Damien's Bailey finishes football season on a run
By Stanley Lee
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kama Bailey put on one final all-star performance to cap the prep football season.
The Damien senior returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and almost added a third to help the West team defeat the East, 37-16, in the 17th Annual Hawai'i Union Builders Goodwill Senior Bowl at Aloha Stadium on Friday.
Bailey, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound running back, finished the season as the state's top rusher with 2,045 yards and 21 touchdowns. He averaged 10.6 yards per rush and at times proved difficult to stop.
"He's like a cat, bounces out and lands on his feet, never takes a direct hit," said 'Aiea coach Wendell Say, who coached the West squad. "I knew if we put him on a good (returns) team, put better players on the block, he'd have a good chance."
It didn't take long for Bailey to get started as he returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. On the first play of the fourth quarter, his 94-yard return gave the West the lead for good at 20-16.
There could've been a third return before the fourth quarter if an East defender hadn't brought him down.
"I thought he could've returned three," Say said. "The wall was right there, and one guy hung on. If he didn't, he would've broken through."
The West coaching staff got a glimpse of Bailey's style — on and off the field — during practices earlier in the week.
"When we came to practice, he put everybody ahead of himself," Say said. "When we called for a running back, he'd let the other guys go first."
Say enjoyed the opportunity working with players he heard about or his teams played against.
"You see their character and their coaches did a good job in building their character," Say said.
EXTRA POINTS: The game MVPs were announced at a banquet Sunday. They are: Offense — James Buchanan (West), Tamataoa DeMello (East); Defense — Matt Ebanez (West), Kaimi Sarkissian (East); Special teams — Bailey (West), Bronson Kekahuna (East).
Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.