KEAAU — Throughout his BIIF football career, Konawaena receiver/cornerback Cameron Howes often found a way to make spectacular plays and perform much bigger than his 5-foot-6 frame.
KEAAU — Throughout his BIIF football career, Konawaena receiver/cornerback Cameron Howes often found a way to make spectacular plays and perform much bigger than his 5-foot-6 frame.
He had a highlight 36-yard touchdown catch at the Hawaii Football Club’s 2nd annual Life Champion Senior Bowl on Saturday night, but the opposing White team defeated his Black squad 20-16 at Paiea Stadium.
Howes reeled in the entertaining TD reception in the fourth quarter to push the Black ahead 16-13, but the White team responded quickly with two scores.
He was a key cog for the Wildcats, who captured the BIIF Division II championship over Kamehameha, and hopefully his performance can land him a college home because an unlimited number of eyes watched the game.
Like last year, the game was streamed live on scoringlive.com and watched by colleges from all levels: NCAA Division I, I-AA, II, III, NAIA and junior colleges through Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance president Doris Sullivan’s vast network of contacts. Piaa.com is the state’s largest recruiting service.
Howes finished with five catches for 61 yards. His Black teammate and Waiakea receiver Cody Cuba had four receptions for 54 yards and Konawaena’s Tristan Flemming-Nazara had four catches for 70 yards.
White player and Kamehameha senior Kaeo Batacan had 31 yards on 12 carries.
It was a sizable crowd at 1,500-seat Paiea Stadium, where 104 players from the Big Island, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai also performed in front of more than a dozen college coaches. Like last year, there was one a player from Guam High School, Keith Chauret III.
The White team led 7-3 at halftime. Hawaii Prep’s Alex Brost kicked a 23-yard field goal in the first half for the White team,
On the Black team, coached by Graceland (Iowa) coach Jeff Douglas, the BIIF players were Lukela Chin (Kamehameha), Lava Benn (Pahoa), Cody Cuba (Waiakea), Tevi Holi (Waiakea), Cameron Howes (Konawaena), Torrin Tuppein (Kona), Pulama Louis (Kealakehe), Trueston Andrade (Honokaa), Alex Brost (Hawaii Prep), Kelii Montibon (Kamehameha), Seth Fukushima (Hilo), Josiah Kia (Kealakehe), Joyden Madriaga (Kamehameha), and Tristan Flemming-Nazara (Kona).
On the White team, coached by Yuba (Calif.) coach Ted Hoal, the BIIF players were Kaeo Batacan (Kamehameha), David Kalili (Kamehameha), Kayson Mahiai (Kona), Iokea Manuia (Kamehameha), and Kalei Pule-Annes (Kamehameha),
Scoringlive.com
Last year’s senior bowl had over 6,000 views, according to scoringlive.com founder Brien Ing, who had 10 of his staff members at the game, including Laupahoehoe’s Shayne Pajimola and UH-Hilo’s Tori Kaya, who’s from Mililani.
Ing brought over eight of his staff members from Oahu, and the trip served not only as a working day but a mini-vacation as well.
“It’s a nice trip for our staff, but it’s also a good opportunity for the kids to have this game streamed live,” Ing said.
Sullivan has a database of over 600 colleges from all levels, and she said 200 responded.
She pointed out that scoringlive.com’s impact is far-reaching, especially for players who choose to attend Division III schools, which can’t offer athletic scholarships, but can hand out healthy academic-aid packages.
“It’s tremendous and not only for the FCS coaches (Division I-AA), Division II , NAIA and junior colleges, but the Division III schools as well,” Sullivan said. “It’s extra exposure for the kids who want to go to Division III. We’ve got a lot of high-end academic kids here, and there’s a lot of Division III academic money.”
Sullivan said of the 87 players from last year 47 were offered scholarships, either athletic or academic.
Division III in Hilo
George Fox offensive coordinator Ken Ingram was at the senior bowl for the first time after responding to an email from Sullivan.
The Bruins went 4-6 and play in the Northwest Conference along with Pacific University (a favorite school for Hawaii kids) and gridiron power Linfield, which beat No. 10 Mary-Hardin Baylor in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals 38-35 on Saturday on the road. (HPA alum Keanu Yamamoto is a starting cornerback for Linfield.)
Ingram said a small-town atmosphere (less than 3,000 students) and a friendly campus are top selling points.
“When you come in, the community will instantly care about you, and the professor will know who you are,” he said. “You have a chance to play college football and be part of a brotherhood for life. You can make connections. You never know if a teammate will offer you a job in the future or vice versa. It’s a place you can come and be welcomed.”
Ingram played at Linfield, graduated from there in 1988 and was part of two conference championships. Now, he’s recruiting to beat his old school. Yamamoto and his Wildcats blanked the Bruins 24-0 in late October.
Cali jucos
Ted Hoal has been the Yuba football coach for 21 years and noted he’s always had a presence of Polynesian players, including a ton from Hawaii over the decades.
The Arizona Jucos can offer scholarships, but there are only five schools. The California JCs don’t offer scholarships, but there are 84 schools in the California Community College Athletic Association, and the competition is top-notch.
There are about six Jucos in Texas, but players must graduate from a Lone Star State high school, Hoal said.
“The California JCs are like Triple-A in baseball, right on the cusp of playing at somewhere big,” he said. “Where do you thing most of the Division I kids who don’t have grades go? If you’re an academic qualifier out of high school, you could play one year at a JC and sign a scholarship and move on at a DivisionI school.”
What Hoal most appreciates about the Polynesian kids, whether they’re from Hawaii or Samoa, is that they wear an aloha T-shirt, in spirit, every day. That extends to a few players he reconnected with on the Big Island.
“The Polynesian kids, interestingly enough, are the tightest unit among the other kids,” he said. “They are family oriented, whether they’re related or not. They take care of each other and they don’t forget.
“I’ve had players and reconnected with them. It runs in cycles. Hopefully, I can recruit some players here and reconnect with them down the line.”
White 0 7 6 14 — 27
Black 3 0 0 13 — 16
First quarter
Black – FG 22 Alex Brost, 10:06
Second quarter
White – Isain Wong-Lonzanida, 18 pass from Noah Auld (Kekoa Sasaoka kick), 0:35
Third quarter
White – FG 22 Sasaoka, 11:15
White – FG 30, Sasaoka, 9:14
Fourth quarter
Black – Noah Esprecion 10 pass from Willie Ewaliko (kick failed), 14:14
Black – Cameron Howes 36 yard pass from Q. Iriarte (Brost kick) kick, 13:21
White – Blaise Manabe 24 pass from Auld (Sasaoka kick)
White – Jonovan-Taje Akaka 47 pass from Royce Tashiro. (K. Sasaoka kick), 6:50
Stats from scoringlive.com