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 the 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).
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
