Seniors showcased their versatility at HUB game


Wide receiver Keoni Piceno did it all for Leilehua this season.

He caught passes, ran the ball and even threw it.

Piceno continued that trend at Friday's 22nd HUB Goodwill Foundation Senior Bowl at Kamehameha's Kuniakea Stadium.

Ironically, he had a rushing and a passing attempt before getting first of three pass receptions in helping the West to a 21-20 win against the East.  His three-yard TD catch from Mililani's Jarin Morikawa early in the fourth quarter turned out to be the difference.

"We were doing that at Leilehua," Piceno said. "It was fun to be doing it in the all-star game against everybody from the state."

Piceno was 2 of 3 passing for 51 yards, rushed the ball twice for six yards and made three receptions for 33 yards.

He is one of about 45 players who will be traveling to Oregon to play All-American Academic Bowl at Lewis & Clark College on Dec. 15. The game is to showcase players to Oregon colleges that play at the Division II or III, NAIA or junior college levels.

The HUB game also allowed some of the state's top Division I prospects to show their versatility.

Waianae defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii, who had a sack and force a fumble, also played tight end in short-yardage situations, as he had done occasionally for the Seariders. But he also caught an eight-yard pass from Morikawa for a first down that set up the TD by Piceno. It was Tulimasealii's first reception of the season.

"I had one interception, but that was my first pass of the year," Tulimasealii said. "It was very fun, exciting."

Tulimasealii said he has offers from Hawaii, Washington, Washington State, Colorado, Utah and UCLA.

"I verbally committed to UH so I could play in front of my family, but I'm still keeping my options open," the 6-foot-2, 285-pound senior said.

Even Punahou linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea got to do what he hadn't done in a game: return punts.

"Last year, I practiced for it, but I never had the chance (do it in a game)," Savaiinaea said. "This year, I didn't practice it at all, but I was glad I caught my two balls."

He was heard asking coaches that he wanted to return punts.

"It's my last game in Hawaii, so I just wanted to do everything I could," Savaiinaea said.

Savaiinaea's next game will be in Florida for the Under Armour All-America Game. It is there he might decide between UCLA and Texas A & M, he said. He said he has made official recruiting trips to both schools, which have told him he has a chance to start as a freshman.

"I think UCLA I have a better chance because the coach loves me there," Savaiinaea said. "He's from Hawaii, (former UH linebacker) Jeff Ulbrich. Even at Texas A & M, their two seniors are leaving so hopefully I can jump right in. They have some linebacker recruits from Texas, but I just have to train hard and beat them out."



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].