Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week
Taamu, Luis combine for five TDs to lead Black team to 35-28 win


   



>> View a replay of the live broadcast here: http://youtu.be/hoNjQE_Y30g

KEAAU, Hawaii — Jordan Taamu rushed for three touchdowns and Keenan Luis added two other rushing scores, including the go-ahead 25-yard touchdown in overtime, to lift the Black team to a 35-28 win over the White team in the first-ever Life Champion Senior Bowl Saturday night.

A crowd of about 1,500 fans at Kamehameha-Hawaii's Paiea Stadium was on hand for the game, which pitted 86 high school seniors from across the state from all five leagues and even a player from Guam.

Taamu, a Pearl City quarterback, scored on 1-yard runs in each of the first three quarters and Luis, a Baldwin running back, punched in a 17-yard touchdown run in the third quarter in addition to the lone score in overtime.

"I don't think I've ever had three rushing touchdowns in a game, but I couldn't have done it without all the linemen for sticking their heads in there and giving it their all," said Taamu, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game.

The game was tied at 14 at halftime and 28 following regulation time. On the very first play of overtime, Luis scooted around left tackle and went untouched for the 25-yard touchdown.

"It was just good reads and great blocks from everyone," said Luis, who finished with nine carries for a game-high 60 yards. "The offensive line held it down. They really did good this whole game."

Taamu's first touchdown capped a 15-play, 65-yard drive that took 7:23 off the clock.

The White team answered with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns coming on passes from Nanakuli's Kale Kanehailua to Hilo's Donavan Faoa Kelley. The first was an 83-yarder followed by a 26-yard hook-up two possessions later.

Taamu snuck in a 1-yard touchdown on the final play of the first half behind a full-house backfield that included Kahuku's Reupena Fitisemanu and Salanoa-Alo Wily. Punahou's Alex Trifonovitch tacked on the PAT.

The Black team reclaimed the lead on its second possession on Luis' 17-yard touchdown run, but the White squad tied it at 21 with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Kamehameha-Hawaii's Micah Kanehailua to Kaiser's Destin Moss on a 4th-and-5.

Taamu's third touchdown of the game culminated an eight-play, 70-yard drive near the end of the third quarter, but the White answered with a 12-play, 73-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Kale Kanehailua to Kahuku's Alohi Gilman. That score tied the game at 28 with 9:21 to play.

"I got to play with a lot of Division-I guys and since I'm from a Division-II school, it was a great experience coming up here, fighting for the job and working with guys from all around the state," said Taamu, who threw for 173 yards on 13-of-22 passing. "It was a great experience."

Luis reaffirmed Taamu's sentiment.

"This opportunity is a real eye-opener. It shows the talent that could be at the next level," Luis said. "These guys are the top of Hawaii and it was a great experience getting to play with all of these guys."

Kale Kanehailua completed 11 of 18 passes for a game-high 237 yards, while his cousin, Micah, completed 12 of 22 passes for 132 yards.

The game was played with 15-minute quarters in the first half and the typical 12-minute quarters in the second.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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