The inaugural Polynesian Bowl, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 21 at Aloha Stadium, has added four more players from Hawaii to its roster.
‘Iolani wide receiver Justin Genovia, Waianae OL Onesimus Lutu-Clarke, Baldwin OL Mango Finau and Campbell DL Kishaun Ki have accepted invites to play in the game.
Polynesian Bowl officials are expected to make the official announcements later today.
Genovia (5-8, 150) took a year off from football and returned this season to break Raul Pacheco‘s single-season receiving mark at ‘Iolani. Genovia has made 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games to become the 13th player on Oahu to record more than 1,100 receiving yards in a season.
11:30 a.m. UPDATE: Genovia is only a junior, so Polynesian Bowl says it will honor its commitment to him with an invite to the 2018 game.
Clarke (6-5, 290), who holds offers from BYU, Hawaii and Oregon State, helped an offensive line pave the way for junior running back Rico Rosario to lead the state in rushing yards.
Finau (6-4, 340) played both ways on the line this season for Baldwin, which won the MIL and was tied with Division I state finalist Mililani with less than six minutes remaining in a first-round game two weeks ago before coming up short.
Ki (6-2, 280) was a bit of an unknown at Campbell heading into the season after transferring from Utah, but was a monster presence on the defensive line, helping the Sabers reach the semifinals of the Division I state tournament.
All four players will join the game that includes from Hawaii:
Kesi Ah-Hoy, DB, Kahuku
Feleti Afemui, LB, Maui
Andrew Aleki, LB, Kamehameha
Challen Faamatau, RB, Farrington
Nick Kapule, QB, Punahou
Michael Minihan, OL, Saint Louis
Stokes Nihipali-Botelho, DB, Kahuku
Ryan Ramones, WR, Managua
Jaymin Sarono, WR, Kapolei
Isaac Slade-Matautia, LB, Saint Louis
Miki Suguturaga, DL, Punahou
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Saint Louis
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, DL, Kapolei
Ethan Takeyama, WR, Punahou
Mo Unutoa, OL, Kapaa
Aliki Vimahi, DL, Kahuku
Charles Watson, DB, Leilehua
The game will be televised nationally on ESPN3 but blacked out locally.
Tua wont be playing, stop putting him in just for publicity for the game. He’s headed to Alabama and he wont be coming home to play in the game. Not as if a player enrolled in college is allowed to come home and play in a high school game.