2025 POLYNESIAN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today nine finalists for the 2025 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year Award. The Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year Award is presented annually to the most outstanding senior high school football player of Polynesian Ancestry.

Previous award recipients include: Denver Broncos Safety Talanoa Hufanga (2017); Los
Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua & former University of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa (2018); former Florida State University QB DJ Uiagalelei (2019); Indianapolis Colts
DE J.T. Tuimoloau (2020); Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan (2021); UCLA QB Nico
Iamaleava (2022); University of Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola & University of Utah QB Isaac
Wilson (2023); University of California, Berkeley QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele & University of Iowa DL Iose Epenesa.

The nine Finalists include QB Helaman Casuga (Corner Canyon High School; Draper, UT),
WR Chris Henry Jr. (Mater Dei High School; Santa Ana, California), LB Talanoa Ili (Kahuku
High School; Kahuku, Hawaiʻi), DL Simote Katoanga (Santa Margarita Catholic High School; Rancho Santa Margarita, California), OL Malakai Lee (Kamehameha Schools – Kapalāma; Honolulu, Hawaiʻi), ATH Salesi Moa (Fremont High School; Ogden, Utah), DL Lopeti Moala (Orem High School; Orem, Utah), OL Tommy Tofi (Archbishop Riordan High School; San Francisco, California), and DL Tomuhini

“This award continues to highlight the remarkable skill and dedication of today’s Polynesian high school football players,” said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co- Founder and Inductee. “We’re proud of this year’s Finalists and wish them the best as they continue their football journeys.”

The Finalists will be recognized during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
Weekend on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. The formal presentation of the Award will be held at the 2026
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 17, 2026), along with the finalists being recognized during the 2026 Polynesian Bowl (January 16, 2026).

2025 POLYNESIAN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Helaman Casuga– Corner Canyon (Draper, UT)- Texas A&M

Quarterback … Hawaiian Ancestry … Led the Chargers to a 12-1 record and a 2025 6A
State Championship win…threw for 3,487 yards and 37 touchdowns … rushed for 499
yards and 10 touchdowns… Ranked as the #15 quarterback in the class of 2026
and #2235 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Chris Henry Jr. – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)

Wide Receiver … Tongan Ancestry … Led the Monarchs to an 8-3 record … 607
receiving yards and 6 touchdowns … Ranked as the #1 wide receiver in the class of 2026
and #7 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Talanoa Ili – Kahuku (Kahuku, HI)- USC

Linebacker… Samoan Ancestry … Led the Red Raiders to an 8-4 record … 18.5 tackles…
8 tackles for loss… 5 sacks… Ranked as the #1 overall player in Hawai’i… Ranked as the #6 linebacker in the class of 2026 and #91 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Simote Katoanga – Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)- USC

Defensive Lineman … Tongan Ancestry … Led the Eagles to a 10-3 record and Open
Division State Championship… 35 total tackles (11 solo) … 11.5 tackles for loss… 3
sacks… Ranked as the #21 edge rusher in the class of 2026 and #177 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Malakai Lee – Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama (Honolulu, HI)- Michigan

Offensive Lineman … Samoan & Hawaiian Ancestry … Led the Warriors to a Open
Division Championship … Ranked as the #2 overall player in Hawai’i… Ranked as the #12 offensive tackle in the class of 2026 and #128 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Salesi Moa – Fremont (Ogden, UT)- Utah

Athlete … Tongan Ancestry … Led the Silverwolves to a 9-3 record … 1,272 receiving
yards and 16 touchdowns… 57 total tackles (26 solo) … 3 interceptions and 5 pass
breakups…Ranked as the #2 athlete in the class of 2026 and #54 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Lopeti Moala – Orem (Orem, UT)- BYU

Defensive Lineman … Tongan Ancestry … Led the Tigers to a 12-2 record and a 2025 5A
State Championship win… 83 total tackles (40 solo) …23 sacks… 3 forced fumbles… 1
interception and 4 pass breakups…Ranked as the #41 defensive lineman in the class of 2026 and #369 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Tommy Tofi – Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, CA)- Oregon

Offensive Lineman … Samoan Ancestry … Led the Crusaders to a 12-0 record… 1,044
receiving yards and 12 touchdowns … Ranked nationally as the #3 offensive lineman
recruit in the Class of 2026… Ranked as the #4 interior offensive lineman in the class of 2026 and #82 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

Tomuhini Topui – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)- USC

Defensive Lineman … Tongan Ancestry … Led the Monarchs to an 8-3 record… 25 total
tackles (14 solo) … 2.5 sacks… 9 tackles for loss… 3 pass breakups… Ranked as the #14 defensive lineman in the class of 2026 and #130 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking… Selected to play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.

About the Polynesian Bowl: The Polynesian Bowl is the premier all-star game played annually in Honolulu, Hawai`i that features 100 of the nation’s top ranked high school seniors of Polynesian and non-Polynesian ancestry alike – many of whom have gone on
to play in the NFL. Past MVPs include AJ Epenesa, Puka Nacua, Travis Hunter, Nico Iamaleava, Dakorien Moore and Husan Longstreet. The game is broadcast live and in primetime on NFL Network. For more information, visit PolynesianBowl.com.