Teicher: This time, Castille comes through
 

This time, Castille comes through
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

CINCINNATI | The ball, Tim Castille and three Cincinnati Bengals converged at one time, and Castille made a quick determination: After his fumble proved costly in last week’s loss to Cleveland, he wasn’t going to let any of the other parties win.

And he didn’t. Castille emerged with the ball in the end zone after catching a 20-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter for the Chiefs’ only touchdown of their 17-10 loss to Cincinnati.

The ball appeared destined to be intercepted when it left quarterback Matt Cassel’s hand. It took a great throw by Cassel and a better catch by Castille to squeeze the ball between the three Cincinnati defenders.

“It didn’t seem that bad to me,” Castille said. “I was just focusing on the ball. When I had my hands on it, I just remembered not to let it go. I don’t get that many opportunities. When I do, I have to make the most of them. That’s kind of what coach’s motto is. That’s always in the back of my head.”

Castille is a little-used backup fullback. He was only one of a group of players at the bottom of the Chiefs’ roster to contribute Sunday.

Rookie tight end Jake O’Connell got his hand on a Cincinnati punt. He didn’t get credit for a block because the ball went beyond the line of scrimmage.

But the Bengals managed only a 21-yard punt because of O’Connell. The Chiefs took possession at the Cincinnati 49 to start their drive to Castille’s touchdown.

Another rookie, wide receiver Quinten Lawrence, downed a punt on the Cincinnati 2 in the fourth quarter. His effort was in vain because the Bengals wound up driving 98 yards for the winning touchdown.

It was Castille who came up with the Chiefs’ biggest play of the game.

“Tim Castille is a guy that hurt us last week, and we talked about guys bouncing back and making plays,” coach Todd Haley said. “The kid went in there and made a heck of a play for a touchdown on third and long.”