GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Mililani's Jon Santos reeled in a pass for the West team in front of the East's Jordan Kaheokapu of Castle High.

Santos stars as West
beats East

Jon Santos lets his actions do all the talking.

After catching three touchdown passes in the first half, there was little talking left to do. Santos finished with 198 yards on six receptions as the West routed the East 31-17 last night in the HUB Goodwill Classic at Aloha Stadium.

A crowd of 2,951 watched Santos get hot on a cold, blustery night. The West scored on all four of its first-half possessions. By intermission, Maka Kahoano and Austen Benito each had a scoring toss, and Shaye Asoau had two touchdown strikes.

It didn't hurt Santos to play in an offensive system designed by his coach at Mililani, James Millwood. "Me and Maka helped everyone learn it," Santos said. "I found a way to break free a couple of times."

Santos has yet to receive a scholarship offer, but has made heads turn many times, including last night. "I want to keep playing 'til I can't play any more," the 6-foot, 180-pound senior said.

Defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea was named the West's defensive player of the game. "Honestly, even if this game wasn't on TV, every single guy was going to give 110 percent no matter what," he said.

Defensive coordinator Kale Ane was pleased with his unit. "We could make adjustments easily. These guys are smart and very experienced," he said.

West co-head coaches Dean Nakagawa and Rudy Alejo were smiling at game's end. "We had good coaches and players. They did an outstanding job," Nakagawa said.

Stanley Nihipali passed for 274 yards and was named the East offensive player of the game.

The East was 10-0-2 against the West until the past two seasons, when the West came away triumphant.

"It is hard to adjust to a new offense in a short amount of time. We kind of had to hurry things," East receiver Spencer Hafoka said.

"It was pretty fun. It was like a normal game," said defensive lineman Tyson Alualu, who was named the East's defensive player of the game.

East coach Randall Okimoto came away impressed by Santos. "That kid is very talented," he said. Santos' best catch may have been a non-scoring play. He pulled down a 38-yard pass between two defenders.

"That play was a jump ball against two guys and he won," Okimoto said.

The West opened the game with a five-play, 52-yard drive. Kahoano, of Mililani, connected with Campbell's Isaac Laupola on a fade route for an 11-yard touchdown. The West led 7-0 with 9:36 to go in the first quarter.

Ethan Gonsalves drilled a 36-yard field goal to cap the East's first possession, but the West answered with 21 points in a row.

Benito entered the game and directed a 63-yard drive. The West ran five times in a row before Benito fired a 23-yard bullet to Santos. He later found Santos for an 11-yard fade pass for the West's second touchdown. They led 14-3 with 11:54 left in the second quarter.

The West defense took over the game at that point, stopping the East on three consecutive drives.

Asoau, who directed Campbell's Delaware Wing-T, entered with less than 8 minutes left in the first half. He promptly guided the West on a 91-yard drive, aided by a personal-foul call against the East. That turned a potential fourth-and-3 into a first down.

On the ensuing play, Asoau's play-action pass to Santos was on target for a 55-yard touchdown play. The West led 21-3 with 4:01 left in the first half.

Kahoano returned at quarterback to lead the next West drive, but Asoau lined up in the backfield. Asoau took a toss and heaved a 45-yard touchdown pass to Santos, and the West led 28-3 with 49 seconds to go in the half.

The East finally crossed the goal line after a 65-yard drive. Nihipali completed passes of 20 yards to Hafoka of Kahuku and 36 to Matt Ching of Kaiser. That led to Rudy Artuyo's 2-yard scoring toss to Victor Clore, and the East trailed 28-10 with 7:21 to play in the third.

Steven King drilled a 27-yard field goal to boost the West's lead to 31-10 with 3:17 to go in the third.

Shannon Wise of Kaiser sparked the East's next scoring drive, racing 20 yards on an option keeper to set up his 7-yard touchdown pass to Ching. That cut the lead to 31-17 with 6:56 remaining in the game.

Okimoto, who played in the first Goodwill Classic, saw some potential sleepers.

The versatile Wise, a first-team Oahu Interscholastic Association White pick on offense and defense, showed his wares.

"Shannon's a great athlete. For a first-year quarterback, he did a great job. The guy can really run," Okimoto said.

Farrington linebacker John Fonoti also shined. "He really showed he can come off the edge," Okimoto said.

West 31, East 17

At Aloha Stadium

West	7	21	3	0	--	31
East	3	0	7	7	--	17

W--Isaac Laupola 11 pass from Maka Kahoano (Steven King kick).
E--FG Ethan Gonsalves 36.
W--Jon Santos 11 pass from Austen Benito (King kick).
W--Santos 55 pass from Shaye Asoau (King kick).
W--Santos 45 pass from Asoau (King kick).
E--Victor Clore 2 pass from Rudy Artuyo (Gonsalves kick).
W--FG King 27.
E--Matt Ching 7 pass from Stanley Nihipali (Gonsalves kick).

RUSHING--West: Krypton Taito 6-46, Donny Mapusaga 5-7, Va'a Faualo 4-(-7), Benito 2-10, Santos 1-17, Jayson Rego 6-23, Asoau 3-24. East: Kevin Sullivan 5-38, Tyson Alualu 1-4, Shannon Wise 7-46, Kekoa Sua 4-12, Damien Torres 5-17, Artuyo 3-7, Nihipali 1-8.
PASSING--West: Kahoano 3-4-0-47, Benito 4-7-0-51, Asoau 4-5-0-138. East: Nihipali 16-30-1-274, Spencer Hafoka 0-2-0-0, Artuyo 3-6-0-17, Wise 2-4-0-20.
RECEIVING--West: Santos 6-198, Laupola 1-11, Mapusaga 1-10, Stephen Baughn 1-11, Brian Matsumoto 1-6, Alex Distajo 1-0. East: Shaun Kauleinamoku 4-25, Alex Mendoza 1-38, Sua 1-16, Louis Mansanas 2-30, Chris Quiocho 3-53, Tui Richter 2-43, Hafoka 3-37, Ching 3-54, Clore 1-2, Sullivan 1-13.