Skip to main content

2018 ASHAA JV Football: Leone and Tafuna bring victories home for the West Side

Tafuna Warriors quarterback, Star Lotulelei
LJ Apisala of the Vikings
Arian Legget of the Lions
Viliamu Tanielu

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Although the East side partied with victories in the varsity division this past weekend – the West Side enjoyed their double victories in the Junior Varsity Division after both the Leone Lions and the Tafuna Warriors brought went home victorious — the Warriors shut out the Vikings in a 28-point win and the Lions made sure they sealed the deal this time with a 4-point win over the Sharks.

Coverage of the 2018 ASHSAA Football season is sponsored by Congresswoman Aumua Amata and brought to you by Samoa News.

TAFUNA WARRIORS 28 – FAGA’ITUA VIKINGS 0

Warriors Defensive Coordinator Travis Stowers Pavihi made sure his defense didn’t let down in their showdown against the Big Red Machine, delivering their first shutout of the season – a strong defensive hold by the Warriors led by Sam Logoai.

On the other side of the ball, Tafuna’s offense was able to reload their backfield with different weapons — like Star Lotulelei and Loto Sefo switching up at the quarterback position every now and then to keep the Vikings at a distance — the two players have different styles and strategy in moving the ball down field.

The Vikings gave the Warriors a run for their money in the first quarter, with a strong defensive hold that kept it scoreless for both teams. But in the second quarter, Sefo managed to punch one in for six on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. The 2-point conversion was good with Sefo again crossing the goal line with a quarterback keeper, for 8- 0.

A fumble by Fagaitua gave Tafuna its next TD from Lotulelei when he sent John Allen up the middle to score an 18-yard touchdown reception. The two-point conversion was stopped immediately by the Vikings when  Faga’itua sacked Lotulelei in the backfield for a loss that held the Warriors back at 14-0.

Third quarter play and Tafuna’s third TD hits the field — Lotulelei again turns to Allen on a pitch play from the 25-yard line that he takes into the end zone. The two-point conversion is with Sefo as quarterback to run the ball into the end zone with a quarterback keeper securing the Warriors a 22-point lead.

Fourth quarter and Tafuna seals the deal with Sefo sending (#4) straight up the middle, he slips right through defenders and out to the open field to score the last and final TD of the match – for a 28-0 Warriors victory.

LEONE LIONS 26 – SAMOANA SHARKS 22

Head Coach Oakland Salave’a made sure they wouldn’t let this one slip out of their fingertips, as they dominated from the beginning — utilizing Oakland “Oakie” Salave’a on both sides of the ball as quarterback and safety.

First TD had Salave’a firing a long pass to Arian Legget who hauled in the catch on the sideline en-route to the end zone. The two-point attempt was denied.

Second TD had Salavea weaving his way through midfield for a 12-point lead into half time.

The Sharks saved their response to Leone in the second half — a fumble when Oakland is busted up in the backfield by (#21) of the Sharks, bringing out Viliamu Tanielu and his offense for a quarterback sneak all the way for Tanielu, who muscled his way behind his blockers to cross the goal line and score Samoana’s first TD of the game.The two-point attempt was a pass to Toa Fa’atonu who secured the catch inside the end zone for a 12-8 scoreboard.

The Sharks offensive line responded with O’Neil Ah-Chee and Marcus Samia carrying the ball all the way to spot Samoana a first down at the 5 yard line – From there, it’s a quarterback keeper from Tanielu to score Samoana’s second TD. The two-point attempt is good to give the Sharks a 16-12 lead.

In the final quarter of play — Salave’a again looked deep to find (#5) downfield to connect on the long pass that gave Leone its third TD of the game, a 30-yard touchdown reception. The 2-pointer was a quarterback keep by Salave’a that put the Lions back up 20-16.

Another Lions’ TD followed – Lions third and long from the 40-yard line and Salave’a looks deep downfield to find (#5) again for a TD with just 2:56 remaining in the ball game as Leone extended their lead 26-16.

The Sharks answered with Tanielu at the helm – 1:22 remaining in the ball game — Tanielu rolls out with the play action pass to look for a receiver and decides to take it himself for Samoana’s third TD of the match, inching them back to trail the Lions 22-26.

2018 ASHSAA Football Junior Varsity standings as of Week 3

1.Tafuna Warriors

2. Samoana Sharks

3. Leone Lions

4. Faga’itua Vikings

Comments

Sorted by Best
Loading comments

Comments are powered by Disqus. By commenting, you agree to their privacy policy.

Powered by Disqus

More from Sports

View all