FOOTBALL: Mainland Defense Rules In Hawaii/Polynesian-Mainland Bowl

HONOLULU – Some of the best high school football players in the nation showcased in their skills in the inaugural Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl Friday night at Aloha Stadium. In the end the Mainland All-Stars were victorious, 22-8, in a turnover-plagued game.

The defenses ruled as he teams combined for 13 turnovers, including nine by the Hawaii squad. The Mainland scored 16 of its 22 points off of three Hawaii turnovers. While the Mainland squad took advantage of its opportunities, the Hawaii squad failed in their chances. Hawaii forced four Mainland turnovers but could not score off any of those, despite driving into the red zone on four occasions.

Corey Brown picked off three Hawaii passes to lead the Mainland defense. Meanwhile Bryn Renner passed for 124 yards and a pair of long touchdown passes to lead the Mainland offense. Renner connected with Trabis Ward for a 52-yard bomb in the second quarter and David Wilson for a 34-yard pass in the fourth quarter to lead the Mainland to victory.

Hawai`i turned the ball over on its first two possessions to help set up nine points by the Mainland squad in a 65 second span.  Following a fumble recovery, David Wilson scored on a 4-yard run for the game’s initial score at the 5:09 mark of the opening quarter

Hawaii fumbled on its very next offensive snap and the Mainland again capitalized with a Nick Tausch 37-yard field goal that put Mainland up, 9-0. Ward’s 52-yard catch down the sideline made it a 16-0 game by halftime.

Hawaii finally got on the board with 5:02 remaining in the game when Corey Neilsen found Robby Toma in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown strike. Hawaii would have two more opportunities for a comeback after recovering an onside kick and picking off a Mainland pass. However, both of Hawaii’s drive stalled in the Mainland territory.