As the 2017 Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s football All-State team release draws near, periodically we are going to ask a spreadsheet to generate a random number between 1947 and 2016.
Whichever year pops up, we will post that season’s all-star pages here.
This time we unveil a special season in prep football, Mosi Tatupu‘s senior season. The Punahou running back was named the state and ILH back of the year by the Honolulu Advertiser before the Star-Bulletin got into the all-state game.
Leilehua’s Fialele Edra was the defensive player of the year on the senior-laden squad.
Tatupu was a unanimous pick after gaining 1,483 yards but falling short of a title to Ed Kini and Saint Louis. Kini is on the short list of unheralded greats because of Tatupu’s shadow. Add in Waianae’s Mike Vierra and you might be looking at the best backfield of any vintage.
Other interesting names to be found include Keith Uperesa and Neal Ane of Punahou on the first team with Brian Cabral of Saint Louis.
Top players in the OIA were Pat Silva of McKinley and Waianae’s Vierra.
Feel free to take the time to read the saga of Hawaii quarterback Casey Ortez. He later committed suicide reportedly because he couldn’t land a job with a professional football team.
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