West High running back Kalven Malepeai said he had never experienced an environment like what he felt Thursday night.
Malepeai was too young to remember the last time West High faced East on the football field. But after the two schools (only four miles apart) renewed their rivalry after an 11-year hiatus, Malepeai played a key role as the Panthers downed the Leopards 33-16 in front of a standing-room-only crowd at West’s Gene Plaga Field.
Malepeai rushed for just under 100 yards and scored three touchdowns as West rallied from a 16-15 third-quarter deficit. Malepeai had two of West’s final three scores and, afterward, relished the time on the field under the lights after the energetic crowd dispersed.
“There’s nothing like this,” said Malepeai, who transferred from Woods Cross last year to play for his neighborhood school. “I know all of these (East) guys. We play with and against them all summer and there was a lot of talking on the field.”
West coach Olosaa Solovi, a former East assistant, said he strived not to get too involved emotionally and tried to pass that on to his players.
“It’s just one game, and after we celebrate tonight, we’ve got to get ready for another tough one next week (vs. Brighton). These kids have to be steady and can’t let their emotions get out of control. It’s a long game and you have to bounce back from one play to the next.”
There were a series of big plays, starting when Malepeai scored on a 1-yard run midway through the first quarter, and then caught a short pass from Isaiah Sue’sue on the ensuing two-point conversion. The Panthers made it 15-0 less than 90 seconds later when Lava Vailahi returned an interception 31 yards for a score.
But the Panthers seemed to let up and East took advantage with a couple of big plays on special teams.
J.R. Kaufusi blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety and, on the next play, Nasio Otukolo returned the free kick 70 yards for a score.
Both teams then tried to contain their emotions. Solovi perhaps made a costly emotional decision when he went for it on fourth-and-three from West’s own 40-yard line and Sue’sue was tackled for a 10-yard loss. One play later, East’s Dameon Crosby found Timmy Thao running free toward the end zone.
“We knew they (the Leopards) would make a run,” said Solovi. “They’ve always had great special teams, and I’ve always had great respect for (East coach) Brandon Matich. They never give up.”
East, however, never found much offensive consistency, and West regrouped behind Sue’sue, who shook off two first-half interceptions by breaking free on a couple of long runs, and Malepeai’s ability to gain at least 4-5 yards per carry by carefully following his linemen until he found a gap.
“We put a lot of effort into this game (at practice) all week,” he said. “There was so much buildup. I’m glad it’s over.”
West’s win ended a 12-game losing streak to East and was the Panthers’ first win since 2000 in this 133rd meeting. West also improved to 5-3 overall and 5-0 in region play. East fell to 2-3 and 3-5 overall.
