HONOLULU — La‘a Kalama made a good decision.
Kalama, a slotback of Skyridge High in Utah, was presented with an option during Polynesian Bowl week: play a more limited role at your natural position next to four- and five-star standouts, or try your hand at cornerback and get as much playing time as you want on national TV.
He went with the latter and was a surprise performer at his converted position, recording all three of the Mauka team’s pass breakups plus a red-zone interception of Nebraska’s five-star quarterback prospect, Dylan Raiola.
Friday night’s all-star game at Kamehameha was a defensive player’s dream: there were a combined 12 turnovers and three defensive touchdowns as the Makai team came back from 17 points down at halftime to win 28-17.
The score was negligible for Kalama, a former Kamehameha Schools student in seventh and eighth grade who was smiling after a week-long visit to the Kapalama campus he’d left behind.
“I never thought I’d play on this field again,” he said.
Kalama’s family moved from Oahu to Utah during the COVID-19 pandemic so he could keep playing football, and the clan liked the Beehive State so much that they remained there for his whole four-year career as an offensive player at Skyridge.
Two of the 5-foot-11 player's breakups came on throws to the game’s offensive MVP, Tennessee-bound 6-1 receiver Mike Matthews, a five-star prospect. One of those was in the end zone, as was a ball to Notre Dame-bound Logan Saldate that he negated by pushing Saldate out.
“I mean, it was fun. Everything is just a competition,” Kalama said. “You got these great receivers out here, four- and five-stars. Yeah, they’re fast, they’re all good, but you just gotta play.”
With the Makai team threatening to score coming off a Mauka turnover, Raiola, the son of Saint Louis School alumnus Dominic Raiola, had his only pick of the game taken by Kalama at the 20, near the Mauka sideline.
“I was just reading him and I don’t know what happened,” Kalama said. “I just ended up seeing the ball and made a play on it.”
Kalama, who is uncommitted for college ball, plans to take a two-year church mission to a Spanish-speaking community in Eugene, Ore., then wants to try to play for a school in Utah – perhaps Weber State, where he has an offer, he shared on Thursday.
“He played tough,” said Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho, who served as an assistant for Marvin Lewis on the Mauka staff. “They was trying to pick on him because that’s not his primary position. He’s actually a great slotback, great wide receiver.
“He stood his ground and he did his job. … Whoever picks him up is going to find a gem and a steal.”
Hard hits defined the game from the opening minutes. Some players even had to be held back down the stretch, including Matthews, who was ejected.
Saint Louis linebacker Noah Wily was here for it.
“We’re in Hawaii, so it’s always competitive football,” Wily said.
He was one of a record seven University of Hawaii signees participating in the game, though not all of them suited up.
For Wily, playing in the game was realizing a childhood dream. He'd sit in the stands every year, returning to the game's Aloha Stadium roots.
“It was just a blessed weekend,” said Wily, who was credited with a first-half tackle. “I wouldn’t want to end my high school career any other way.”
Raiola (7-for-15, 111 yards) helped guide the Makai team to the win down the stretch.
The Makai team’s two backup quarterbacks had Hawaii ties: Ewa Beach native and Bishop Gorman (Nev.) standout Micah Alejado is bound for UH and Punahou’s Ty McCutcheon is committed to Utah Tech.
Alejado threw a pick-six to Tyree Alualu on his first pass of the game after not recording a single interception his senior year at Bishop. He also lost a fumble on a snap that went over his head. He completed his other three passes for 38 yards.
McCutcheon was 3-for-8 for 50 yards with two picks, but he could still appreciate the moment.
“It was a fun week, a fun game and I’m happy about this week. Grateful, really grateful,” said McCutcheon, who will travel up to Utah next month.
“The quarterbacks, we came together, we were like, give all these talented guys the rock and let them run with it. Dylan did a good job giving them the rock and letting them make plays.”
Oklahoma-bound lineman David Stone Jr. was named the game's defensive MVP after recording a 17-yard fumble-return touchdown in the fourth quarter. Another Oklahoma-bound D-lineman, Jayden Jackson, had two fumble recoveries, including one in the end zone for a TD, plus a sack.
As part of the Polynesian Bowl weekend, three people were to be inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Saturday: actor/former Miami Hurricanes player Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; 15-year NFL veteran Domata Peko; and former BYU and NFL running back Reno Mahe.
More photos from the game:
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.