The trophy will be within reach for Tevarua Tafiti and his teammates.
The Punahou junior was selected co-MVP of the defensive ends on Saturday, the final day of the PTP Sports National Showcase in St. George, Utah. His Highlight-Hawaii Red team went 5-1 in the three-day event as the 6-foot-3, 208-pound playmaker racked up 13 sacks and took an interception to the house.
“It was fun. Our team was fired up and everybody wanted to hit. Hawaii came to play,” Tafiti said. “There was a lot of (trash) talking, but Hawaii boys just talk with their pads.”
It was the first fully-padded, 11-on-11 action for the Hawaii players since November of 2019. Tafiti was among 10 Hawaii players honored by the Showcase in what amounts to an all-tournament team. PTP Sports selected three players per position.
>> QB: Cameron Friel, Kailua; Naziah Caravallo, Kamehameha
>> RB: Amo Sulu, Damien
>> OL: Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu, Farrington
>> WR: Raydan Kia‘aina-Caires, Punahou; Trech Kekahuna, Saint Louis
>> DE: Tafiti; Seau Maiava, Kahuku
>> LB: Iona Purcell, Saint Louis
>> DB: Harvey Welch, Saint Louis
Update: Maiava racked up 16 sacks during the Showcase.
Some 11s reps from Day 3 of the showcase. Thank you @HA_Highlight and @PTPSPORTS1 for the opportunity to compete. pic.twitter.com/9pYy9FMc1h
— Ethan Spencer (@Keahi_Spencer) November 1, 2020
Cameron Friel with the deep strike to Koby Moananu
Class of 2021
Highlight Academy RED Team@HA_Highlight @RobDeMelloKHON @HawaiiPrepWorld @PupulePaul @CameronFriel5 @moananu8 @RaydanCaires @LandonClevenger @KekahunaTrech @2Amo5ulu_ @poncho2flyy pic.twitter.com/1Ncpouh14R— Highlight Academy (@HA_Highlight) November 1, 2020
Trech Kekahuna, Slot Back
Saint Louis School 2023⚡️
Position Co-MVP: Receivers
PTP National College Showcase
Highlight Academy RED Team@KekahunaTrech @PTPSPORTS1 @lesfifita @RTaylorFBscout @PupulePaul @HawaiiPrepWorld @RobDeMelloKHON @HA_Highlight pic.twitter.com/UyD3XErOOv— Highlight Academy (@HA_Highlight) November 1, 2020
The only loss was against a combination of the two strongest non-Hawaii teams on Saturday.
“The Orange team was 5-1, as well. Green and Silver had winning records,” tournament co-organizer Nate Kia said. “I believe the four Highlight-Hawaii teams were a combined 19-4.”
More than 140 players from Hawaii flew up for the competition. Four teams of 30 players each, and 20 more filled rosters on other teams.
“It was a controlled scrimmage format. The 140-plus Hawaii players showed exactly how serious they are about their craft,” Kia said. “There were simply not enough awards to give out. The amount of amazing plays and displays of heart our Hawaii kids showed was off the charts.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic and a second lockdown in the islands, high school players have not competed in organized 11-on-11 action since the end of the 2019 season. This week’s action in Utah came against some of the top players from 10 states.
“There were a lot of good guys. Every play, I went to the side with the best O-lines,” Tafiti said.
Tafiti played a lot of outside linebacker with a some snaps at defensive end and a few, six total, at cornerback. He also played a bit of safety, much the way Punahou utilized his versatility last year.
The trophy itself isn’t large, but will always have a place in the Tafiti household.
“It’ll probably stay on my desk,” said Tafiti, who already has 19 scholarship offers.
The group from Hawaii, organized by Kia, was loaded with talent and numbers enough to fill out four teams. Several of the players were noted as top performers by media at the event. The Red team was stocked with players from Kailua, Punahou and Saint Louis.
“Shout out to Nate Kia for helping all the Hawaii kids, and the PTP (Sports) program. Shout out to my Red team,” Tafiti added. “It was a long week. This camp was great for everyone being in a state that was always on lockdown. We all got a chance to play the game we love this week.”
Tafiti was among the islanders who celebrated by having dinner at Carl’s Jr. Transporting 140-plus players seems epic.
“It’s called amazing Hawaii parents,” Kia said. “We had at least one parent for each player. Many extended it into an opportunity to visit family in Utah and Las Vegas.”
There will be a COVID-19 test on Sunday. They fly back to Hawaii on Tuesday.
Day 2 @PTPSPORTS1 @HA_Highlight #TeamSilver pic.twitter.com/gFXUmTLhmC
— Romeo Tagata🇼🇸🇦🇸 (@TagataRomeo) November 1, 2020
Wanted to see Hawaii Red vs Hawaii Green. Hawaii Green was the only undefeated team. Hawaii Red was the Boogie Men. (Monsters of the field) Great showing from every single player from da 808. Very proud of ALL.
Special Shout to Kamalu Deblake. Should have seen. Evey play unstoppable & too fast (Fire). Tasi Tadio. Unstoppable & way too strong (Monster). Prince Solomon. Kid was losing defenders, routes was obj looking (Flawless). Tre Taylor kid was on a mission, very physical & pick 6 at the end of game to keep green team undefeated. Tevarua Tafiti. You already know (fire). Trench, Harvey & Iona the usual suspects (3 headed monsters). Biggest surprise was those farrington boys on Green Hawaii. Govs have a bright strong future. Sacks after sacks & blocking was on point (Nice). These just a few of many boys balling. Dont know there names (sorry) Biggest Shout out goes too All PTP Sports, HaHighlight Academy, Nate Kia/family & All the parents. This was awesome. Until nextime. 808 football. Hawaii Strong.
Maiava had 16 sacks but Tafiti’s 13 made the headline?
IMHO, I think the headline should read:
“SEAU MAIAVA & TEVARUA TAFITI Dominate with 29 combined Sacks to lead Hawaii’s Red team at PTP Showcase”!!
Wanted to see Hawaii Red vs Hawaii Green. Hawaii Green was the only undefeated team. Hawaii Red was the Boogie Men. (Monsters of the field) Great showing from every single player from da 808. Very proud of ALL.
Special Shout to Kamalu Deblake. Should have seen. Evey play unstoppable & too fast (Fire). Tasi Tadio. Unstoppable & way too strong (Monster). Prince Solomon. Kid was losing defenders, routes was obj looking (Flawless). Tre Taylor kid was on a mission, very physical & pick 6 at the end of game to keep green team undefeated. Tevarua Tafiti. You already know (fire). Trench, Harvey & Iona the usual suspects (3 headed monsters). Biggest surprise was those farrington boys on Green Hawaii. Govs have a bright strong future. Sacks after sacks & blocking was on point (Nice). These just a few of many boys balling. Dont know there names (sorry) Biggest Shout out goes too All PTP Sports, HaHighlight Academy, Nate Kia/family & All the parents. This was awesome. Until nextime. 808 football. Hawaii Strong.
P.S. it wasn’t about W/L records. It was a chance to showcase there talent and get film. Which they all did. Side Note: Kamalu Deblake had double digit sacks also.
Love ALL your Hawai’i HS Football coverage !
Sorry, the only stats we had were Tafiti’s at the time of publication. Maiava’s 16 sacks would have been the header. SEAU MAIAVA! Wow!
Did Maiava get co-MVP? No, Tafiti did therefore the headline is accurate. Don’t apologize Paul, great job.
THE STATE CANCELLED THE SEASON CUZ THEY SICK OF ST LOUIS WINNING TO MUCH. THE REFS COULDN’T DO IT, SO A COVID SHUTDOWN WAS THE CALL.
Technically, they awarded three players at each position. Tevarua Tafiti and Seau Moeava were two of the D-ends honored.
@#6 Tedium,
The Punahou junior was selected CO-MVP of the defensive ends with Seau Maiava & another kid!
@#6 Tedium,
NO need to apologize !
Team Orange Defense was Lights Out! Front was stout: DeBlake, Akana, Tollefson-Oili (played d-line and o-line), Johnson. I swear DeBlake & Akana had double digit sacks as well. Secondary was solid too: Paaoao drilling guys, Rau (5 picks, 4 returned for TD’s) Kauhi, Wong. Hawaii Red and Orange teams were legit.
What about the two Waianae boys that was killin out there? No love for the guys out West.
Can you send me their info? There were 140-plus Hawaii players there.
Its a little bit unusual for so many to have double digit sacks or is this camp legit? The heck, I dont know what the average amount of sacks are at these things but you telling me that the maiava kid played 4 games and had 16 sacks, averaging 4 sacks a game… Awesome, 13 in 6 games, your talking half as good 2.17
Tedium. Both boys good. To clarify though what I think others are pointing out is 13 sacks in 6 games versus 16 sacks in 3 games…. not quite on the same level, page, or planet.
This boy Maiava is a beast.
Sure can. How do I get it to you? I can get video highlights as well.
Right on. Just send a link to your social post.
Where’s Tedium?
They all did good, Tafiti is a beast so is Maiava both talented.