Even with just one week of preparation — two practices, to be exact — the West had plenty of skill and trickery en route to a 21-20 win over the East in the 22nd annual HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl on Friday night at Kamehameha’s Kunuiakea Stadium.
The West used a classic gadget play — almost exactly like the one used by Kahuku in the state title game against Punahou last week. Makoa Camanse-Stevens hit teammate Ali‘i Pedrina on an inside route, and Pedrina deftly lateraled to speedy Daicorri Briscoe, who went the remaining 65 yards down the sideline to cap the 85-yard touchdown play just before the half.
"We tried it once at practice. That didn’t work out. Then we actually tried to do it earlier in the game, but the guy was pressing me, so I couldn’t do it," Pedrina said. "We got it out of Kahuku’s playbook, pretty much."
Camanse-Stevens doesn’t remember practicing it at all.
"We put Ali‘i on the single-receiver side and we put Briscoe on the other side for a drag (route). The line did their job holding and the running back did the job picking up the guy blitzing."
Briscoe hadn’t played in a game in since Oct. 5, when Pearl City’s season came to an end.
"It’s definitely faster compared to playing in the OIA White Division. Guys hit harder and they’re stronger. I wanted at least one touchdown and I got it," he said.
That gave the West a 7-6 lead with 18 seconds left in the first half. It also sucked the wind out of an East team that had gained momentum with a 94-yard touchdown blast up the middle by Abraham Silva with 37 ticks left in the half.
The West went up 14-6 after a 6-yard scramble to the end zone by quarterback Jarin Morikawa.
The East kept the near capacity crowd enthused by using a halfback option pass from Tyler Taumua to Keoni Tom-Millare for an 85-yard bomb to pull within 14-12. The PAT pass from Kahaku Iaea to Tanner Nishioka fell incomplete.
The West, wearing blue jerseys, then put the game out of reach on Morikawa’s 4-yard touchdown strike to Keoni Piceno. Morikawa eluded three pass rushers in the pocket to make the play, and Cayman Conley’s extra-point kick made it 21-12 with 6:31 left.
Reece Foy’s 3-yard scoring toss to Nishioka brought the East within striking distance with 4:07 to play. After the two ‘Iolani teammates connected on the 2-point conversion, it was 21-20.
The East got the ball back on the next play from scrimmage when Chansen Exzabe made a diving interception of a Morikawa pass at the East 42-yard line. But Kanoa Kaeo came up with his second interception of the night on a deep pass by Foy intended for Nishioka, and the West ran out the final 3:25.
Piceno (Leilehua), who had four receptions for 48 yards, was named offensive player of the game for the West. Kennedy Tulimasealii (Waianae) who had a sack, was selected the West defensive player of the game and Conley, who had a 58-yard punt and several touchbacks on kickoffs, earned special teams honors.
Silva (Farrington) was picked offensive player of the game for the East after rushing for 101 yards on four carries. Linebacker Matai Paselio (Kahuku) nabbed top defensive honors and Nishioka, who caught seven passes for 53 yards and averaged 37.2 yards per punt, was named top special teams player.
"It was very awesome, my first time playing with players from other teams. It was pretty fun," said Tulimasealii, who recently committed to Hawaii. "But I’m keeping my options open."
