KAPOLEI - Marcus Mariota threw two touchdown passes and Saint Louis teammate Juda Parker returned a fumble 30 yards for another score last night to help the East defeat the West, 21-7, in the 20th Annual Hawai'i Union Builders Goodwill Football Classic.

The game, played before an estimated crowd of about 1,500 at Kapolei Stadium, pitted senior all-stars from the O'ahu Interscholastic Association and Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

Mariota, the ILH Offensive Player of the Year, threw a 28-yard TD pass to state reception leader Eric Lum (Kailua) midway through the first quarter and Lum's extra point gave the East a 7-0 lead. Kailua defensive end Ethan Mahulu later recovered a fumble at the West 25 less than a minute before halftime, and Mariota immediately capitalized by running for a 7-yard gain and then throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Roosevelt receiver Kaipo Pale.

Lum's PAT made it 14-0 with four seconds remaining.

The West cut the lead in half with 36 seconds left in the third quarter, after Mililani quarterback Trent McKinney and receiver Hassan Richardson connected on an 11-yard TD pass followed by an extra point from Chucky Ka'ahanui ('Aiea).

But midway through the fourth quarter, McKinney was hit hard outside the pocket and fumbled, allowing Parker to scoop up the loose ball and run it 30 yards back to the house.

Mariota was named East Offensive Player of the Game, and cornerbacks Traysen Medeiros (Kahuku) and Moses Alimoot (Castle) -- who made two interceptions each -- shared East Defensive Player of the Game honors.

Lum was named East Special Teams Player of the Game.

McKinney won West Offensive Player of the Game honors, and Leilehua linebacker Austin Schmidt and kick/punt returner Fred Padrones were named West Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Game, respectively.

For Medeiros and eight of his Kahuku teammates, the East victory was a long-awaited bright spot after an especially trying past four weeks. The Red Raiders, who had been ranked No. 1 in the state since late August, were forced to forfeit their spot in the OIA championship game and state tournament berth on Nov. 5 due to an ineligible fifth-year senior.

Then on Nov. 22, Kahuku senior safety/linebacker and team co-captain Keoni "Deedee" Tafuna was found dead at home just as school started that day.

"That was way worse than our season ending (prematurely)," Medeiros said. "It's been hard, but I'm glad we got to play football one last time."

Medeiros said Tafuna's death has changed his perspective on football and friends.

"It makes you realize you have to appreciate your friends while everybody is alive right now," Medeiros said. "I'm glad I got to meet all the different players from different schools this week, they're all great people. As opponents we played hard against each other, but this week we all came together as one."

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