By Kennedy Choo

With 8:56 left in the second quarter and holding a 7–0 lead, junior receiver Eric McFarland came in motion from the left side. Senior Team Mauka quarterback and Arizona commit Oscar Rios handed the ball to Southern California–bound running back Deshonne Redeaux, who then flipped it to McFarland on a trick-play end-around. Looking for open space, McFarland scampered around defenders, followed his downfield blockers, and burst into open grass for a 35-yard rushing touchdown.

From there, Team Mauka never relinquished the lead, securing a 14–3 win in a defensive slugfest in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

McFarland earned offensive MVP honors after finishing with four receptions for 66 yards to go along with his rushing touchdown. The junior wideout currently holds 35 scholarship offers, highlighted by Michigan and Georgia.

On the other side of the ball, Team Makai four-star defensive lineman George Toia out of Trophy Club, Texas took home defensive MVP honors. Toia totaled six tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack. He holds 30 college offers, including a scholarship from Penn State that came just a day before the Polynesian Bowl.

Beyond the marquee recruits, Saint Louis defensive back and University of Hawai‘i signee Jahren Altura and Nanakuli tight end and Hawai‘i signee Vai Fanuaea represented the islands in the Polynesian Bowl. Altura finished with two tackles and a pass breakup.

“All these guys are ballers,” Altura said. “I take a lot of pride in representing my Polynesian heritage in this game.” Altura has both Hawaiian and Samoan ancestry.

For Fanuaea, he was the lone Nanakuli Hawk representing the West Side in the Polynesian Bowl.

“It feels special, knowing that we got athletes on our side too,” Fanuaea said about representing the West Side.

Both Altura and Fanuaea played on their future college field and are eager to begin the next chapter of their football journeys.

“I’m really excited,” Fanuaea said. “It’s another step of the journey.”

“I’m excited to get to work,” Altura said.