RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Mililani offensive lineman Aaron Kia practiced with the West squad yesterday at Aloha Stadium.

Players practice Goodwill

Lights are out at Aloha Stadium, but a few dozen football players stand there under the goal posts anyway.

The sun has almost set over Pearl Harbor, and practice is almost done. The West All-Stars run a relay race through the dark, from one end to another. Darin Awong, all 388 pounds of him, chugs and covers 220 yards with grace. He's running for his future.

Goodwill Classic Rosters East Castle: Victor Clore, DL; Keoni Gomes, LB; Ethan Gonsalves, K/P; Jordan Kaheokapu, DB; Louis Mansanas Jr., UTL; Travis Paaga, DL; Blaze Soares, LB Farrington: Kanoki Faavesi; Eric Fagalele, DB; John Fonoti, DL; Shaun Lauvao, OL; Alex Mendoza, WR; Kyle Marson, DB; Luavalu Sagapolutele, DL Iolani: Micah Kalama, WR; Milo Kalama, DB; Larry Maluatoga, OL; Samson Shigetomi, DL Kahuku: Al Afalava, DB; Brysen Ginlack, OL; Spencer Hafoka, WR; Maveu Heimuli, OL; David Niumatalolo, DL; Micah Strickland, RB; Viliami Tilini, RB/TE Kailua: Kainoa Lacount; Kekoa Sua, SB; Damien Torres, RB Kaimuki: Semi Qoro, LB Kaiser: Matt Ching, WR; Shannon Wise, QB Kalani: Thomas Moriyasu, OL McKinley: Raphael Ieru, OL; Chris Quiocho, WR Moanalua: Ervin Smiley, OL Pac-Five: Kaimana Komine, DB; Brashton Satele, LB; Cody Walker, DB Roosevelt: Rudy Artuyo, DB; Brandon Davis, LB; La'akea Moikeha, DB; Tui Richter, SB Saint Louis: Bronson Abrigo, OL; Tyson Alualu, DL; Shaun Kauleinamoku, SB; Tane Nahale'a, LB; Stanley Nihipali, QB; Zachary Santos, DB; Kevin Sullivan, RB West Aiea: RJ Kiesel-Kauhane, LB; Aveni Leung-Wai, DB; Donny Mapusaga, RB; Joe Miller, OL; Rocky Savaiigaea, DL; Malo Taumua, DL; CJ Tausaga, DB; Campbell: Shaye Asoau, FB; Kealii Basham, DL; Isaac Laupola, WR Damien: Robert McDermott, DL; Garyk Ontai, OL; Akalifa Tau, DL; Howard Yun, LB Kamehameha: Chaz Barit, DL; Kepa Gaison, OL; Michael Holt; Mika Kane, DL; Jayson Rego, RB; Travis Uale, DB; Tyler Williams, OL Kapolei: Ikaika Aken-Moleta, OL; Darin Awong, OL; Kaiea Ibanez, LB; Kainoa Kaheaku-Enhada, DB; Ikaika Tan, DB Leilehua: BJ Fruean, LB; Kekoa Kama, DL; Ikoa Rosa-Paris, OL Mililani: Maka Kahoana, QB; Aaron Kia, OL; Sene Maafala, OL; Aaron Pooloa, LB; John Santos, WR; Michael Suan, LB Nanakuli: Jaycee Alapai, QB; John Palakiko, DB; Alex Distajo, SB Pearl City: Steven King, WR Punahou: Trask Iosefa, OL; Brian Matsumoto, WR; Tyson Pa'aga, LB; Fred Schilla, OL Radford: Stephen Baughn, SB Waialua: Jerrold McNulty, DB Waianae: Sean Savini, DL Waipahu: Austen Benito, QB; Fuavaa Faualo, RB; Krypton Taito, FB; Ryan Winfree, SB

The HUB Goodwill Classic kicks off tomorrow night at 7:30 with a little more glitter. The game at Aloha Stadium will be streamed over the Internet on the starbulletin.com, bringing Hawaii prep football to the world. The game, however, isn't just about technology.

The game helps players like Awong. The Kapolei lineman gets thumbs ups from the coaching staff for his hustle and maturity at daily practices.

It wasn't long ago when Roosevelt coach Les Parilla said it succinctly.

Blue-chip athletes, he noted, get plenty of attention. The fact is, though, that many football players are under the radar because of Hawaii's isolation. Add dozens upon dozens of non-qualifying athletes to that, and there's nowhere for them to achieve their football dreams.

Parilla and so many coaches over the years have given their time to the HUB Goodwill Classic, which gives players a chance to move closer to their collegiate goals. For many players, the door of opportunity is at a community or junior college. That's exactly what Awong is experiencing.

The 6-foot-2 senior knows he could have done better in school. At this point, though, he is ready to attend either Redwood (Calif.) or Dixie (Utah). There's no looking back at what could've been.

"I want to represent my family and my school," said Awong, an All-Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West second-team selection.

"This kid is 400 pounds, but he can really move," West co-head coach Dean Nakagawa said.

The West coaching staff is bullish, especially after winning last year's battle. "We have the three fastest guys in the OIA with (Jon) Santos, (Isaac) Laupola and (Ikaika) Tan," assistant Darren Hernandez said.

Fellow assistant Wendall Say was quick to chime in.

"We also have the three biggest," the Aiea coach said, referring to linemen Sene Ma'afala (372 pounds), Awong and, jokingly, coach Hernandez.

Rudy Alejo was as much a mentor as a fan. "The fun part is meeting kids you read about. They're good guys," said Allejo, who is co-head coach with Nakagawa at Damien.

The game, as well as the two-week practice sessions, can be an eye-opener for visiting college recruiters. A sleeper like Malo Taumua knows what it's like to be right on the edge. The 6-2, 295-pound defensive tackle needs 20 more points on his SAT to become NCAA-qualified. Taumua has a 2.9 GPA and a lot of interest from Utah. He has an official visit to the Salt Lake City campus in mid-January.

Playing in the shadow of OIA Red West Defensive Player of the Year Rocky Savaiiagea, Taumua has also drawn interest from Colorado and Hawaii.

"I have family in Utah and Colorado. I spent time with family in Utah," he said. If it comes down to a choice among the three schools, he's leaning toward Utah.

"They have a good shot at the BCS someday, I think."

Savaiigaea, meanwhile, was leaning toward Utah until coach Urban Meyer left for Florida. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound tackle is now heavily in favor of Hawaii.

West assistant coaches include Al Beaver and defensive coordinator Kale Ane. Beaver, the head coach at Nanakuli, has not coached in an all-star game since the early 1970s.

"That was when we had the Hawaii-California games. I was coaching with (Larry) Ginoza. These guys don't need a lot of teaching at this point. They're all-stars who have had a lot of great coaching," he said. "All you do is sharpen the blade."

Kapolei offensive lineman Ikaika Aken-Moleta is an exception to the rule.

While many public-school football student-athletes are on the bubble, he hit the books hard enough to qualify. Visits to Oregon and Oregon State are lined up for January. Word is that Hawaii may be interested in the 6-3, 315-pound senior as a defensive tackle.

The West practices are a far cry from long seasons under the Kapolei sun.

"There's more freedom. It's not as harsh," he said. "I'm here for the fun of it, getting to know new people. Playing with my enemies."

Like other young athletes, Aken-Moleta could have taken it easy with academics when his high school career began. Instead, he buckled down.

"During the season, it's hard. You wake up early, go to class, practice and get home late. You gotta manage your time wisely and keep up with your schoolwork," he said.

"Then you get to have fun."