ScoringLive photo illustration

Purchase image 1 of 1

This weekend's opening round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I football tournament will start to clear up the state tournament picture.

Winners of first-round games clinch a spot in at least the D1 state tournament, and can punch a ticket to the Open Division with a quarterfinal win next weekend. Lose this weekend, however, and the season is over.

In one of three games Friday night, Moanalua will play host to Castle in a matchup of teams with identical records. Both Na Menehune, the Blue fourth seed, and the Knights, the Red fifth seed, are 3-4 in league play and 4-4 overall.

Castle has won its last two games and has been anchored by the play of senior Jeremy McGoldrick, who has accounted for 11 total touchdowns while playing wide receiver, quarterback and defensive back.

Moanalua snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Aiea last week. Senior quarterback Alakai Yuen's 1,750 passing yards rank fifth most in D1 statewide. He has amassed 26 total touchdowns this season, including a team-high three rushing scores.

We caught up with the head coaches of both teams a few days before their playoff meeting.

ScoringLive: Describe your team's current situation in one word.

Nelson Maeda, Castle coach: "I probably would have had a different description if I had spoken to you (Tuesday) morning, but our team situation right now is kind of precarious. Coming off of a nice win over Kailua, you would think the team would be very motivated for the opportunity ahead of us against Moanalua with what could happens in terms of being in the state tournament and extending our season, but (Tuesday's) practice did not look good, so we'll see what happens (Wednesday)."

Savaii Eselu, Moanalua coach: "Unique. Unique, because you're on the cusp of making a state tournament and there's a lot of ‘firsts,' and I'm pretty sure I don't just speak for ourselves, but I'm pretty sure I speak for the whole football community as a whole. that there will be a lot of first berths happening, so I would say unique is the correct word to say."

ScoringLive: How close is your team to playing at its potential?

Maeda: "I think this team has a lot of potential, (but) we're nowhere close to where we could be, unfortunately. We haven't really jelled as a team. It's nice that we were able to get some wins and position ourselves as a (number) five seed, but still it's really a work in progress with our team, so we hope to be prepared for a really good Moanalua team."

Eselu: "Our offense has yet to peek. We haven't really had that light-it-up game yet. We've had a few spurts here and there, but as an entire whole offense, including all offensive linemen, we haven't really hit that mark yet, but I'm inclined to say that it's coming around sooner than we expected."

ScoringLive: Which game this season, win or loss, proved to be most beneficial to your team?

Maeda: "I think it would be this past game against Kailua because it gave us confidences and gave us glimpses of how we could play. As a coaching staff, we weren't very happy that we weren't able to finish the game. We were up 21-0 then we gave Kailua opportunities to get back into the game, which was not good at all, but to jump out to a 21-0 lead against a real good Kailua team was really good for us with it being a rivalry game, but one game it's not the season in itself. It's one game in a season, a game that we circle, and it got us to where we can travel to Moanalua, whereas a loss would have forced us to travel to Waianae, so in that sense it was very advantageous."

Eselu: "I would say it's a tough one between the Waianae and Campbell games — both losses — but if I had to choose one I think I would say Campbell only because internally we weren't prepared at all. We weren't mentally prepared at all and it forced our kids to really dig down deep and realize that it's not about wins and losses and it's not about the hoopla, and that it's about the process and that translate to everyday life. Speaking in terms of football now, I think it helped them start their climb and shifted everything with Waianae to the third seed and it trickles down to the state tournament. That D1 tournament is going to be loaded now. I think the Campbell game was most beneficial for us because it wasn't a back breaker, but kind of like a man-maker."

ScoringLive: What's your take on this week's opponent?

Maeda: "They are a very well-coached team, they use multiple looks and they have very good athletes. (Quarterback) Alakai Yuen and (wide receiver) Ryan Ramones are a good combination. Ramones leads our conference with 60-plus catches, so it's just amazing what he does. He's their best guy, but they have other weapons, so we can't really just focus on him. They run the ball well, too. Yuen is a threat because he can run it. Offensively, they do a variety of things, use different formations, so our defense has our hands full. Their defense is not as a big as some teams we've faced, but they're quick and they also show a lot of different looks, so if we're not prepared for their blitzes it could be a long night. We have our work cut out for us."

Eselu: "They are definitely — especially under the direction of coach Maeda — they are definitely well-disciplined. I know that for a fact because he coached me in the all-star game. They are definitely in shape, there's no doubt about that. That's something they're accustomed to for many years now and for them it's about quality, not quantity. They don't have big numbers, but coach Maeda and his staff do a good job of making quality, not only football players, but quality people. With that, I know that it will be tough against him. If we give them opportunities and chances, they're going to hammer it down on us. They're going to make sure that anything we mess up, or show to them, or give to them, they're going to capitalize on that. This team is definitely smart, definitely in shape, and battle-tested, for sure.

ScoringLive: Is there any specific matchup that will be key to the game?

Maeda: "I think the matchup is our play in the trenches, especially with our offensive line. Hopefully we'll be able to get some open holes and get the quarterback some time for protection. We don't want our defense on the field for long amounts of time against their dangerous offense. Look at the points they've put up against some teams and you know they're very dangerous. Offensive line is a priority area for us, as well as defensive line, to try to neutralize what they do on offense because Yuen has shown that if you give him time he'll pick you apart."

Eselu: "More so, our defensive ends and not quite pinching the gap, but keeping McGoldrick in the pocket. If he gets outside, there's no telling what's going to happen. The main thing is for our defensive ends to keep McGoldrick in the pocket. Of course, (RB Isaiah) Pakele is a factor, too, but I think McGoldrick is very potent as that signal-caller behind center for them."

ScoringLive: How does your team win Friday night?

Maeda: "The good thing against Kailua is that we won the turnover battle. We had five takeaways and lost two — which was tough to swallow — but we need to continue to win the turnover battle and we need to control the ball. We can't go three downs and out and have their offense on the field because it's only a matter of time until they hit some home runs over there, so just being disciplined and taking care of the ball and on offense, move the ball and try to keep their offense off the field."

Eselu: "We've definitely got to communicate, we've always got to relay information and we have to utilize our weapons. Not just Ryan (Ramones), but we have to utilize all of our weapons. Whoever is all our receivers, Alakai's legs, we have to make good decisions and we have to be on the point and crisp in order to win."

Kickoff between the Knights and Na Menehune is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.