Raiders get one final tune-up with win over Knights

Iolani WR Nela Taliauli hauls in a pass against Castle Friday night in a non-league game. Leighland Tagawa | SL

Even on a night when they weren't at their best, the Iolani Raiders were able to come away with a decisive victory.

Sixth-ranked Iolani got one final win before regular season play with a 31-7 road victory over Castle Friday night in a non-league matchup.

The Raiders improved to 3-0 and will have a week off before hosting Saint Louis I-AA on Sept. 9.

Nela Taliauli caught four passes for 116 yards and a 49-yard touchdown to open the game's scoring and Keao carried the ball 11 times for 117 yards and a 77-yard score to convert third-and-long to lead Iolani offensively.

The Raiders were in control for majority of the game with their first punt of the night coming in the middle of the fourth quarter, but they could have been better.

Iolani was whistled for numerous penalties, which included a handful of fouls after the play and a pre-snap penalty before its first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Micah Hoomanawanui was solid with 151 yards and two TDs on 11 of 16 passing, but he fumbled the ball twice. Castle was also able to blow up many plays behind the line of scrimmage with seven tackles for loss.

The Knights, who dropped to 0-3, hung in there and made improvements as the game went along despite not scoring till the fourth quarter. A spike on fourth-and-1 inside Iolani territory just before the end of the first half and a holding penalty inside the red zone in the third quarter derailed two golden opportunities for Castle.

Castle quarterback Daunte Ching showed grit in the loss, passing for 76 yards while rushing for another 93. He completed just 8 of his 28 pass attempts, but eight of his incompletions were drops by the receivers.

Coby Tanioka provided the lone TD for the Knights with a 4-yard toss around right end 32 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Castle will travel to Kailua next Friday to begin OIA Division I play.