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Brandon Ching | ScoringLiveAugust 11, 2018, 1:34am
Fri, Aug 10, 2018 @ Castle [ 7:30 pm ]
KANEOHE — Savaii Eselu's prayers were answered in Na Menehune's season-opener.
No. 14 Moanalua converted a 73-yard hook-and-lateral score on fourth-and-8 to beat Castle, 40-36, to open Division I play at the Knights' field on Friday.
Na Menehune (1-0 overall, 1-0 league) overcame the loss of quarterback Nick Au in the fourth quarter, who finished with 384 passing yards, four touchdowns and four picks. Ezra Grace, who played receiver and punt returner, did what he could at emergency QB despite not taking a single rep in practice.
"In football, you have a plan A, B, C, but you never think you'll get to plan D, but we were at plan W. All kind of bad things," said Eselu, as he begins his third-year as coach at his alma mater.
The Knights (0-2 overall, 0-1 league) bottled up Ezra Grace to force Moanalua to punt, and Braxton Wilcox recovered a bad snap in the end zone with Cheyden Costa making the PAT for a 36-34 lead with 3:39 left in the game.
On Na Menehune's next possession, Ezra Grace gained two yards and Castle declined a false start penalty to make it third-and-8. Ezra's pass attempt was no good as Moanalua faced a fourth-and-8 on their own 27. Following a timeout, Ezra threw it to CJ Paleafei, who then pitched it to a trailing Micah Kim who took it all the way, but the kick failed as Na Menehune regained the lead, 40-36.
"I shot from the hip on that one," Eselu said of the game-winning play. "I just figured they would give us off-coverage and not press. I was trying to set it up, but they kept playing the wrong coverage that I wanted it. They ended up playing soft and it was there for the taking. That hook-and-ladder worked great."
Samuel Judd found Kanekulani Kahala-Giron and Punivai for nine and seven yard gains respectively, but Aukai Grace picked off Judd. Three plays later, Moanalua ran out the clock to preserve the win.
"That was an answered prayer. Week one is in the books," Eselu said.
Drayden Von Oelhoffen capped a two-play 50-yard scoring drive with a 30-yard reception and added a six-yard touchdown from Au for an early 14-0 lead.
Punivai, who was all over the field, intercepted Au and returned it 86 yards off a deflection and later ran it in for a 9-yard score off a fake field goal to tie the game up at 14.
"We try to get him the ball. Sometimes when he plays both ways, the body was wear and tear. He's outstanding and an natural athlete," Castle coach John Hao said of Punivai.
Punivai added his third interception of the game this time it was 78 yards to the house to give the Knights a 21-14 lead, however, just over three minutes before the half, Jesse Kaohi picked off Austyn Acosta for a 53-yard touchdown to knot the game at 21 going into halftime.
Na Menehune's second half scoring drive covered eight plays as Au threw a 15-yard touchdown to CJ Paleafei on a fourth-and-goal for a 28-21 lead.
After the Knights went three and out, Moanalua finished off an 11-play, 68-yard drive with Au throwing his fourth touchdown pass to Lawsen Lee, but the kick was blocked for a 34-21 lead late in the third quarter.
Castle took over on their own 30 and personal foul penalties extended their drives as the Knights made it down to Moanalua's 10-yard line. The Knights would turn it over on downs, but Chaz Ciacci's interception on Moanalua's first play with 5:55 remaining and Senituli Punivai's two-point run brought Castle within five, 34-29. Au was hurt following the interception and never returned.
The Knights scored four of their five touchdowns on defense. Ciacci added a sack and Punivai also had a tackle-for-loss.
Acosta and Judd combined for 10 of 22, 113 yards and three interceptions. Paul Omenegbar caught a team-high 87 yards on five catches.
"Our defense played a hell of a game. Without defense scoring, our offense it would've been zero on the board. We're struggling offensively, without the defense picking up the load, it would've been ugly," Hao said.
Moanalua hosts Aiea on Aug. 17 while Castle looks to regroup as they face No. 10 Leilehua.
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