HUB GOODWILL SENIOR BOWL

PAUL HONDA / PHONDA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Quarterback Cameron Higgins of Saint Louis practiced with his East teammates this week at Aloha Stadium.
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1 more for the seniors
EAST: Stars will go as hard as the rules will allow
HE LET UP just a little, but defensive end Tanner Fetui has a certain mean streak when it comes to chasing down quarterbacks.
In the middle of practice yesterday afternoon at Aloha Stadium, Fetui, one of several players representing Farrington, broke away from the line of scrimmage and corralled quarterback Cameron Higgins. Though the team was in full pads, the rule was simple: Spare the hard hits.
15TH ANNUAL HUB GOODWILL SENIOR BOWL
Who: East vs. West, Oahu's top senior football players
When: Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, with pre-game festivities beginning at 7
Where: Aloha Stadium
TV: OC-16
Internet: www.starbulletin.com
Tickets: $5 (children 6 and under get in free)
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So Fetui, a soft-spoken senior off the field, let up and let go of Higgins. But Fetui's speed is just another component of an East defensive unit that could wreak havoc in tomorrow's 15th Annual HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl.
Like the West roster, the East is loaded on both sides of the ball. Quinton Tang, who committed to the University of Hawaii on Tuesday, is part of an elite linebacker corps. Kevin Unga, Kahuku's standout, joins Makana Atisanoe (Kailua) and Jared Silva (Saint Louis) to form a notable crew.
"I know a lot of people on both teams," said Tang, a 5-foot-11 220-pounder. "Competition. That's what it's all about."
Unga spearheaded a Red Raider defense that shut out Kapolei quarterback Brad Padayao and his team in the playoffs. Kapolei, operating a hybrid of the option and run-and-shoot, was one of the most prolific offenses in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
"It's just assignments," Unga said. "It's a different coach now, but it doesn't really matter which quarterback we face."
Head coach Arnold Martinez, who knows the option game quite well, is also the defensive coordinator.
There is, of course, no blitzing permitted unless the ball is inside the 10-yard line. Fetui thinks that can be a good thing. "That's a good rule sometimes. That's good for a defensive line. Then we can make more plays," he said.
The D-line certainly has a Farrington flavor, with brothers John and James Sagapolutele as part of the group. Kahuku's highly touted Joseph Faifili (6-3, 280) is a true anchor in the trenches. They will face a dangerous West offense that features Padayao and Kali Kuia (Aiea).
"He's got an arm," Fetui recalled of Kuia. "And he can read, too. I'd rather face an option quarterback. There's more time to make a play."
The East offense, under coordinator Wendell Look of Iolani, has plenty of promise. Quarterbacks Kiran Kepo'o, Higgins and Moanalua's Stanford Leti form a prolific trio. Kepo'o was a Star-Bulletin first-team All-State passer under Look's tutelage at Iolani a year ago, while Higgins is well-versed in the run-and-shoot and option elements.
Leti, who also committed to UH on Tuesday, is a strong, punishing option quarterback who is learning the wrinkles of Look's offense.
"We try and keep things simple. My offense is simple as it is," Look said. "It's a matter of getting the assignments down, and that's hard to do in a week."
The offense won't just be about the signal-callers, however. The line includes highly recruited Whitley Fehoko of Farrington, a two-way starter.
The backfield includes Kamuela Alisa of Kahuku, Mike Hirokawa of Iolani and Koloa Kahalewai-Crawford of Roosevelt.
The receiver corps includes Devin Unga, Kahuku's big-play tight end and twin brother of Kevin. Because I-formation sets are not permitted between the 20-yard lines, Unga is learning to play slot and wideout this week.
Above all, the East stars are learning more than X's and O's.
"It's fun. I didn't expect everybody to come together and be this cool," said Fetui, a 6-foot 230-pounder. "Even though we're from different schools, we're working together."
Fetui carries a 3.0 grade-point average and took the SAT last weekend for a third time. Qualifying for a Division I college is utmost on his list of priorities.
"I'd like to go where I'm comfortable," said Fetui, who has received interest from Utah, New Mexico State, San Diego State, Boise State and Hawaii.
The team comedian, Fetui said, is Leti.
"He's a clown. He's funny. He's the kind of person you want to train with. He'll work hard, but you have fun," Fetui said.
Look, who guided Iolani to the Division II state championship, was busy getting his hands into the machinery of the offense.
"For me, what I enjoy is working with all these players, from all these schools. It's nice to have some size, plus the 50 best players from the East side," he said.
Kahuku defensive end B.J. Beatty watched from the sidelines yesterday, nursing a stiff lower back that has hobbled him for the past two weeks.
"It tightened up on me during drills yesterday," Beatty said. "I'm bummed that I might not play, but it might be a blessing in disguise. I probably have a lot more ahead of me."
Kalani is represented by cornerback Jeff Boyne.
"We had a lot of talented seniors. I feel fortunate to be here," the 5-11, 140-pound senior said. "It's my greatest experience so far. The talent out here is incredible. I've learned a lot."
The coaching staffs of both teams are as elite as the players. "These kids are so talented, so humble and so respectful," Look noted. "That's why I do it every year. Part of the process for them is to be able to blend in. They're kids with great character."
Extra point: Among those who turned down invitations to play were Iolani wide receiver Travis Nishioka and linebacker Jon Takamura. Nishioka is concentrating on baseball, while Takamura rejoined his basketball team. Iolani is the defending state basketball champion.
East roster
No. |
Name |
School |
Pos. |
1 |
Mike Hirokawa |
Iolani |
RB |
2 |
Kenny Gibson |
Kailua |
WR |
3 |
Kekai Hirokawa |
Iolani |
WR |
4 |
Kenneth Faumui |
Farrington |
RB |
5 |
Pa'a Kamauoha |
Kaiser |
DB |
6 |
Evan Garcia |
Kaiser |
WR |
7 |
Stanford Leti |
Moanalua |
QB |
8 |
Koloa Kahalewai-Crawford |
Roosevelt |
RB |
9 |
B.J. Beatty |
Kahuku |
LB |
10 |
Landon Watanabe |
Moanalua |
LB/K |
11 |
Lihikai Domingo |
Castle |
WR |
12 |
Kiran Kepo'o |
Iolani |
QB |
13 |
J.D. Baba |
Moanalua |
DB/P |
14 |
Cameron Higgins |
Saint Louis |
QB |
15 |
Royce Alvarado |
Pac-Five |
WR |
20 |
Cody Wells |
Saint Louis |
RB |
21 |
Makana Atisanoe |
Kailua |
LB |
22 |
Quinton Tang |
Moanalua |
LB/LS |
23 |
Sean Mulcahy |
Kalaheo |
DB |
24 |
Jeff Boyne |
Kalani |
DB |
25 |
John Estores |
Moanalua |
WR |
26 |
Robbie Fukuhara |
Roosevelt |
DB |
31 |
Kamuela Alisa |
Kahuku |
RB |
33 |
Randy Villaver |
Farrington |
DB |
36 |
John Ufuti |
Castle |
LB |
37 |
Landon Patoc |
Iolani |
DB |
40 |
Jared Silva |
Saint Louis |
LB |
44 |
Kevin Unga |
Kahuku |
LB |
50 |
Michael Vierra |
Kaimuki |
LB |
51 |
James Sagapolutele |
Farrington |
DL |
54 |
Russel Fisher |
Pac-Five |
DL |
55 |
Joe Fafili |
Kahuku |
DL |
56 |
Justin Abregano |
Kahuku |
OL |
60 |
Kyle Otineru |
Saint Louis |
OL |
62 |
Jeremiah Tuua |
Farrington |
OL |
63 |
Michael Hamada |
Pac-Five |
OL |
64 |
Latu Tupou |
Kahuku |
OL |
65 |
Whitley Fehoko |
Farrington |
OL |
66 |
Robbie Lopes |
Iolani |
OL |
74 |
Ken Wilcox |
Kahuku |
OL |
75 |
Clint Daniel |
Castle |
OL |
77 |
Esrom Pascual |
Saint Louis |
OL |
78 |
Iole Liu |
Saint Louis |
OL |
79 |
John Sagapolutele |
Farrington |
DL |
80 |
Devin Unga |
Kahuku |
TE |
82 |
Matagi Toilolo |
Castle |
LB |
88 |
Jarryd Maeda |
Kaiser |
LB |
92 |
Tanner Fetui |
Farrington |
DL |
93 |
Junior Aiko |
McKinley |
DL |
95 |
Kamalu Umu |
Saint Louis |
DL |