US Poly Football Round Up (CA, HI, WA)

Solomona Aigamaua DL, 6'3, 205, Sr (St Louis HS, Honolulu, HI): Transferred from Leone HS (Amerika Samoa) as a junior to St Louis HS. Led the Crusaders in a defensive struggle over Wai'anae 10-7. Aigamaua had 6 tackles and 1 sack for a 12 yard loss. Linebacker Jacob Barit (LB, 6'2, 215, Sr) scored the game tying touchdown with a 7 yard interception return and had 4 tackles. Defensive Back Marc Moody had 5 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
Honolulu SB
HHSAA

Justin Jumawan-Perreira DB, 5'7, 170, Sr (Kaua'i HS, Lihue, HI): Returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns as the Red Raiders knocked the Marauders out of the state tournament and advanced to the Divison II championship game. The safety picked off Waipahu quarterback Gil Fernandez on the 20-yard line and ran it in for a 7-6 lead in the second quarter then grabbed another of Fernandez's offerings and returned it 55 yards for a score to seal it. Perreira finished the game with three tackles in addition to his two interceptions.
Honolulu SB
HHSAA

Shannon Kamakaokalani RB, 5'4, 140, Sr (King Kekaulike, Pukalani, HI): Rushed for 1,079 yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season, both the best totals in Maui Interscholastic League. Though he didn’t enter the end zone on Friday, Kamakaokalani put up 140 yards and was part of an 1-2 ground-game punch with Michael Douglas. “We have a lot of love on this team, as you can see’’ Kenton said as Kamakaokalani left to celebrate elsewhere after Na Alii clinched their first berth in a state championship football game – the first for the MIL, in fact – with a 38-37 win over Iolani in a First Hawaiian Bank Championships Division II semifinal.
Maui News
Honolulu SB

Loka Kanongata'a RB/DB, 5'11, 190, Sr (Bellevue HS, WA): Scored 3 touchdowns (79, 2, 39) in a 47-0 route of Auburn (WA) to advance to the 3A State Finals. Kanongata'a (pictured #6) had the games first two scores on a 79 yard run in the first quarter and a 2 yard run in the second quarter. Kanongata'a finished with 159 yards on 10 rushes.
Seattle PI
Seattle Times
King County Journal
Tacoma Tribune

Loka Kanongata'a bellevue

Grade — Senior.

Sport — Football.

Accomplishments — Kanongata'a ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns during Friday's semifinal victory against No. 2 Auburn.

Favorite class: Government (Mr. Best).

If you were in charge of your sport, what would you change (if anything) - and why would you change it?: The O-line and front four would get more credit. They work hard and get no glory.

Did you know?: Kanongata'a considers himself a proud survivor of Fort Warden (Bellevue's preseason retreat).

King County Journal

Justin Lata 5'11, 220, Jr (Narbonne HS, Harbor City, CA): Had 11 tackles and 1 sack in a 30-7 loss to Crenshaw. Finished the season with 189 tackles and 8 sacks for the season.

Sione Mataele RB, 6'0, 260, Jr (Palo Alto HS, CA): On the final possession of the fourth overtime, Palo Alto's junior fullback, a 6-foot, 260-pounder, plowed through the Palma defensive line from just inside the 1-yard line on 3rd-and-goal to give the Vikings a 41-38 win over Palma-Salinas in a thrilling Central Coast Section Open Division semifinal game at San Jose City College on Friday night. Mataele (pictured #99) ran for 115 yards on 21 carries and finished with five touchdowns, including three after the game was tied at 14-14 at the end of regulation.
SF Times, Monterey County Herald, Palo Alto Daily News, Palo Alto Online



















Havelock Pomele RB, Jr (Milpitas HS, CA): Finished with 169 yards on 17 carries including a 82 yard TD against Santa Theresa in a 47-6 win. The Milpitas defense was stifling behind linebacker Steven Fanua (6'1, 200), who turned 15 on Nov. 5 had 8 tackles and has 206 (96 solo) tackles for the season. The sophomore, who is averaging 17 tackles a game, led a defense that held the Saints to 16 yards rushing.
San Jose Mercury News
Milpitas Post

Thomas Su'a RB, 6'0, 205, Sr (St Joseph HS, Santa Maria, CA): Finished an illustrious high school career with 171 yards on 20 carries in a 47-32 defeat to Covina.
Santa Maria Times

Jack Sula RB, 5'11, 185, Jr (Carson HS, CA): Junior running back rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns in 29 carries, and had a key interception late in the fourth quarter, as the seventh-seeded Colts upset second-seeded Los Angeles Dorsey in a Division quarterfinal at Rancho Cienega Park. Tackles Faasee Pelo (6'3, 285, Sr) and Matthew Hunt (6'2, 301, Jr), guards Sean Enesi (6'1, 290, Sr) and Sala Tela (6'0, 310, Sr), center Andrew Perez, and tight end Morrell Presley all paved the way for Sula's massive night.
Los Angeles Times, Daily Breeze

Shiloah Te'o & Pelefoni Soliai (Kahuku HS, HI): Shiloah Te'o (DB, 5'11, 190, Sr) took a lateral pass from quarterback Richard Torres, and hit Pele Soliai (WR, 5'10, 150, Sr) with a bomb that he took into the end zone to give Kahuku an amazing 22-20 victory in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Championships last night at Aloha Stadium. Next Friday, the Red Raiders will play Saint Louis, a 10-7 winner over Waianae in last night's late semifinal. Soliai pictured left had only reception in the game, the game winning touchdown. Kahuku RB's Junior Mata'afa (5'10, 195, Jr) was 9-112 and a 80 yard TD run and Lehi Aumua (5'8, 180, Sr) was 19-100. On the defensive side Linebacker Siaosi Tafuna (5'11, 210, Sr) led Kahuku with 6 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss and Safety Gary Nagy (6'2, 180, Sr) had 2 interceptions, 2 tackles, and 141 yards on 6 combines kick and punt returns with a long of 60. Baldwin was lead on defense by Kyle Kaimiola-Ka'aihue (LB, 5'8, 187, Jr) with 12 tackles (1o unassisted and 3.5 for loss), Kaulana Alo-Kaonohi's (LB, 5'8, 184, Jr)11 tackles (8 unassisted), and David Ka'anana's (LB, 5'8, 165, Jr) 10 tackles (all unassisted).
Honolulu SB
HHSAA
Maui News

Honolulu Star Bulletin 11-29-06 Article

Everette Thompson DE/TE, 6'5, 240, Jr (Kennedy HS, Burien, WA): Junior was selected All Conference (Seamount-King) this season. Had 6 tackles in Kennedy's 28-13 win over Kamakian and will face Bellevue next week for the 3A State Championships.
Seattle Times

Johnny Toloumu RB, 6'1, 215, Sr (Long Beach Poly, CA): Overcame a first-half shoulder injury to rush for 142 yards and scored on a 13 yard TD run on a sweep to the left. Poly defeated Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 31-21 and will play Orange Lutheran next week.
LB Press Telegram
Los Angeles Times

Jordan Vaeena RB, 5'9, 215, Sr (Oceanside HS, CA): Rushed 12 times for 88 yards in a 50-13 win over West Hills and will face Eastlake in the semifinals next week.
North County Times

Purcell as 'amazing' as he was in Samoa

Purcell as 'amazing' as he was in Samoa

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

While recruiting in American Samoa nearly five years ago, University of Hawai'i assistant coach Rich Miano came across a 17-year-old Leone High senior who could run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds, dunk a basketball off a 360-degree move, and long jump 21 feet.

"He's an amazing athlete," Miano said at the time. "His only fault is he wants to become a journalist."

Melila Purcell III, now a 6-foot-5, 278-pound UH senior, is making news as one of the Western Athletic Conference's best defensive ends.

Yesterday, for the second time this season, Purcell was named the WAC's Defensive Player of the Week.

In Saturday's 54-17 victory over San Jose State, Purcell played 44 snaps, amassing eight tackles, 2.5 sacks, four hurries and a forced fumble. Of the Spartans' 22 pass plays, Purcell was in the quarterback's grill seven times.

UH uses a scoring system in which a defender is awarded a "hit" for every tackle or shot that leads to a tackle. Purcell was credited with 11 hits against the Spartans.

"In 44 plays, that's a good number for a linebacker," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "It's phenomenal for a defensive lineman, really unheard of for someone who plays on one side of the field."

In UH's 3-4 scheme, Purcell is aligned on the left side — usually an offense's strong side — and faces a minimum double team on every pass play. The Spartans also had a power package in which they used six offensive linemen at the same time.

"We don't want him engaged in a block too long," Reinebold said. "We ask him to be a movement guy, which means to move all over the field and make plays. That's not easy when the other team sends two blockers after you."

Purcell uses his speed (now 4.7 seconds over 40 yards) and strength (benches more than 400 pounds) to break free from blockers.

"What's fun about watching Mel play is his total command of his responsibilities," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "He totally knows on every call where he's supposed to be and what he's supposed to do. It's a great teaching tool for the people who are playing on the defensive line. You can say, 'Look at this, look at how he's doing.' "

Mel deLaura, who coordinates the conditioning program, said Purcell is working out with the same ferocity as he did as a second-year freshman in 2003. Purcell attended classes but did not practice in 2002 because the NCAA did not accept a high school English course as a core class.

Purcell weighed about 220 pounds as a second-year freshman. But the progress he made in 2003 could not be developed further because of a series of injuries the next two years.

This year, despite an arm injury, Purcell bit his mouthpiece and kept working.

"He decided he was going to make this his big-time year," deLaura said. "It started in January. He worked hard in the weight room and at running. He took care of business. Maybe it's because he's not as banged up. But he decided he was not going to be the guy going through the motions. He came in and worked his butt off. It's paid off. He's always working out, every day. When I come in, he's here. When I leave, he's here."

Purcell, who gained 25 pounds during the offseason, acknowledged he is in better health.

What's more, he said, "I'm more comfortable with the defensive scheme. My teammates encourage me to play at a higher level every week."

Reinebold said to maximize effectiveness, the defensive linemen are placed under play limits. Purcell's 44 plays against SJSU were his most in a game this season.

"We always tell our guys, 'You're not going to play as an NFL player after you cash your first NFL check,' " Reinebold said. "That means they have to play at that NFL level before the NFL will even consider them."

Reinebold said Purcell, based on his play this season, is deserving of a shot in the NFL.

"The NFL draft is a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and being the match for the right team," Reinebold said. "But when I compare him to guys I've coached or been around, he's certainly as talented as anyone. Look at the impact he has in games."

Reinebold said Purcell's skills — strength, quickness, good "motor" — are comparable to former All-Pro L'Roi Glover's abilities.

"Now that doesn't mean Mel will be a Pro Bowl player," Reinebold said. "That means he's playing at an extremely high level."

Reinebold also said Purcell has maintained his strong play late in the season.

"That something the pros notice," Reinebold said. "When you're an NFL team playing a 16-game schedule over 17 weeks, with all of that travel, you're looking for players who won't wear down."

Purcell also has shown feistiness this season. During a practice, he scuffled with his cousin, center Samson Satele.

"Mel is Mel," Satele said. "I knew he was the best, but sometimes he keeps it in. Maybe it was because he was hurt. But he's playing at a high level, like an NFL d-end. When he brings it out, he's unstoppable."

All San Francisco Section All City

First Team
John Kaulave OL 6'2, 320, Sr (Balboa HS) Offensive Lineman of the Year
Paradise Vaovasa LB, 5'7, 180, Sr (Balboa HS)

Second Team
Asofa Ia OL 6'1, 305, Sr (Balboa HS)

Honorable Mention
John Tuapola DE/G 6'0, 230, Sr (Balboa HS)

2006 BIIF Football All Stars

Biif Football All-Star Selections 2006-07

Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:32 AM HST

Division I

First team offense

Position Name School Grade

Offensive Line Fekita Feki Keaau Jr.

Offensive Line Mike Oana Waiakea Sr.

Offensive Line Levi Legay Kealakehe Sr.

Offensive Line Randy Genegabus Kealakehe Sr.

Offensive Line Kaliko McDonald Kealakehe Sr.

Receivers Kepa Kamoku Kealakehe Sr.

Receivers David Howell Keaau Sr.

Backfield Bronson Kaneao Keaau Sr.

Backfield Gabe Tuata Kealakehe Sr.

Backfield Fetu Iongi Kealakehe Sr.

Quarterback Keoki Limahai Kealakehe Sr.

Kicker Lanakila Ynigues Kealakehe Sr.

First team defense

Defensive Line Matthew Kekaualua Waiakea Jr.

Defensive Line Mark Loando Kealakehe Sr.

Defensive Line Palema Amone Kealakehe Sr.

Defensive Line James Kamanu Keaau Sr.

Linebackers Sione Polota Keeau Jr.

Linebackers Tinirau Lowry Kealakehe Sr.

Linebackers Fetu Longi Kealakehe Sr.

Defensive Backs Shawn Mongneyip Kealakehe Sr.

Defensive Backs Naia Ursua Kealakehe So.

Defensive Backs Keahi Sale Hilo Sr.

Defensive Backs Bryson Kaneao Keaau Sr.

Punters Kuran Murata Waiakea Jr.

Second team offense

Offensive Line Daniel Iopa Keaau So.

Offensive Line Nainoa Kalahiki Keaau Jr.

Offensive Line Lowell Ancheta Hilo Sr.

Offensive Line Brad Tamashiro Hilo Sr.

Offensive Line Pono Kanui Waiakea Jr.

Receivers William Mariani Waiakea Sr.

Receivers Kahekili Fuchs Waiakea Sr.

Backfield Bernard Ugalde Hilo Sr.

Backfield Max Papalii Kealakehe Sr.

Quarterback Kakei Cazimero Keaau Sr.

Kicker Tai Izawa Waiakea So.

Second team defense

Defensive Line Damien Bentosino Keaau Jr.

Defensive Line Glenn Mansanas Keaau Sr.

Defensive Line Johnny Lapa Kealakehe Sr.

Linebackers Rory Inouye Waiakea Sr.

Linebackers Max Alcover Waiakea Sr.

Linebackers Brad Tamashiro Hilo Sr.

Defensive Backs Cash Germano Kealakehe Sr.

Defensive Backs Mike Bronson Hilo Jr.

Defensive Backs Troy Darby Keaau Jr.

Defensive Backs Kuran Murata Waiakea Jr.

Players of the Year:

Offense: Gabe Tuata, Kealakehe, Sr.

Defense: Tinirau Lowry, Kealakehe, Sr.

Coach: Cliff Walters, Kealakehe

---

Division II

First team offense

Offensive Line David Palu Konawaena 12

Offensive Line Keoni Balucan Konawaena Sr.

Offensive Line Kalani Aldrich Kamehameha Sr.

Offensive Line Cody Mercado Kamehameha Sr.

Offensive Line Darren Galiza Honokaa Sr.

Receivers Reece Alnas Kamehameha Sr.

Receivers Kennny Whiting Konawaena Jr.

Backfield Mana Purdy HPA Jr.

Backfield Kolten Wong Kamehameha11

Backfield Kaipo Stender Honokaa Sr.

Quarterback Kawai Kanuha Konawaena Jr.

Kicker Kamaka Tauati Kamehameha Jr.

First team defense

Defensive Line Sam Atuatasi Honokaa Sr.

Defensive Line Kalani Aldrich Kamehameha Sr.

Defensive Line Salesi Apina Konawaena Sr.

Defensive Line Keoni Balucan Konawaena Sr.

Linebackers Trysen Cosier Kamehameha Sr.

Linebackers Colton Wong Ka'u Sr.

Linebackers Ikaika Ambrosio Honokaa So.

Defensive Backs Reece Ainas Kamehameha Sr.

Defensive Backs Kamealoha Wong Kamehameha Sr.

Defensive Backs Junior Fischer HPA Jr.

Defensive Backs Marwin Palea Konawaena Sr.

Punter Keoni Balucan Konawaena Sr.

Second team offense

Offensive Line Brandon Hoopai Kohala Sr.

Offensive Line Elliot Kastner HPA So.

Offensive Line Branden Pascual Kamehameha Sr.

Offensive Line Jordan Santos Ka'u Sr.

Offensive Line Kawika Coronel Konawaena Sr.

Receivers Dallas Watson Ka'u Sr.

Receivers Kalii Kunitomo Konawaena Jr.

Backfield Kawai Noa Konawaena Jr.

Backfield Jake Roxburgh Kohala Sr.

Backfield Junior Fischer HPA Jr.

Quarterback Nick Miyasato Kamehameha So.

Kicker Jung Park HPA Jr.

Second team defense

Defensive Line Jessie Johansen Honokaa Sr.

Defensive Line Jordan Santos KaOu Sr.

Defensive Line Makia AhQuin Kamehameha Sr.

Defensive Line Elliot Kastner HPA So.

Linebackers Ola Palu Konawaena Jr.

Linebackers Jung Park HPA Sr.

Linebackers Kaina Matthey Kohala Sr.

Defensive Backs Harold Perez Kohala Sr.

Defensive Backs Keala Freitas Honokaa Jr.

Defensive Backs Mana Purdy HPA Jr.

Defensive Backs Liko Keka Konawaena Jr.

Punter Kamaka Tauati Kamehameha Jr.

---

Players of the Year:

Offense: Kolten Wong, Kamehameha, Sr.

Defense: Keoni Balucan, Konawaena, Sr.

Coach: Ron Marciel, Honokaa.

AIGA Foundation Football Camp T-Shirts For Sale

Due to a large amount of requests to AIGA Foundation for T-Shirts (as shown in picture to the left) that were worn at this year's camp, Tatau and AIGA Foundation will make the shirts available for sale.

For a direct link to the products click here or go to the Tatau website.

Hawaii HS Football Roundup: Nov 17-18

Dolly Ainu'u RB, 5'10, 200, Sr (Kaimuki HS, Honolulu, HI): Rushed for 151 yards and 2 TDs on 16 carries in a 41-40 loss to 'Iolani in the first round of the Division II State Championships. Honolulu SB

Preston Ayala DB, 5'10, 165, Sr (Wai'anae HS, HI): Intercepted 3 passes in a 28-14 win over Kealakehe HS in the first of the Division I State Championships. Honolulu SB

George Kauwalu LB, 6'0, 210 (Wai'anae HS, HI): Had 10 tackles in the win over Kealakehe HS. Wai'anae will face St Louis this Friday in the DI State Semifinals. West Hawaii Today

Keo Palimo'o RB, 5'9, 176, Jr (Waipahu HS, HI): Rushed for 118 yards and a TD in DII win at Kamehameha Schools-Hawai'i. Hawaii Tribune Herald

WAC Defensive Player of the Week: Melila Purcell

DENVER – Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky, Hawai‘i defensive end Melila Purcell and Nevada punt returner De’Angelo Wilson were named the Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.

Purcell, a senior from Pago Pago, American Samoa (Leone HS), made eight tackles (7 solo),
including 3.5 for a loss of 10 yards and forced a fumble that led to a touchdown in the second half of the 51-17 win over San Jose State. He had 2.5 sacks and was also credited with four quarterback hurries.

Others nominated on offense: junior running back Dwayne Wright, Fresno State; junior quarterback Colt Brennan, Hawai‘i; and sophomore running back Luke Lippincott, Nevada.

Also nominated on defense: senior linebacker Korey Hall, Boise State; sophomore linebacker Joshua Mauga, Nevada; and freshman linebacker Paul Igboeli, Utah State.

Other special teams nominations: senior punter Kyle Stringer, Boise State; and junior kicker Clint Stitser, Fresno State.

A Tongan War Dance Enlivens Football in Euless, TX

The Wall Street Journal discovered that there is a Tongan community in Euless, Texas a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth. Trinity High School where many of the Tongans attend was the Texas 5A State Champions last year. Unbeknownst to many over the last 15 plus years the high school has turned out quite a few Tongan collegiate football players. Trinity will also play Carroll HS (Southlake) this Friday. Both teams were state champions last year.

Present Trinity High School Graduates of Tongan descent in DI Football
Arizona State: Saia Falahola
Texas Tech: Ofa Mohetau
TCU: Henry Niutei
Houston: Brendan Pahulu

Past Trinity HS Tongan DI College Football Players
Tim Finau: North Texas (1998)
Tomi Finau: Texas Tech (2000-2001)
Lee Foliaki: Texas A&M (2004-2005)
Semisi Heimuli: Texas A&M (1996-1999)
Fotu Katoa: BYU (1989)
Fred Katoa: BYU (1990)
Ali Likio: Arizona State (2002-2003)
Mosese Vakalahi: Texas A&M (1998-2000)

A Tongan War Dance
Enlivens Football
In Euless, Texas

High-School Players' Ritual
Jazzes Local Polynesians;
Everybody Does the Haka

By J. LYNN LUNSFORD
November 16, 2006; Page A1

BEDFORD, Texas -- For as long as anybody can remember, the stereotypical Texas high-school football player has been the saddle-tough son of the West Texas prairie.

So imagine a recent evening when the Odessa Permian Panthers, whose historic dominance of Texas football inspired the book, movie and TV series "Friday Night Lights," looked across the field and saw the rival Trinity Trojans doing a Polynesian war dance.

At the sound of a tone blown over a large conch shell, 17-year-old senior defensive tackle Alex Kautai threw off his helmet, freeing a mane of curly black hair. He shouted several sentences in a foreign tongue and waved his arms as 93 visibly agitated teammates gathered behind him on the sidelines.

Alex Kautai of the Trinity Trojans does the haka dance in Bedford, Texas. Watch video of the dance.1

On cue, they dropped into a wide, crouching stance and began the ritual known as the haka. "Ka Mate! Ka Mate! Ka Ora!" (We're going to die! We're going to die! We're going to live!), they chanted in unison as the fans went wild. For the next 60 seconds, the players acted out an ancient battle in which a big hairy man saves the life of a Maori chieftain.

With each phrase, the players slapped their thighs, arms or chests. They stomped back and forth, symbolically thrusting and jabbing at the enemy. At the end of the dance, Mr. Kautai jumped in the air and landed on one foot, his right fist in the air and his tongue lolling out of his mouth as he sneered fiercely.

Few other high-school teams could pull off that routine without looking silly. But at Trinity, the war dance embraces the culture of a growing population of immigrants from the island kingdom of Tonga, in the southwest Pacific east of Fiji. An estimated 4,000 people of Tongan descent live in Trinity's hometown of Euless, a city of 52,900 whose boundaries include about 2,800 acres of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Tongan community leaders say that most of the Pacific Islanders were drawn to the area over the past 20 years by jobs at the airport, where many of them work as baggage handlers or service employees. For those with airline jobs, company flight privileges have made it easier for them to fly home regularly.

Most of the 24 players of Tongan descent on the Trinity football team weigh between 250 and 308 pounds and stand at least 6 feet tall. Besides that, they are quick, so the combination makes Trinity an intimidating force on any high-school field. The Tongan players helped transform Trinity into a Texas football powerhouse.

WALL STREET JOURNAL VIDEO

²

See video of a Trinity High School war dance³ that embraces Tonga culture. (1:51)

Last year, Trinity won the Class 5A Division 1 state football championship. It went undefeated in this year's regular season and administered an old-fashioned 40-14 whupping to the Permian Panthers. Trinity begins the first round of state playoffs Friday night against nearby Arlington Martin High School.

"We do the haka to ignite the breath of competition. It means that I've got your back and you've got mine," said Mr. Kautai, who stopped shaving and let his hair grow long this season to make himself look even more intimidating than he already does at 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds. He likes to splash water on his face and hair before the haka so it will fly off in a mist as he performs the movements.

Trinity first performed the haka two years ago after one of the Tongan players saw a video on the Internet of New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team doing the war dance before one of its games. The haka is more than 200 years old and originated with New Zealand's Maori people. Since then, it has been adopted by a number of Polynesian cultures, including that of Tonga.

The Trinity Trojans do the haka dance before a home game in Bedford, Texas.

Several of the players, including Mr. Kautai's 19-year-old brother, Richie, went to a nearby park to work on the moves without attracting unwanted attention. Practice was rained out a couple of weeks later, so they persuaded Coach Steve Lineweaver to let them teach the dance to the rest of the team. "When we all dropped into the crouch for the first time and did those first steps, it made the hair stand up on everybody's arms," Richie Kautai recalls.

After consulting with local Tongan community leaders, Mr. Lineweaver agreed to let the team demonstrate the haka at a dinner for the football boosters. "I can't even wrap my West Texas tongue around some of the words, but every boy on that team has made it a point to learn it," Mr. Lineweaver said.

The team first performed the haka for fans at the beginning of the 2005 season. Concerned about seeming to taunt opponents unfairly, the coach restricted the haka performance to the sidelines at the end of the field where most Trinity students sit.

It was an instant hit. Today, the stands closest to where the team performs the chant are full an hour before kickoff. An eerie silence falls over the stadium as soon as the tone is sounded on the conch shell as fans strain to hear the haka leader urging on the team.

Fans wave haka signs and wear black "Got Haka?" T-shirts. Rather than race to the parking lot to beat the crowd at the end of the game, hundreds of people routinely wait 20 minutes or more for the team to do the haka one more time.

The team has performed the haka at elementary-school assemblies in order to fire up the children before state-mandated tests. It has performed for the City Council. Before last year's championship game, one fifth-grade class learned the haka and performed it to cheer on their newfound heroes. "It's amazing that a little chant has that much power," said Trinity principal Andy Cargile, a lanky Texan who is quick to point out that he sometimes wears a printed Polynesian skirt known as a lava-lava around the school.

One convert is Charlotte Swords, a 1979 graduate of Trinity's local archrival, Lawrence D. Bell High School in nearby Hurst. "I had five brothers and sisters, and we all grew up in a house where Trinity was the enemy," she said. Today, Ms. Swords's daughter Jennifer is a senior in Trinity's band "and I'm screaming at the top of my lungs every time those guys do the haka."

Ilaiasi Ofa, executive director of the Voice of Tonga, the organization that serves as a local advocate for Tongan immigrants, said the haka has become a source of pride for a community that hasn't always been sure of its place in Texas. Shortly after the team first began performing it, Mr. Ofa showed a videotape of it to a group of older Tongan residents. Their attention immediately gravitated to the white players standing in the front row, performing the war dance alongside their Tongan teammates.

"I had two older men with tears in their eyes tell me afterward, 'After seeing that, we know that our future generations will be accepted here,' " Mr. Ofa said.

Although he thought at first that the haka was a passing fad that would last just one season, Mr. Lineweaver says he wouldn't dream of trying to discontinue it. "Little first-graders are learning how to do the haka before they learn to block and tackle," he said. "If I tried to stop it now, I'm afraid I'd get run out of town."

Write to J. Lynn Lunsford at lynn.lunsford@wsj.com⁴