The 4-time Undefeated Champion Tafuna Warriors surely didn’t expect their season to conclude the way it did this past Saturday morning, as they faced the big red machine from the eastern side for the championship title of the 2014-15 American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) Football season.

Coverage of ASHSAA High School Football is brought to you by POWERADE – proudly distributed by GHC Reid, Your Family of Fine Beverages in Tafuna, “Oloa o Leala”.

The Veterans Memorial Stadium was covered in red and maroon, as fans of the two Toa’s of the league attended to support their teams with high spirits. Heading into the final game of the year, Tafuna High School had the upper hand of winning it all, after sweeping this season undefeated, until they saw what Head Coach Sua’ese Pooch Ta’ase and the Vikings had brought to the field – after losing against Tafuna throughout the whole season, their mistakes were well adjusted to save themselves in the most important game of the year.

Fagaitua Vikings 24 – Tafuna Warriors 22

Tafuna, wearing their new maroon uniform to this year’s championship game, was surprised by the Vikings during their first end zone encounter, after a punting situation that went sour for the Warriors inside their own red zone, that turned the tables to Fagaitua when the defense scored the first touchdown for the Vikings.

From then on, Head Coach Sua’ese Pooch Ta’ase couldn’t afford anymore mistakes, and started to bite small chunks of yards on their running game, run the clock out, and throw in some special plays to surprise the top defensive squad in the league.  Tafuna’s defense played their coverage well as usual, but their mis-tackles and over pursuing put themselves where the Vikings expected them to be.

Power House Oly Ta’ase and Anthony Tovia were two of the most unstoppable backs on the field. Injured twice during the game, Tovia never stripped down his gear, except he gained more yardage, and turned himself into a beast, scoring a touchdown and 2-point conversions for the Vikings.

The second half of the game forced the Warriors back to their season basics — going to their passing game, as it’s been unstoppable throughout the whole season, and in the past four championship years – but they were shocked to find out that most of their attempted passes ended as incompletes, with the majority of them intercepted by the Vikings defensive unit who did not make a single mistake throughout the match.

As the game was closing down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Vikings already knew for sure that they were sitting comfortably with the championship trophy to set sail back to the east side with a 24 - 8 lead, until Tafuna’s offense started clicking with just 2 minutes remaining on the clock.

The Warriors, rated as the best team in the league, turned those remaining minutes of the game, to a wrath that had the Vikings on the edge of their seats, as Mauigoa brought an air raid that scored the Warriors two touchdowns, and brought Tafuna back to trail the Vikings 24 - 22 with just 18 seconds remaining in the game.

Those 18 seconds had Fagaitua silently praying for their defense to come through, when Tafuna recovered their own kick off, to try and work a miracle for a 5th undefeated championship title.

Fagaitua’s defense adjusted to their deep coverage, protecting their end zone with every starter they had. With just one time out remaining, Tafuna worked in three incomplete passing plays to end the ball game — and to end off this year’s season, with a Viking win.

This loss for the Warriors woke up Tafuna’s ugly side again – late in the fourth quarter, when Tafuna was attempting a comeback, rocks were thrown from behind the stadium (Petesa area) and started hitting Fagaitua’s visiting stand like it was raining. The Department of Public Safety immediately started working to capture the instigators, as they fled toward the bushes.

Then as the Vikings motorcade was leaving the stadium to head back to the east side with the championship trophy, they were again stoned by Tafuna fans along the Airport road, close to the first round-a-bout, as you come out of the Election Office side road.

Thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries during this incident.

On the East side, the Fagaitua Vikings were welcomed home like kings, as every single village on the east side had elders to youngsters on the side of the road with their flags, and Fagaitua uniforms awaiting their victorious team of players and coaches.