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Second In An 8-part Series: Offensive Player Of The Year
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Liatama Uiliata didn’t get the championship he desperately wanted, but he got mighty close on an injured shoulder and ankle.
The Waipahu do-all offensive standout nearly led the Marauders to the Division I state crown after lighting up Friday nights all season long as a receiver, kick returner, quarterback and defensive back.
There was a brick wall, otherwise known as the Konawaena Wildcats, that put an end to the senior’s dream of bringing his team and town the koa trophy. Those Wildcats didn’t completely stop Uiliata, but their physical play had him limping and unable to fully plant his foot on throws. Still, Uiliata persisted from his quarterback position to try and throw and run the Marauders to the title. Unlike all season, when a sack against him was rare, Uiliata went down in the backfield often.
And the hard hits piled up.
By the end of that game, a 38-28 loss that denied Waipahu (11-2) a chance at a second state championship since 2017, Uiliata had found a way to throw for 222 yards and two touchdowns. But more telling were the seven sacks combined with 48 yards gained and 55 yards lost on the ground for a net of minus-7.
“Physical defense took its toll on him,” Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto told Bedrock Sports Hawaii on Wednesday while recalling that gigantic victory for the whole Big Isle. “His initial injury came on the opening kickoff. That’s when his shoulder was hit. We watched replay of the game and saw that on many different tackles that shoulder was going into the ground hard. We also know he sprained his ankle. He was taking a beating.”
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The loss does not take anything away from Uiliata’s amazing highlight-reel season that led Bedrock Sports Hawaii to choose him as its offensive player of the year.
In the season opener, a 36-25 win over Leilehua, Uiliata announced his presence on the Hawaii stage, showing an effervescent self assurance while flying all over the field. And those Game 1 stats tell the tale: 10 receptions, including a 70-yard touchdown, and two interceptions, including a game-clinching 79-yard return for a TD against the Mules, who play in the Open Division, the state’s top classification.
A bit later in the season, Uiliata took over at QB for the injured Joshua Manu and his dual-threat capabilities were quite apparent, especially to opponents, with the Marauders continuing to pile up wins.
By season’s end, Uiliata’s numbers were: 69 catches for 966 yards and nine TDs receiving; 1,255 yards, 13 TDs and only two interceptions passing; and 596 yards and 10 TDs rushing. And, keep in mind, those tallies do not include the real estate he covered and points he put up on kick and punt returns and interceptions.
And Uiliata’s biggest games came with the season on the line and in sensational fashion. After being inserted at QB just before halftime in a state first round game against Kapaa, he parted the difficult Warriors’ defensive seas and ran (96 yards, one TD) and passed (106 yards, two TDs) Waipahu back from a 22-point deficit for a 49-41 win.
One game earlier and one game later, Uiliata was doing his thing on all cylinders, too.
Back in a 38-30 OIA title game win over Aiea, he caught 16 passes for 198 yards and a TD as the Marauders rallied from a 17-point hole.
Then, in a 35-10 state semifinal win over ‘Iolani, Uiliata passed for 169 yards and two TDs and rushed for 199 with two more TDs.
“He’s a good kid and he’s going to be a good player for somebody in college,” said Campbell coach Darren Johnson, whose Open Division team limited Uiliata to 89 yards and a TD on seven receptions in an early season nonleague 51-14 victory. “He has that ability to play at higher level. I think it might take a season to get used to it, but if he stays the course, by his sophomore or junior season, he’ll be something special.”
Another Hawaii high school football coach who did not want to be mentioned believes Uiliata either has an offer from the University of Hawaii or an offer from UH is imminent.
The Rest Of The 8-Part Series
Already Posted:
>> FOOTBALL WRAP PART 1: Kahuku’s Leonard Ah You Was, Literally, The Closer In Second Straight State Championship Run
Upcoming Posts:
>> FOOTBALL WRAP PART 3: Coach Kyle Linoz Revived The Pride Of Waimea Football In Grand Fashion
>> FOOTBALL WRAP PART 4: Kahuku Dealt With Intense Pressure En Route To 10th Top-Tier State Championship
>> FOOTBALL WRAP PART 5: Konawaena Took Oahu By Storm For School’s First D-I State Championship
>> FOOTBALL WRAP PART 6: Shang HI Media’s MUST-SEE Video Compilation Of Waimea’s 45-6 D-II State Title Win Over King Kekaulike
>> FOOTBALL WRAP PART 7: Nacnac Productionz’s MUST-SEE Video Compilation Of Konawaena’s 38-28 D-I State Title Win Over Waipahu
>> FOOTBALL WRAP PART 8: Shang HI Media’s MUST-SEE Video Compilation Of Kahuku’s 20-0 Open State Championship Win Over Punahou
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The Season As It Unfolded:
