Sports

West defeats Lathrop 29-15 in large-school football semifinal

How did West spell success Saturday night?

"You spell his name D-A-V-E," began Eagles' coach Tim Davis, "T-U-I-L-I-M-U."

West's senior captain was a war horse against Lathrop, willing his team to a 29-15 win over a fearless Lathrop team that was looking to reach its first state championship game since losing back-to-back championship games in 1984 and 1985. Tuilimu rushed for a game-high 194 yards and two touchdowns, leading his team back from an 8-7 halftime deficit and giving the defending champs a shot at back-to-back titles.

As impressive as Tuilimu's play was on the field, it was his emotional halftime speech that might have had the biggest impact.

"I talked to the boys, and I just told them all I wanted was another week," said Tuilimu, who also started at middle linebacker.

The pep talk worked. What had been a listless West squad in the first half turned into an inspired bunch, storming out of the locker room to take over during the decisive third quarter.

"He's our captain, he's the guy," said Davis, who has now coached the Eagles to three championship games in six seasons at West, including state titles last year and in 2010. "It's not just football-wise, but leadership-wise both on and off the field."

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Tuilimu's punishing running style wore down Lathrop in the second half, when he ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

"My mindset is to just try to put the team on my back," Tuilimu said.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder was quick to give credit to the West offensive line, which consistently blew holes in the Lathrop front line.

"Tonight I've got to give all the props to my linemen," he said. "They were outstanding."

West (8-2) defeated Service in last year's title game. The Eagles will meet South (9-1) on Friday at 6:15 p.m. at Anchorage Football Stadium.

South won the regular season meeting 56-9 in September.

West's running game was the difference, with the Eagles holding a 191-22 advantage on the ground.

Lathrop didn't make things easy. The Railbelt Conference champions led at halftime and gave the defending champs all they could handle all night long.

"That's a nice team over there," said West's Shanai Leon, who caught two passes for 70 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown.

The Eagles dominated the first quarter, outgaining the Malemutes by more than 70 yards and taking a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard PJ Seui run that was set up when Tuilimu rumbled 30 yards to the Lathrop 1-yard line.

But the Malemutes owned the second quarter, pulling to within 7-2 when outside linebacker Devin Millington raced in for a end-zone sack of West quarterback Sean Duffy.

Lathrop (8-2) took an 8-7 lead heading into the locker room thanks to a 27-yard strike from junior quarterback Glenn Maiden to running back Travis Phillips, who snuck into the flats to catch a short pass, then weaved his way downfield for the score. Maiden, the Railbelt Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, finished with 211 yards on 15-of-32 passing with a pair of interceptions.

The Malemutes outgained West 134-112 in the first half.

West came out flying in the third, scoring 16 points on the strength of two touchdowns and a safety.

Tuilimu got the onslaught started with a 1-yard scoring run at 7:26 for the go-ahead score. Later in the quarter, Lathrop punter Kodie Martin coudln't handle a bad snap in the end zone and West's Trey Luellen fell on him for a safety.

On the Eagles' ensuing drive, Duffy hit Leon with a short screen and the speedy junior did the rest, bolting 67 yards to make it 23-8 going into the fourth quarter.

Lathrop tried to rally, getting a 36-yard punt return by Daniel Holtry with 9:23 to play. But Tuilimu iced the game with his second scoring run of the game, a 5-yarder that provided the final margin.

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Lathrop coach Rusty Ham said his team gave everything it had.

"Nothing to be ashamed of," he said. "They were the better team."

Ham said reaching the semifinals was a huge accomplishment for the Malemutes, who for much of the last decade struggled to remain relevant in Alaska prep football.

"For 10 years we were a laughingstock of football," he said. "We've come a long ways."

Ham said Saturday's semifinal appearance was just the beginning for his upstart squad, which will return 12 juniors and six sophomores next season, including Maiden.

"I predict a state championship for this team next year," he said.

As for this year's championship, that's going to be settled Friday night under the lights at AFS. Davis said he can't wait for a rematch with the Wolverines.

"We're blessed to have a second chance," he said.

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Davis said he thinks the atmosphere will be intense.

"It's going to be awesome," he said. "It's going to be rocking and rolling."

Contact Matt Tunseth at 257-4335 or mtunseth@alaskadispatch.com

West 29, Lathrop 15

West 7 0 16 6 -- 29

Lathrop 0 8 0 7 -- 15

First Quarter

West – Seui 2 run (Metcalf kick), 2:01

Second Quarter

Lathrop – Safety (Millington tackled Duffy in end zone), 7:22

Lathrop – Phillips 27 pass from Gl. Maiden (kick failed), 5:47

Third Quarter

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West – Tuilimu 1 run (Metcalf kick), 7:26

West – Safety (Luellen tackled Martin in end zone), 1:41

West – Leon 67 pass from Duffy (Metcalf kick), 1:06

Fourth Quarter

Lathrop – Holtry 36 punt return (Barnett kick), 9:23

West – Tuilimu 5 run (kick blocked), 5:49

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Lathrop West

First downs 11 17

Rushes-yards 23-22 38-191

Passing yards 211 157

Passes 15-32-2 8-17-2

Punts 5-20.4 3-34.0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 6-44 9-74

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Lathrop: Phillips 15-50, Johnson 1-7, McKinstry 2-4, Martin 1-(-9), Gl. Maiden 4-(-30). West: Tuilimu 26-194, Seui 5-17, Murchinson 3-1, Fehoko 1-(-1), Duffy 3-(-20).

Passing – Lathrop: Gl. Maiden 15-32-2--211. West: Duffy 8-17-2—157.

Receiving – Lathrop: Ga. Maiden 4-87, Phillips 4-54, Perdue 3-32, Salcido 2-23, Palayo 2-15. West: Strong 3-37, Leon 2-70, Taylor 2-29, Elliot 1-21.

Matt Tunseth

Matt Tunseth is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News and former editor of the Alaska Star.

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