Future BYU Football Players Are Well-Represented At 2022 Polynesian Bowl
Jan 18, 2022, 9:01 PM
Wasatch's Jarinn Kalama runs to the end zone to score a 28-yard touchdown as Lehi’s Hank Griffin trails him during a 5A second round football playoff game at Lehi High School in Lehi on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – If you want a BYU football fix in January, you’ll have a chance to see some future Cougs in action this weekend.
The 2022 Polynesian Bowl is taking place on Saturday night (9:30 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network), putting the top high school players in the country on one field together to compete in an annual All-Star game. This is the first Polynesian Bowl on the island of Oahu since 2020 (before the COVID-19 pandemic).
BYU early enrollee Aisea Moa ready for #PolyBowl2K22 in Hawaii 🤙 @aiseamoa_8 pic.twitter.com/NxcYNVbKix
— Polynesian Bowl (@polynesiabowl) January 17, 2022
Four BYU football signees will be competing in the All-Star event this week that will take place at Kamehameha High School. The game used to be at Aloha Stadium, but that venue is condemned from use.
The four BYU football signees include defensive lineman Aisea Moa from Weber High School. Moa, a former four-star recruit, enrolled in classes earlier this month and was announced among BYU’s eight mid-year newcomers.
Moa will play on “Team Makai” (Hawaiian term representing the ocean), coached by former Super Bowl Champion QB Doug Williams. They’ll face Team Mauka (Mountains in Hawaiian), coached by legendary Hawaii head coach June Jones.
It’s a wrap day 1 practice in the books. Team Makai head coach Doug Williams words of wisdom. #PolyBowl2k22 🌴🤙 pic.twitter.com/ZrnJucko8t
— Polynesian Bowl (@polynesiabowl) January 18, 2022
Along with Moa, the other BYU signees in the 2022 Polynesian Bowl are WR Jarinn Kalama (Wasatch High via Hawaii), Orem OL Vae Soifua, and OL Talin Togiai from Rigby High School.
Another name to keep an eye on is Skyridge offensive lineman Tapuvae Amaama. Amaama will be visiting BYU on an official visit the following weekend in Provo. The 6-foot-4, 340-pound interior lineman recently received an in-home visit from BYU offensive line coach Darrell Funk.
BYU football’s history in the Polynesian Bowl
Since the Polynesian Bowl launched in 2017, many of BYU’s commits have played in the event. The last two offensive MVPs in the Polynesian Bowl are currently playing at BYU in QB Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters (2020) and WR Puka Nacua (2019).
A total of 12 BYU football players either on the 2022 roster or currently serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have played in the Polynesian Bowl since 2017.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
