TC Manumaleuna II — maybe the happiest player at the Les Schwab Bowl — ready to help Team Columbia ‘put on a show’ at all-star event
By Dan Brood
He’s big on team.
He’s big on family.
He loves supporting his friends.
He’s already piling up honors, accolades and offers.
He wants to keep getting better.
And he seems to be having a heck of a lot of fun this week.
TC Manumaleuna II, a North Salem High School junior-to-be, and already a two-year starting quarterback for the Vikings, seems to have a constant smile on his face as he gets ready for Saturday’s Les Schwab Bowl, a high school football all-star game that will be played Saturday at Linfield University in McMinnville.
“It’s real exciting, playing among my peers from different schools, as well, and a couple of friends I know,” Manumaleuna said following Team Columbia’s early practice Tuesday. “We’re trying to get that chemistry down, and trying to get ready for Saturday, and put on a show.”
The 6-foot, 200-pound Manumaleuna, who received a scholarship offer from the University of Oregon when he was 14 years old, and who also has received offers from Miami, Louisville and Florida State, has already been putting on a show at North Salem.
Last fall, Manumaleuna helped lead the Vikings to a 7-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Northwest Oregon Conference West play. Maybe most important of all, he helped guide the team to a 27-11 home win over Crater in a Class 5A first round state playoff game, giving the Vikings their first playoff victory in the past 17 years.
“My coach (Jeff Flood), he wanted to put me in my freshman year,” Manumaleuna said. “I felt I was ready, as well. I think we had a good season my freshman year, this past season as well. This upcoming year should be the best one, I think.”
With Team Columbia, he’ll be splitting quarterback duties with Central Catholic’s Cru Newman, who helped lead the Rams to the Class 6A state championship last fall.
“Cru has been good with helping me out with some of the plays that they (Central Catholic – Rams coach Steve Pyne is the head coach of Team Columbia) run,” Manumaleuna said. “Splitting that time will help us both be better.”
Getting better — that seems to be a big theme for Manumaleuna. That looks to be a goal he has for this week.
“With all of these coaches, the best in the state, I think I’m getting a lot of pointers, little things I want to learn,” he said.
Manumaleuna also seems to have a big support group, starting with his family.
“I guess I’m a big family guy,” Manumaleuna said with a smile. “I like talking about my family. I think that shows a lot about me, as well.”
He also likes talking about friends, competitors and teammates.
“I want to see all the guys I know do well, too. Especially my teammates. I like putting their names out there,” Manumaleuna said. “For me, it’s team first.”
This week, that means Team Columbia.
—
This year’s Les Schwab Bowl, presented by Express Employment Professionals, and serving as a fundraiser for various youth charities, includes many of the top players from around the state, including underclassmen, as well as a player from southwest Washington. This is the 74th game in the series, but the first that won’t be North vs. South. Instead, players were drafted by Team Columbia head coach Steve Pyne, who led Central Catholic to the 2021 Class 6A state championship, and Team Willamette head coach Dan Lever, who guided Tualatin to the Class 6A title tilt.
Saturday’s event begins with tailgating at 2 p.m., featuring Golden Valley Brewing, Stoller Family Wine and more. Gates open at 4 p.m., with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.
Tickets for the game can be purchased online, at lesschwabbowl.com/tickets. The game also can be streamed online, at a cost of $10, at lesschwabbowl.com.
