Last week, we asked readers who they thought should be among the final 10 or 12 players from Hawaii invited to the 2018 Polynesian Bowl.
The response on social media was overwhelmingly in favor of one player.
Saint Louis inside linebacker Noa Purcell, a defensive player of the year candidate from the unanimous No. 1 team in the state, is the latest invitee to the 2018 Polynesian Bowl, scheduled for Jan. 20 at Aloha Stadium.
A first-team All-State selection as a junior, Purcell has been the leader of the Crusaders defense all season, leading Saint Louis to a perfect 7-0 record heading into the second round of the ILH.
Purcell had three tackles for loss, forced a fumble, and intercepted a pass in a 40-20 win over Punahou last week.
The 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior, who holds a scholarship offer from Fresno State, is the fifth Crusader selected to the game, joining quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, receiver Jonah Panoke and defensive backs Kama Moore and Isaiah Tufaga.
Nineteen players from Hawaii have now been selected for the annual all-star game with the 20th selection announced tonight on Cover2: Hawaii High School Football Weekly at 9:30 p.m. on KHON2.
If there’s a player you think deserves to be invited to the game that hasn’t already, continue to comment on last week’s post here.
For a complete list of players selected, check out our Polynesian Bowl page.
Not a St. Louis fan but this boy Noah deserves to be in this game. He should’ve been invited a long time ago because he is the anchor of their defense.
I agree. He should of been one of the 1st players invited.
HE IS THEIR SOUL!!
Well deserved. C’mon hawaii step up to the plate and keep this boy home.
Please don’t go to Hawaii. You are so much better.
Well Deserved #40 Noa PURCELL Truly Humble Youngman and Hard Work pays off! Comes from a A Beautiful Family!
Crusaderstrong💪🏽
#5 Nothing wrong with Hawaii, if he can help to make them better. I do take offense to those who put down my University of Hawaii athletics. I’ve seen many great Hawaii players that have represented our UH teams over the years and contributed to some fond memories. A college degree from any university is just that a degree. It is what you do with the degree that is important.
Post season high school All Star games have no value. If I had recruited a player to my Div.1 program, NO post season. ACL,CONCUSSION ETC.,who takes care medical after the final gun?
The Unquestioned Leader of this football team…Congratulations, Noa! Eliki Tanuvasa is also well deserving..,
I saw him pay against Narbonne CA, and Kamehameha….. he is a STUD… he does it all and is very humble on the field. I agree that he is the heart and soul of the Defense for the Crusaders….. and he is very supportive of his teammates when they make a good play, always the 1st to congratulate. It was a joy to watch #40 play football the way it should be played….all out in a controlled chaos sort of way, haha.
Congrats Noa Purcell and the rest of the Crusaders! Well deserved for this young man. He truly earned it!! He is a beast!
1 to 11, all excellent comments, 808Bulla especially. Love watching him play and how he carry himself. A true Saint Louis Man, CrusaderStrong