JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM The West team's Michael Smith of Mililani hauled in a pass over the East's Landon Patoc of Iolani in the second half last night.

West gets season's final win

Kamehameha wide receiver Aaron Nichols saves his best for last in the 13-6 victory

They waited long enough to look for Aaron Nichols, but when the West All-Stars finally did, they found a Warrior.

Kamehameha's standout wide receiver caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brad Padayao with 1:31 left, lifting the West over the East 13-6 last night in the 15th Annual HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

Nichols caught two passes for 27 yards during the winning drive, in addition to forcing a pair of pass-interference penalties by the East secondary.

"Our passing game is a lot of timing, and we only had two weeks to practice," said Nichols, a 6-foot 175-pounder. "We ended up calling that play four times in a row."

The East started its next possession on its 14-yard line, but went three and out to end its hopes.

Padayao, a versatile quarterback who mastered Kapolei's option and run-and-shoot hybrid offense, got hot at the end. The 5-10 185-pounder completed his last four pass attempts as the West overcame a stealthy East defensive unit.

Kealoha Pilares of Damien was named the West's offensive player of the game. The speedy 5-11, 175-pound running back finished with 57 yards on eight carries.

Kapolei linebacker Po'okela Ahmad was named the West's defensive player of the game.

Moanalua's standout duo of Stanford Leti and Quinton Tang reaped top honors for the East. Leti rushed for 62 yards on eight carries at quarterback. Tang had a stellar game at middle linebacker.

"I had a lot of fun. Just playing in the stadium puts a big smile on my face, playing against the best," the 5-11 220-pounder said. On Wednesday, Tang and Leti announced their verbal commitments to play for the University of Hawaii.

The West defense amassed four sacks, including one by Mana Lolotai during the East's last series of the game.

It was a physical battle, but a fun night for the seniors. Many of the East's linemen and linebackers painted their faces in black, Polynesian-tattoo style.

"It's been great playing with these guys," Farrington lineman Whitley Fehoko said. The 6-foot 290-pounder started both ways. "Defense was more fun. When they announce your name after you make a tackle, it's awesome."

Defense dominated the first half for both teams. The West accumulated 97 rushing yards on 22 attempts, but passed for only 18 yards. West passers completed only three of nine attempts before halftime.

The East struggled even more, rushing for 24 yards on 11 carries. The West defense came up with three deflections (Kennedy Orteza, Ben Kahalehoe and Guyes Galdeira), two fumble recoveries, two sacks (Lolomana Mikaele and Kahalehoe) and one hurry (Justin Hunt).

East passers combined for three completions in nine attempts for 18 first-half yards.

The West finally ended the scoring drought with its first series of the second half. A 43-yard strike from Aiea's Kali Kuia to Mililani receiver Michael Smith set the West up at the 1-yard line. On fourth down, Padayao darted over the goal line on an option keeper to give the West a 6-0 lead.

Tang leaped over the line to block the ensuing PAT kick, an illegal play. It didn't matter. Even with the ball on the nose of the goal line, the West couldn't punch in for the 2-point conversion. Tang stuffed fullback Radford Raquedan to keep the margin at six points.

The defensive stalemate continued when Jeff Boyne intercepted a deep pass by Padayao at the 1-yard line.

"We were playing deep zone, and I had the deep third," said Boyne, a 5-11, 140-pound cornerback from Kalani. "I had to make sure I was the only one who could get it."

Leti returned at quarterback to guide the East on a 13-play, 99-yard scoring drive.

Leti completed one pass for 14 yards to Kailua's Kenny Gibson on a key third-and-5 play to keep the drive alive. Leti ran the ball six times for 62 yards during the march, including an 11-yard option keeper to the end zone.

West lineman Jonathan Overton of Punahou blocked the PAT attempt to leave the game tied at 6 with 6:13 remaining.

West 13, East 6

East--Stanford Leti 11 run (kick failed).

West--Aaron Nichols 12 pass from Padayao (Michael Smith kick).

RUSHING--East: Kenneth Faumui 6-22, Koloa Kahalewai-Crawford 4-15, Kamuela Alisa 3-22, Mike Hirokawa 3-11, Kiran Kepo'o 3-(-21), John Estores 1-(-1), Cameron Higgins 1-(-10). West: Kealoha Pilares 8-57, Kekoa Perbera 5-19, Radford Raquedan 3-8, Kali Kuia 7-23, Alex Daniels 5-10, Padayao 3-8, Andrew Blue 4-11.

PASSING--East: Higgins 3-10-0-9, Kepo'o 5-8-0-21, Leti 1-3-0-14. West: Kuia 4-7-0-47, Padayao 5-9-1-46, Perbera 0-1-0-0, Blue 1-1-0-11.

RECEIVING--East: Lokahi Domingo 2-4, Hirokawa 2-8, Devin Unga 2-8, Leti 1-7, Kenny Gibson 2-17. West: Jon Santiago 2-20, Isiah Smith 1-2, Raquedan 1-11, Perbera 2-4, M. Smith 1-43, Daniels 1-(-3), Nichols 2-27.