2009 Aloha Prep Bowl Highlights Hawaii’s Gridiron Talent

2009 Aloha Prep Bowl Highlights Hawaii’s Gridiron Talent

Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:21
www.AlohaPrepBowl.com

West wins Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl, Mainland wins Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl

HONOLULU , HI – December 12, 2009 – Hawaii prep football fans turned out in the thousands to watch the best of the best high school senior football players from Hawaii and the Continental United States compete in the second annual Aloha Prep Bowl, presented by the Hawaii Army National Guard, on Saturday, December 12 at Aloha Stadium. The Aloha Prep Bowl is produced by Football University (FBU), an invitation-only camp for elite-level youth and prep players, in conjunction with the Hawaii Union Builders (HUB) Foundation. Proceeds from the Aloha Prep Bowl go to the HUB Foundation, which provides scholarships to Hawaii college-bound student athletes.

The Aloha Prep Bowl highlighted 130 Hawaii players in the exciting double header. The first game, the 19th annual Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl was an East Oahu vs. West Oahu challenge that had players from both OIA and ILH high schools. The second game, the 2nd annual Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl features Hawaii and Mainland all-stars.

“We are very pleased that so many people came out to support these young men who were chosen to play in the Aloha Prep Bowl,” said Wayne Chun, Co-Chariman of the HUB Foundation. “The HUB Foundation created the Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl years ago to showcase Oahu’s football talent and to raise funds for local schools and scholarships for college-bound athletes. This double header continues this mission.” Since its inception, the HUB Foundation has raised over $100,000 for schools and scholarships.

Football University (owned by SportsLink, the creators of the U.S. Army Bowl on NBC) President Rich McGuinness added, “Hawaii is definitely a hotbed for gridiron talent and we are pleased to be involved with this great event.” The Aloha Prep Bowl has proven to open the eyes of college recruiters for many high school seniors who have gone unnoticed in the regular season.

Helping make this bowl a reality is the Aloha Prep Bowl local Hawaii sponsors, including: presenting sponsor, Hawaii Army National Guard; OC16; Dixie Grill; Starcomm Sports Radio; Hawaii Digital Sports; Honolulu Star-Bulletin/MidWeek; Ward Pet Spot; Pacific Administrators, Inc.; The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1186; Bank of Hawaii; Hawaii Self Storage; Seven-Eleven Hawaii, Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines; McDonald’s Hawaii; Lemke, Chinen and Tanaka, CPA, Inc., and Ironworkers Union Local 625. 

HAWAII GOODWILL SENIOR BOWL HIGHLIGHTS – By Scoring Live

For the seventh straight year, the West Team defeated the East Team with a final score of 27-6 at the 19th annual Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl.

West Team quarterback T.C. Campbell (Kamehameha School) threw two touchdown passes, one to Graham Rowlie (Waialua High School) and the other to Branden Galapia (Waialua High School). Eleu Wilson (Waianae High School) had a one-yard touchdown plunge to open the scoring for the West, and Ryan Graves (Nanakuli High School) 57-yard interception return for touchdown closed out the scoring for the West.

West Team MVPs: Offensive MVP was Christian Carlos (Campbell High School). Tuu Lolohea (Kapolei High School) received the Defensive MVP honor. And the Special Team MVP award went to Tyler Yamanouchi (Pearl City High School).

East Team MVPs: Phil Tauai (Kalaheo High School) was awarded the Offensive MVP trophy. The Defensive MVP award went to Keali`i Poomaihealani (St. Louis High School). And Corey Lau (Kailua High School) received the Special Team MVP honor.
 
HAWAII/POLYNESIA-MAINLAND BOWL HIGHLIGHTS – By ScoringLive

Some of the best high school football players in the nation showcased their skills in the 2nd annual Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl, and in the end the Mainland All-Stars were victorious over the Hawaii All-Stars, 26-6.

The Mainland’s Duece **** (Redemporist High School, LA) caught touchdown passes, one from each of three Mainland quarterbacks, to lead the Mainland squad to its victory over Hawaii/Polynesia. Lache Seastrunk (Temple High School, TX) had a game-high 16 carries for 142 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown scamper down the right sideline late in the 4th quarter to put the game out of reach.

Hawaii Team’s London Amorin (Pac-Five) led the Hawaii/Polynesia squad with 2 catches for 100 yards, with 92 of those yards coming from a pass play from quarterback PJ Minaya (Pac-Five) on Hawaii/Polynesia’s first play from scrimmage. Kicker Cameron Mercado (Kahuku High School) accounted for all of the Hawaii/Polynesia points, connecting on field goals of 25 and 27 yards.

MVP honors for the Mainland Team went to Defensive Lineman Ricky Heimuli (Brighton High School, UT). Wide Receiver Duece **** (Redemporist High School, LA), received the MVP trophy for the Hawaii Team.

About SportsLink/Football University: SportsLink was started in 2000 as a sports-marketing and management company that produces and oversees many sporting events and properties, including the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Football University and the Football University Youth All-American Bowl. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the nation’s premier high school football game, featuring the best 90 players in a classic East vs. West match-up. Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson, Terrelle Pryor and Tim Tebow all made their national debuts as U.S. Army All-Americans. Football University is an invitation-only camp for elite-level youth and prep players focusing on teaching technical and skill in a small-group setting under the professional tutelage of former NFL players and coaches.

Football University is the nation’s foremost gridiron training experience, bringing together NFL star players and coaches along with top prep athletes. Numerous college athletes have gone through the ranks of Football University, receiving three days of elite training and unprecedented recruiting and media coverage.

About Hawaii Union Builders Foundation: The Hawaii Union Builders Foundation (HUB Foundation) is a federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) educational and charitable organization.  The foundation develops and implements programs, services, and activities of a charitable nature designed to foster and enhance the education and quality of life of the general populace within the State of Hawaii, with special emphasis on students within the primary and secondary school system.  The HUB Foundation’s Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl was created in 1991, by those who wanted to develop a “goodwill” concept for a high school All-Star East versus West football match-up. A true community event, the Bowl salutes the outstanding efforts of Oahu players, coaches, cheerleaders and marching bands.
 

For three quarters, the best of Hawaii and Polynesia kept the nation’s No. 1 running back under check.
 
Unfortunately, while Lache Seastrunk took awhile to find paydirt, teammate Deuce **** had no trouble, catching three touchdown passes as the Mainland All-Stars pulled away from Hawaii/Polynesia for a 26-6 win Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
 
It was the second victory in as many tries for the visitors in two years. This time, Hawaii/Poly fared well against some of the nation’s top players, trailing 7-6 early in the second half before succumbing.
 
Seastrunk’s 60-yard gallop down the sideline — which put him over the 100-yard mark — opened a three-touchdown lead in the final quarter. Until then, it was a relative defensive stalemate between a physical Hawaii/Poly defense and an utterly stingy Mainland defense. The home team mustered just two field goals by Cameron Mercado and the defense eventually wore down.
 
The Mainlanders accumulated six sacks, including two by Lynden Trail (Booker T. Washington High School, Florida), and picked off three passes. Offensively, **** (Redemporist High School, Louisiana) had six receptions for 80 yards, including three touchdowns, working the middle of the field expertly.