Pardon the Castle Knights if they don't remember the last time they beat Kahuku. For it happened 17 seasons ago, before most of them were even born.

Behind a stellar defense and some nice touch passes from quarterback Bryce Kalauoka'aea, Castle stunned top-ranked Kahuku, 23-6, last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East football before 3,354 at Aloha Stadium.

"This is a great win for us and a great win for the community," Kalauoka'aea said. "To beat a superb team like Kahuku is a great accomplishment for all of us."

The victory snapped Kahuku's regular-season win streak at 17; its previous loss came in a 23-13 decision to Roosevelt in 2002, a week after the Red Raiders lost to nationally ranked Long Beach (Calif.) Poly, 42-16. It was the last time Kahuku (2-1 overall, 1-1 East) lost successive games.

"All the credit to Castle," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "They came to play. They were focused. We made a lot of mistakes, but it's a credit to them."

For the Knights (3-2, 3-0), it was their first win against the Red Raiders since Nov. 5, 1988, an 8-0 decision.

Kalauoka'aea completed 21 of 32 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, including a 69-yarder to Blaine Kobashigawa on a streak down the left side in the third quarter. Kobashigawa was the favorite target of the night, hauling in 10 passes for 151 yards.

Kalauoka'aea also had TD passes of 5 yards to Kaleo Silva and 20 yards to Scott Keiter-Charles, both in the second quarter.

But it was Castle's defense that gave its offense a chance. Three turnovers led to Castle's first three scores, two created by the defense, the other by special teams. Kahuku was held scoreless for three quarters and finished with 162 yards rushing. Running back Kamuela Alisa was held to 61 yards, while Simi Alo had 86. But neither could break one for a score against Castle's fast-acting defense that pretty much controlled the line of scrimmage.

Defensive lineman Shayson Suzui was in on four of six sacks against Kahuku. His first caused Kahuku quarterback Kaulin Krebs to lose the ball, which was recovered by Blake Soares at the Kahuku 5, setting up Kalauoka'aea's 5-yard TD pass to Silva on a slant from the right side. Matagi Toilolo's PAT made it 7-0 with 3:41 left in the half.

On Castle's next series, Keiter-Charles recovered a muffed punt at the Kahuku 24. A penalty against Kahuku during the play set up Castle at the Kahuku 12. Two pass-interference penalties later — one against each team on successive plays — Kalauoka'aea hit Keiter-Charles on a fade in the right corner of the end zone with 1:02 left. Kahuku blocked Toilolo's PAT to make it 13-0.

An interception by Seth Estioko gave Castle possession at the Kahuku 14 with eight seconds left in the half. After an incomplete pass, Toilolo kicked a 30-yard field goal as time ran out to give the Knights a 16-0 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, Kahuku came up two yards short on a fake punt to the Castle 39. On third-and-18, Kalauoka'aea hit the double-covered Kobashigawa in full stride on a 69-yard TD pass to make it 23-0.

Kahuku scored on its ensuing series when Jacob Kahawai'i hit Evans on a 34-yard TD pass with 8:23 left in the game.

But Kahuku's next three series each failed to reach inside the Castle 40.

"The defense did an outstanding job, considering how we were playing a couple weeks ago," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said. "I think they made progress every game and tonight was a feather in their (the defensive players) cap."

Besides the turnovers, the Red Raiders were hampered by 16 penalties for 146 yards, four of which resulted in first downs. Castle was penalized nine times for 130 yards.

"There's a lot to be learned from here," Livai said. "Now's the time to do it."

CASTLE (3-2, 3-0) 0 16 7 0—23

KAHUKU (2-1, 1-1) 0 0 0 6— 6

Cast—Kaleo Silva 5 pass from Bryce Kalauoka'aea (Matagi Toilolo kick)

Cast—Scott Keiter-Charles 20 pass From Kalauoka'aea (kick blocked)

Cast—FG Toilolo 30

Cast—Blaine Kobashigawa 69 pass Kalauoka'aea (Toilolo kick)

Kah—Jason Evans 34 pass from Jacob Kahawai'i (run failed)

RUSHING—Castle: Kalauoka'aea 4-(minus 37), John Ufuti 2-(minus 3), Andrew Fakatoka 2-(minus 1), Lihikai Domingo 1-1, Laakea Nitta 1-(minus 5).

Kahuku: Kaulin Krebs 7-(minus 14), Kamuela Alisa 14-61, Malosi Te'o 3-17, Simi Alo 10-86, Lehi Aumua 4-9, Kawahawai'i 3-(minus 13), Jason Evans 1-11, Shiloh Te'o 1-8.

PASSING—Castle: Kalauoka'aea 21-32-1—228.

Kahuku: Krebs 2-4-0—27, Kahawai'i 4-12-1—50.

RECEIVING—Castle: Domingo 1-4, Keiter-Charles 4-40, Kobashigawa 10-151, Ikaika Fonseca 2-14, Silva 1-5, Alika Kalopodes 2-10, Matt Malufau 1-4.

Kahuku: Anthony Siilata 1-15, Evans 4-55, Aumua 1-7.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.