It was a maulers’ night in the trenches, but the most outstanding players of the Polynesian Bowl turned out to be rangy and even balletic.

Daniel Heimuli, an uncommitted linebacker out of Menlo Park (Calif.) with torpedo-like finishing ability, was named the most valuable defensive player of the all-star game on Saturday at Aloha Stadium. His Team Mauka lost, 27-7, but he was seemingly everywhere in and out of the box, including a fast-closing sack of Team Makai quarterback Gunner Cruz.

“We were very physical. We didn’t give up most of the time. Our D-linemen got us extension and forced their quarterbacks to try and make plays,” Heimuli said.

Heimuli, Laiatu Latu (Washington via Carmichael, Calif.) and Alphon Tupuhala (Federal Way, Wash.) each had six tackles to lead Team Mauka. Heimuli had a team-high 3.5 tackles for loss. He’s looking forward to keeping the MVP trophy high on a shelf in his bedroom.

“This one means a lot to me. It’s my only bowl game, so I’m going to remember this forever,” said Heimuli, whose final college choices are Oregon, Washington, Utah, UCLA and Alabama.

Team Makai wide receiver Makea “Puka” Nacua of Orem (Utah) was superb with six catches for 93 yards, including a 29-yard TD haul with tip-toe body control with 10 seconds left in the first half. That pushed Team Makai’s lead to 17-0. It took a replay evaluation by the officiating crew upstairs to relent and give Nacua and quarterback Jacob Conover the touchdown.

Puka, in Hawaiian language, generally means “hole.” However, in Samoan, Nacua said, it means something quite different.

“In Samoan, it means fat and chubby. It’s from when I was a baby and it kind of stuck. Going up through school, everybody knows me as Puka even though I slimmed out,” said Nacua, who has committed to USC and was voted offensive MVP.

The return of former Kapolei quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa whetted the appetites of fans hoping for a high-scoring output by Team Mauka, but he was hurried often by the front four of Team Makai, even though blitzing was prohibited in the exhibition game. Tagovailoa still managed to move the ball in spite of the constant scrambling and O-line penalties.

He finished the game 13-for-24 for 166 yards with one TD and two interceptions.

For a part of the first half, it was Punahou players who got the spotlight. Safety Kaulana Makaula snagged a key interception in the back of the end zone for Team Makai in the first quarter. Three minutes later, Tamatoa Falatea (four receptions, 52 yards) hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cruz, a future Washington State Cougar.

There were numerous, notable plays by local players, including a fumble recovery by Kahuku’s Tausili Fiatoa (Navy) in the first quarter.

For Saint Louis linemen Faatui Tuitele and Arasi Mose, it was a week to remember.

“It was a great, humbling experience going against great competition on the Makai team. It was even better to go against Arasi, my teammate and brother my whole high school career, lining up against him in our last game. It’s an experience I’ll cherish the rest of my life,” said Tuitele, the Star-Advertiser defensive player of the year.