The organizers for Saturday's inaugural SoCal Polynesian Football Classic at Harbor College told the players they had a surprise for them at halftime. Yet the players never expected this.
Following a special ceremony to honor former Banning star Michael Alo, 12-year-old Jolie Ale came out dressed in Polynesian costume and performed a traditional taualuga.
Long Beach Poly's Wilson Edwards was the first player to join in on the dance. Then Banning's Kome Eteuati jumped on the trainer's table to the crowd's delight and everyone began dancing.
The teams were lost in "Island time," and the East team's 24-12 victory over a West squad laden with South Bay talent became an afterthought at the event that celebrated Polynesian culture.
"This means a lot. It shows that all Polynesians have got that love," Eteuati said. "It doesn't matter if we're Samoan or Tongan. We've got to stop that fighting because we're all the same race."
It was a game at which a fan might feel awkward if he wasn't wearing a "Hawaiian shirt."
Families came out en masse to see the first Polynesian all-star game of its kind in California. It was the brainchild of Reupena Ale, who passed away last month. His sons, Reuben, Arnold and Leroy, helped make Reupena's vision a reality.
"It was just a beautiful thing, a beautiful event," said Gardena coach Ed Lalau, who coached the West All-Stars. "It was a long time coming."
Former Banning coach Chris Ferragamo introduced Alo as "the finest football player I've ever coached" while presenting him with an honorary SoCal Poly Football Achievement award. At halftime, players from both teams competed in traditional Polynesian contests of coconut skinning, banana peeling and basket making.
After the game, 10-time NFL Pro Bowler Jesse Sapolu handed out the MVP awards.
In typical Polynesian fashion, a center - Cody Afusia of Ocean View - was named the East MVP, even with Great Oak's Bubba Poueu-Luna coming up with two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, in addition to a 20-yard touchdown catch.
Banning's Daniel Bird earned West MVP honors, delivering jarring hit after jarring hit on defense.
"This was all about the uso - brotherhood," Bird said. "It was the unity of the Islanders."
Samoan actor Peter Tuiasosopo served as the P.A. announcer and provided some light moments, including needling Banning standout Elijah Sala in the coconut-skinning contest.
Sala answered with a 31-yard fourth-quarter touchdown catch on a pass from Banning teammate Fie Fiatuala.
"This whole thing was pretty cool, all the Polynesians playing together and showing so much unity," Sala said.
Sala and Bird also heard from Tuiasosopo for punts that "hit an airplane."
When West Torrance lineman Damien Watters punted, he delivered a booming 47-yarder.
"I was never allowed to kick until now," Watters said, drawing an exasperated look from his father, also named Damien, who is West's offensive line coach. "I had a blast in this game. It was different than just playing different high schools."
Carson's Blake Tufele came up with an interception, and Carson's Frankie Foster had a 28-yard fumble return to the East 4 to set up Torrance quarterback Amos Solomua's 1-yard scoring run on fourth down.
Solomua said he never had a line like Carson's J.B. Manu and MacKenzie Falo, Watters and San Pedro's Taua Niko.
'It means a lot to be part of this first Polynesian game, but I wasn't touching any of those halftime activities," Solomua said.
Manu didn't shy away.
"Oh, I was one of the dancers," Manu said. "This was all about fellowship."
tony.ciniglio@dailybreeze.com