There has never been a better championship game like the one played in this past Saturday’s matchup between the Vikings and the Warriors, which witnessed the Vikings almost looking at a replay of last year’s Championship game.

Two plays that totally disappointed Tafuna were pivotal in who would take home the bragging rights for the year — they both happened in the 4th quarter of play.

In a drive that would give Fagaitua the final TD of the game, an option play gone wrong for the Vikings, is ruled an incomplete pass, instead of an interception, with defensive Warrior Ryan Paaga ruled as not having control of the ball when he steps out of bounds. A heartbreaker, the Vikings take possession of the ball, and take it in for a TD, for the 32 - 28 win.

The Warriors then try to take it back again in an offensive drive, but are totally blinded by the Vikings when Fagaitua’s Ricardo Gonzales picks off the ball for an interception that loses all hope for Tafuna in the fourth quarter.

It was a match filled with spectators and fans coming out with their red and maroon to cheer on the No.1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the league, watching them go at it for the title once again. The game was also honored by the attendance of  Gov. Togiola Tulafono and First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono. Togiola addressed both teams before the opening of the game, reminding them to play by the rules.

“We came here to play some football, and that’s what we’re going to do!” said Togiola in his special remarks. “Tafuna, Fagaitua, congratulations for making it this far, you are the reason why we are all here today, to see who will be this year’s ASHSAA Football Champions.”

He added, “I want to see both teams play by the rules, let the officials handle the game, and do not let anything come against any of you on that football field... we are all so proud of you for your hard effort in making it this far. Play hard, play smart, play by the rules.”

GAME TIME

Fagaitua 32 - Tafuna 28

At the end of the game, everyone was satisfied that they had witnessed one of the best Championship games ever in ASHSAA history, by far the best game of this year’s football season, as both teams put nothing but hard effort on the field to fight for the prize. And while there were fumbles and interceptions on both sides, in the end it was decided by who made the least errors, both offensively and defensively.

In the first quarter, Tafuna was stopped in their first offensive possession, forcing them to punt on fourth down. But when they gave Fagaitua the chance on offense for the first time in the game, the Vikings drove the ball down the field like an unleashed beast, that saw them executing a threatening second down play on the Warriors 15-yard line, where the crowd saw Mikaele Nansen zooming his way between defenders to record the first touchdown of the game, with just 4:32 remaining in the first quarter. A quarterback keeper by Ricardo Gonzales was good enough to spot the Vikings on top with the first eight points of the game.

Suddenly, when the Vikings thought this was a good start for them, Tafuna managed to pick up the pace and drive their offense down the field, playing a threatening first down play on the Vikings 11-yard line with 7:22 into the second quarter; and Fereti of the Warriors faked a quick toss, handing the draw out to “Vicious’ Vena Umu who stormed out to the sidelines, and dove into the end zone for Tafuna’s first touchdown of the game. Their two point conversion was quickly rejected, when Fereti tried to pull off a quarterback keep, and “Pretty Boy” Tavita Elisara stopped him behind the goal line, which saw the Warriors trailing by two points.

With 6:46 in the same quarter, Fagaitua witnessed the Warriors coming down hard to try and pocket this one in the first half, when they played a second down situation on the Vikings 15-yard line. Fagaitua in zone coverage, failed to see this one coming when Fereti faked the hand off to Vena, and sent out a quick toss to Destiny Vaeao, who grabbed the ball in the air, and landed in the end zone for his first touchdown of the game, which brought the Warriors from a two point trail to lead the game 12 - 8. Fereti on a quarterback keep for two points was successful, as they headed into half time with the Warriors sitting comfortably with a four point lead.

Throughout this season and the past seasons of ASHSAA Football, Fagaitua has become famous as the ‘second half’ team. And indeed they were during last Saturday’s Championship game, when they came back in from half time, and installed the boosters that had everyone wondering who would win this game.

Second down of the Vikings, on the Warriors 3-yard line with just 7:44 into the third quarter, and Gonzales rolls out to toss the ball out to Afa Amituana’i who muscled his way into the end zone for his first touchdown of the game, bringing the Vikings back to tie up the ball game at 14 - 14. But a tie is not what the Vikings wanted when they saw the same play going out to Amituana’i again to send the Vikings back to lead the game 16 - 14.

Down to the third minute of the third quarter, and Tafuna fighting viciously on a fourth and goal situation that was determined to be stopped by the Vikings goal line defense. It was totally wronged by Tafuna when they saw Fereti trying to look for an open man, take the ball in himself, and record another Tafuna touchown, that brought them back to lead 20 - 16.

8:33 in the final quarter, and Fagaitua says there is no way we’re losing this one.

Gonzales leading the Vikings on a threatening second down play on the Warriors 20-yard line, and Fagaitua decides to bring in their middle linebacker, “Iron Man” Howard Tautu, to carry the ball. His second carry of the game, saw Tautu stumbling over defenders, as he dragged one into the end zone with him, to record his first touchdown of the game, bringing the Vikings back to lead the game 22 - 20.  But Gonzales made all the difference when he made it in for the two-point conversion that saw a four point gap between the team, as Fagaitua was up 24 - 20.

Not too long after that – 7:15 remaining in the fourth quarter and Tafuna plays a threatening first down situation on the Vikings 29-yard line. Tafuna decided to serve up another one of their threatening running plays, when Umu, broke through the defensive middle of the Vikings, and headed straight into the end zone to bring the Warriors back to lead this one with a 24 - 26 lead. Destiny Vaeao catching a perfect floater from Fereti was good enough for their two point conversion that held them to a 24 - 28 lead.

The Vikings are now in possession of the ball offensively, and moving the chains down the field, when an option play by Simi Laeli to Amituana’i goes wrong. The pass to Amitunana’i is stopped by Warrior Ryan Paaga, in what looks like an interception. However, it is ruled as an incomplete pass, with Paaga seen as not having control of the ball when he steps out of bounds, by the referee.

With the ball returned to Vikings hands, 4:47 remaining in the game, Fagaitua is on a second down situation on the Warriors 11-yard line and Gonzales hands off a counter play to Laeli, who muscles his way into the end zone, to record another Fagaitua touchdown. A successful two-point conversion in the hands of Amituana’i sends the Vikings sitting comfortably at a four point lead of 32 - 28. It is to be the last score of the game.

With just three minutes remaining in the game, Tafuna desperately came back on offense, to try and work a miracle with this game.

The Warriors were pursuing in the air to try and gain yardage and stop the clock, but were totally disappointed when they saw a pass from Fereti intended for Umu, picked off by Gonzales, the Vikings quarterback who was brought in to play defense. Gonzales brought that interception, and spotted their first down play on the Warriors 34-yard line with under two minutes remaining. Gonzales with the quarterback kneel, closed off the game with the clock ticking out to officially award the Vikings the 2011 - 2012 ASHSAA Varsity Football Champions.

FINAL COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH OF THE VIKINGS

Samoa News didn’t have a chance to speak with Tafuna’s Head Coach Jason Magalei after the game as he was busy trying to maintain his team following their loss, but fortunately, we were able to get some comments from this year’s Champions Head Coach, Fagaitua Vikings Sua’ese Pooch Ta’ase, who told Samoa News that this was a very good and very tough game.

“First of all, I want to thank the Lord and give praise and glory back to him, because he has given the kids the strength and the knowledge to play their hearts out today. I am very proud of my players today, they did it all. I want to thank the supporters the especially the parents, the reverends and pastors , and all of those who pick up our kids from Onesosopo to Fagaitua, thank you for your endless support.”

He added, “I also want to thank Valusia Talataina and his officials for a well officiated match,I would also like to thank Tumua and ASHSAA for this year’s football season, I think that the people well earned their money, and my hats off to Tafuna for bringing on a great game.”

To the opposing team, he said, “I want to thank Bishop Magalei and all of his football players and supporters for a tough game today. I know we were never a team who wanted to be defeated, but that’s how the game goes, one teams gonna win, and the other is not gonna win. And this is a prime example for our young men, no matter what happens, keep your head up and try again, just like we did when we lost to Tafuna last year in the Championship game, we kept our heads up high no matter our loss, but we managed to recover and here we are. Keep your heads up  and look forward to next year.”