Eliot Lelei was the name heard over and over again on the loud speakers on Saturday at Veteran’s Stadium.
For the first time in almost a decade, the Samoana Sharks won the ASHAA High School Championship through the efforts of Lelei and a stacked Shark defense.
Eliot caught an interception, later scored the lone Shark touchdown and then kicked the extra points in a low scoring affair against the Warriors.
Samoana’s vaunted defense held Tafuna to a mere 6 points the entire morning. 
The Warriors tried to rally in the final seconds of the game, but a touchdown saving tackle from Eliot Lelei stalled Frank Mulipola at the 3 yard line to close out the season for a 7-6 Samoana victory for the first time since 2009.
In a remarkable turn of events, a post season was created last month by an upset against the Tafuna Warriors in the regular season that came in the form of a field goal from Eliot Lelei.
Ironically, the last time Samoana won the championship was in 2009, by a final score of 7-6, against Tafuna.
This is the exact same score, outcome and opponent of the 2017 season.
Congratulations to Samoana, their MVP was Eliot Lelei, offensive player of the game was Moses Michael Samia who led in rushing yards while defensive player of the game is Kidman Sea with two takeaways.
Samoana’s Junior Varisty team also finished the 2017 season as ASHAA Champions.
