was quite the sensation of the night," Maeda said. "I think she felt good knowing that she did what she needed to do. I'm pretty proud of her."

Tyler initially came out for the football team just last year and was limited to extra point attempts.

"We had a pretty good kicker last year in Ikaika Urasaki, so he would kick the field goals and the first few PATs and if there was a chance to get her in to kick a PAT later in the game, we'd try to get her in," Maeda explained. "She had her trials and tribulations last year, but she made a commitment in the offseason to get her leg stronger and with her improved accuracy and leg strength this year, she's ascended to become our No. 1 kicker and we don't hesitate to put her in."

As a junior, Tyler made two PATs all season. She opted to forego soccer last season to focus on football and this year has already made 18 PATs and two field goals.

"She really is, in our eyes, an inspiration of how our players should be," Maeda said. "Her work ethic is outstanding and I think with that, she's won the respect of her teammates. She's worked hard to be where she is."

Maeda said Tyler, who he believes to be the first female football player in school history, sometimes practices tackling fundamentals with the junior varsity team, but for the most part he tried to ensure her safety in the event of a blocked kick.

"That was always our concern, for her own safety, to protect herself," Maeda said. "I think, though, she probably gained some newfound respect for her tackling after (Friday). I like to use her as an example to our young men in tackling."

Tyler, an honor student who aspires to attend Purdue University, is tied for second on the team in scoring with 24 points.

"She's a great girl and a very bright young lady," Maeda said. "I don't know what motivated her to come out for football, but I'm glad we have her."

Castle finished fifth in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Red with a 2-5 record and will visit Kapolei (3-4), the fourth seed out of the Blue, in a first-round game Friday. The winner will play Red top seed Kahuku in a quarterfinal game next weekend, while the loser's season is over.

Kickoff between the Knights and Hurricanes is slated for 7:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Ryan Kajihiro, Pearl City — Rolled a three-game series of 721 in an OIA West boys' match

Gwen Maeha, Leilehua — Rolled a high game of 287 and a three-game series of 620 in an OIA West girls' match

Kristopher Yadao, Pearl City — Rolled a high game of 259 in an OIA West boys' match

CROSS COUNTRY
Jordan Jones, Pac-Five — Finished second overall and was top local finisher in the Punahou Invitational 3-mile girls' race in a time of 19 minutes, 10.81 seconds

Kaeo Kruse, Kamehameha cross country — Won the Punahou Invitational 3-mile boys' race in a time of 16 minutes, 3.99 seconds.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Natalia Kaopua, Nanakuli — Had 10 kills, four digs, one block and an assist in a win over Pearl City

Jojo Kruize, Moanalua — Recorded a match-high 13 kills with one block in a win over Kahuku

Thea Leiataua, Kahuku — Had nine kills in a loss to Moanalua

Carey Williams, Kahuku — Put down nine kills in a loss to Moanalua

FOOTBALL
Jayce Bantolina, Campbell — Caught nine passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Farrington

Jordan Bayudan, Kamehameha — Rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Iolani

Alex Brost, Hawaii Prep — Scored on a 20-yard blocked punt return, kicked a 28-yard field goal and went 5 for 5 on PATs in a win over Waiakea

Ansen Cabanilla, Lahainaluna — Scored on a 45-yard interception return in a win over Lahainaluna.

Chance Cacatian, Radford — Rushed for 109 yards in a loss to Nanakuli

Clifford Cunningham, Nanakuli — Caught five passes for 101 yards, kicked a 36- and 21-yard field goal and was 3 for 3 on PATs in a win over Radford

Koa Ellis, Hawaii Prep — Threw three touchdown passes in a win over Waiakea

Onosai Emelio, Maui — Rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Challen Faamatau, Farrington — Rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown in a win over Campbell

Ofa Fahiua, Hilo — Intercepted a pair of passes in a win over Konawaena

Ace Faumui, Kalani — Rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Pearl City

Makoa Filikitonga-Lukea, Lahainaluna — Passed for three touchdowns in a win over King Kekaulike

Kalawaia Judd, Kaiser — Passed for two touchdowns and rushed for 119 yards in a loss to Leilehua

Garrett Kanamu, Pearl City — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Kalani

Kale Kanehailua, Nanakuli — Passed for 199 yards and rushed for two touchdowns in a win over Radford

Micah Kanehailua, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Passed for 214 yards and two touchdowns in win over Honokaa

Keoni Keanini, Kamehameha-Maui — Caught 10 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Maui

Tyreek Keough, Leilehua — Caught three touchdown passes in a win over Kaiser

Kapiina King, Damien — Caught five passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Saint Louis

Dallas Labanon, Damien — Passed for four touchdown in a loss to Saint Louis

Tevita Lino, Kaimuki — Rushed for two touchdowns in a win over Kalaheo

Hanisi Lotulelei, Maui — Rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Jedadiah Lulu, Saint Louis — Intercepted a pair of passes in a win over Damien

Chance Maghanoy, Kahuku — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Waianae

Keoni-Kordell Makekau, Iolani — Caught eight passes for 168 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kamehameha

Vavae Malepeai, Mililani — Rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Moanalua

Kone Maluina, Kapolei — Had two sacks and forced a fumble in a win over Aiea

Ranan Mamiya, Farrington — Rushed 25 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Campbell

Blaise Manabe, Kalani — Rushed for two touchdowns in a loss to Pearl City

Dominic Maneafaiga, Pearl City — Rushed for 104 yards with a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Kalani

Jensen McDaniel, Kaiser — Rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Leilehua

Scott-Isaac Medeiros-Tangatailoa, Lahainaluna — Caught three touchdown passes in a win over King Kekaulike

McKenzie Milton, Mililani — Passed for 326 yards with three touchdowns and ran in another score in a win over Moanalua

Austin Molina, Leilehua — Scored on a 99-yard interception return in a win over Kaiser

Andrew Morgan, Radford — Passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Nanakuli

Kanawai Noa, Punahou — Caught seven passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Pac-Five

Sean Noda, Kaimuki — Rushed for 205 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kalaheo

Chaz Pacleb, Kapaa — Intercepted a pair of passes in a win over Kauai

Kaimana Padello, Mililani — Recorded two sacks and forced a fumble in a win over Moanalua

Chase Paneku, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Rushed for three touchdowns in a win over Honokaa

KJ Pascua, Iolani — Rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kamehameha

Kalanimoku Pauole, Leilehua — Passed for 190 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Kaiser

Thomas Reid, Radford — Caught eight passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Nanakuli

Jason Sharsh, Moanalua — Caught eight passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Mililani

Fatu Sua-Godinet, Kamehameha — Passed for 222 yards with two touchdowns and ran for 174 yards with another score in a win over Iolani

Jordan Taamu, Pearl City — Passed for two touchdowns and rushed for 95 yards and another score in a win over Kalani

Tua Tagovailoa, Saint Louis — Passed for five touchdowns and ran in another in a win over Damien

Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou — Rushed for 118 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Pac-Five

Keoni Taylor, Kapolei — Intercepted a pair of passes in a win over Aiea

Ephraim Tuliloa, Punahou — Passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Pac-Five

Tuli Wily-Matagi, Kahuku — Passed for 214 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Waianae