Like last year, the second annual Life Champion Senior Bowl will be a showcase for the state’s football standouts with a wide-reaching recruiting net.
Like last year, the second annual Life Champion Senior Bowl will be a showcase for the state’s football standouts with a wide-reaching recruiting net.
It is still the only all-star gridiron game that features more than 100 seniors from the Big Island, Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Molokai.
The game will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at Kamehameha’s Paiea Stadium and will be streamed live at www.scoringlive.com, allowing college coaches from around the country to sit on their sofa and recruit the 50th state.
Life Champion Bowl executive director Keala Pule, also the president of the Hawaii Football Club, believed the game was a huge success last year.
He said there were 87 players and 50 are going to college, many on scholarships, including Punahou’s Alex Trifonovitch, whose only game film was from the Senior Bowl.
Doris Sullivan, director and founder of Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance, served as a recruiting coordinator, connecting players and coaches.
“There will be 16 college coaches and maybe more,” Pule said. “This year a few of the recruiting budgets are frozen. But I don’t see any difference in interest.”
There will be 20 BIIF players and six from Division I state champion Kahuku, and seven from runner-up Saint Louis, including former Konawaena Wildcat Luca Vartic.
Perhaps the best success story was 2015 Honokaa graduate Kamaehu Richards, who landed at Pima (Ariz.) College, despite not playing in the Senior Bowl.
“Kamaehu received four scholarship offers and wasn’t able to practice or play in the game,” Pule said. “But he showed up at practices and the game, and he helped out. He had a highlight video that helped, but won over the coaches with his character and personality.”
To be eligible for the Senior Bowl, players were required to have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade-point average, a letter of recommendation (from a principal, vice principal or counselor, or athletic director), a coach’s reference, and eight hours of community service.
Then a screening committee, composed of Brian Derby, Reggie Torres, and Vince Passas, reviewed each candidate’s athletic qualifications.
Senior-junior exposure
For seniors and junior not participating in the Senior Bowl, there will be an exposure camp in front of college coaches at 9 a.m. Saturday at Paiea Stadium.
Registration fee is $35. The first 70 players will receive an Under Armour shirt valued at $25.
To register visit: www.piaahawaii.com or at the field at 8 a.m.
Game sponsors
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is sponsoring the Senior Bowl and has donated an autographed helmet as a fundraiser. There will be a Marcus Mariota MVP award.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Tyson Alualu is also a sponsor of the game. He and Mariota are both Saint Louis alums. There will be a Tyson Alualu defensive player of the game award.
Another NFL player sponsor is Washington Redskins offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao, a Farrington graduate. There will be a Shawn Lauvao offensive player of the game award.
Life Champion Senior Bowl
What: Football showcase
When: 5 p.m. Saturday; gates open at 4 p.m.
Where: Paiea Stadium
Info: hfchilo.com
Saturday Dec. 5 at Paiea Stadium Keaau
BIIF players in bold
John Agni Kauai High
Cruise Ah Chan Baldwin High
Jonovan-Taje Akaka Baldwin High
Chanson Akiona Kapolei High
Joseph Jr. Albinio Kailua High
Kawena Alo-Kaonohi Baldwin High
Jay Amina Kapolei High
Atapana Amosa Campbell High
Trueston Andrade Honokaa High
Bransen Apao Damien High
Noah Auld Kailua High
Payton Awaya Kalani High
Kaeo Batacan Kamehameha-Hawaii
Lava Benn Pahoa High
Alex Brost HPA
Damien Thomas Butac Kauai High
Kawika Cameron St. Francis High
Jathen Chaffin Farrington High
Keith III Chauret Guam High
Lukela Chin Kamehameha-Hawaii
Kyle Chinen Mililani High
Isaac Crichton St. Francis High
Cody Cuba Waiakea High
Bryce Dato Kapaa High
Maikaike English Kamehameha-Maui
Noah Esprecion Campbell High
Willie Ewaliko Castle High
Paula Fakatoka Kaiser High
Mataio Fatuesi Moanalua High
Ace Faumui Radford High
Mosese Fifita Kapaa High
Tristan Fleming-Nazara Konawaena High
Seth Fukushima Hilo High
Braden Galiza Kauai High
Luke Garcia Kauai High
Kaleo Gaspar Kula Kaiapuni O ‘Anuenue
Akili Gray Kamehameha-Kapalama
Kuikamoku Han Molokai High
Nathan Hernandez Kalaheo High
Austin Lee Hoe Maui High
Tevis Holi Waiakea High
Melvin K Hoomanawanui Iolani High
Cameron Howes Konawaena High
Quintin Iriarte Radford High
Keala Iwasaki Kauai High
Terrell Johnson Campbell High
Laakea Kahoohanohano-Davis Baldwin High
Michael Kahula Kamehameha-Maui
Ahonui Kalama Saint Louis High
David Kalili Kamehameha-Hawaii
Kamuela Kaniaupio Kamehameha-Maui
Jess Kanongataa Kahuku High
Bryce Kaopua-Gallegos Nanakuli High
Alema Kapoi Kamehameha-Kapalama
Hemakana Kauahipaula Kula Kaiapuni O ‘Anuenue
Nicholas Kernaghan Campbell High
Josiah Kia Kealakehe High
Cody Labanon Damien High
Pesa Lefau Kahuku High
Saitaua Lefau Saint Louis High
La’akea Look Punahou High
Pulama Louis Kealakehe High
Joyden Madriaga Kamehameha-Hawaii
Kayson Mahiai Konawaena High
Blaise Manabe Radford High
Randy Manewa Nanakuli High
Bayley-Allen Manliguis Kamehemeha-Hawaii
Jarin Manuel Damien High
Iokua Manuia Kamehameha- Hawaii
Jensen McDaniel Kaiser High
Aaron Miller Saint Louis High
Kelii Montibon Kamehameha-Hawaii
Christian Naeole Iolani High
Brendan Namba Roosevelt High
Tamatoa Neher Kahuku High
Johnwendell Nisa Kaimuki High
Kumokuliihanana Noa KS-Kapalama
Aaron Nunez Waialua High
Joey Nuuanu-Kuhiiki Waianae High
Courtney Paaga Damien High
Tayvis Passos Radford High
Brian Perreira Kauai High
Kilipaki Pili-Mahoe Kauai High
Kaohulani Pua’a Baldwin High
Icher Pule-Annes Kamehameha-Hawaii
Pono Pu’u-Robinson Punahou High
Ka Reed Kalani High
Thomas Reid Radford High
Kekoa Sasaoka Kahuku High
Patamo Soa Punahou High
“Fatu” Sua-Godinet Kamehameha-Kapalama
Royce Tashiro Waialua High
Akauola Tatofi Kapaa High
Ronson Timbreza Saint Louis
Tytus Timoteo Saint Louis
Lerod Tongi Kahuku High
John Tuitupou Kalaheo High
Micah Tumpap Campbell High
Torrin Tuppein Konawaena High
Ezra Tupuola Kahuku High
John “JB” Vallejo Kapolei High
Luca Vartic Saint Louis
Alika Ventura Waimea High
Nathan Vierra Maui High
Lanakila Wilson Saint Louis
Isain Wong-Lonzanida Nanakuli High
Sam Wyner St. Anthony High