High school football: West Panthers 2020 preview

Note: West finished with a 4-6 overall record in 2019 and was tied for fourth in Region 2 with a 2-4 record. It was RPI seed No. 19 in the 6A playoffs and was eliminated by Fremont 35-10 in first round.

SANDY — In the first year of Olossa Solovi’s tenure as head coach West, the Panthers won four games — its winningest season since 2014. So far, so good.

“It was definitely an improvement from where they were at, but we could have done better. I think coaching overall, my first year of being at West, from the top down, could have been better,” Solovi said.

Solovi’s squad returns nearly all of its starters this season, eight on offense and eight on defense. That kind of experience will be key for the Panthers to take the next step as a program.

“My second year, we have a lot better idea of what direction, what kind of kids we have. I just think it’s better overall. I think culture-wise, we’re going to be a little bit better. A lot more experience coming back. We had a lot of kids, a lot of young guys, that got some critical playing time last year and that will play a part,” Solovi said.

West Panthers at a glance

Solovi’s thoughts on how his players dealt with the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:

“It affected our program deeply just because we were in Salt Lake. Specifically in our area, Rose Park was hit pretty hard. So there was a lot of our families that were affected. It was a slow go, we just barely got the OK to go the end of last week.”

2020 schedule

Aug. 14 — at Clearfield, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21 — WOODS CROSS, 7 p.m.

Aug. 28 — at Mater Dei, Calif., 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 — CYPRUS, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — at West Jordan, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 — HUNTER, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 — at Taylorsville, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — TRINITY CHRISTIAN, TEXAS, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 — KEARNS, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 — at Granger, 7 p.m.

West offensive snapshot

Offensive coordinator: Olosaa Solovi

2019 offense: 28.9 ppg (11th in 6A)

2019 offensive statistics

• Eight returning starters
• Triple option offense

Returning offensive starters

• Jesse Ah-Chee (OL)
• Johnny Hamilton (OL)
• Semisi Faletea (OL)
• Floyd Nau (RB)
• Sesi Vailahi (Slot)
• Johnny Alo (RB)
• Liutai Kinikini (WR)
• Clarence “Bird” Butler (WR)

Offensive newcomers to watch

• Karson Lopati (QB)
• Jordan Odom
• Liutai Kinikini (WR)

Solovi’s keys for offensive success in 2020:

“Just stay healthy. We’re not a deep team by any means. For us, stay healthy, execute. Just try and take care of what we can control.”

West defensive snapshot

Defensive coordinator: Bryant Masina

2019 defense: 25.2 ppg (16th in 5A)

2019 defensive statistics

• Eight returning starters
• 4-3 defense

Returning defensive starters

• Omarion Fa’amoe (DL)
• Dallas Vakalahi (DL)
• Kalisoni Malu (DL)
• Rikki Soaia (DB)
• Zach Latu (LB)
• Johnny Alo (OLB)
• Fanga Tukuafu (OLB)
• Clarence “Bird” Butler (DB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

• Jordan Odam
• Rikki Soaia

Solovi’s keys for defensive success in 2020:

“I think for us to just understand the system that we put in place, stay healthy, execute, be a lot more physical. We did a good job in the offseason to really attack in the weight room. Our strength and conditioning coaches did a really good job and the weight room with these guys this offseason.”

Deseret News outlook for 2020

In Solovi’s second year at the helm at West, the Panthers should be improved and around middle of the pack in Region 2. Last year’s young team will have a much-needed year of experience under their belts in Solovi’s system and should see improvement in 2020.

Felt’s Facts for West

• All-time record: 571-450-34 (126 years)

• Region championships: 24 (1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915, 1925 co, 1927, 1928, 1933, 1936 co, 1941, 1946, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1978 co, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2014 co)

• Playoff appearances: 41
• All-time playoff record: 42-34-1

• State championships: 7 (1925, 1927, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1992)
 — also won 14 additional championships between 1898 and 1915 when season record vs. other high schools determined titles.
• State championship record: 6-4

• Most played rivalry: 111 meetings with East dating back to 1914. East leads 60-44-7.


Last five seasons

• 2019 — 4-6 (2-4 in Region 2 — 6A first round)
• 2018 — 2-9 (1-4 in Region 6 — missed playoffs)
• 2017 — 3-7 (0-5 in Region 6 — missed playoffs)
• 2016 — 0-9 (0-6 in Region 2 — 5A quarterfinals)
• 2015 — 0-9 (0-6 in Region 2 — missed playoffs)

West coaching history


• 2019-current — Olosaa Solovi (4-6)
• 2016-2018 — Justin Thompson (5-25)
• 2012-2015 — Keith Lopati (11-28)

• 2009-2011 — Justin Spencer (18-16)

• 2005-2008 — Randy Schreiter (15-28)

• 2002-2004 — Don Holtry (4-25)

• 1998-2001 — Sam Aloia (13-26)

• 1985-1997 — Don Holtry (90-46) *one state title
• 1967-1984 — Gean Plaga (147-47-3) *four state titles
• 1959-1966 — Don Jesperson (28-40-1)

• 1956-1958 — Glen Tuckett (14-11)

• 1946-1955 — Jimmy Vranes (44-36-8)

• 1943-1945 — Paul Packard (0-20)

• 1942 — Parley “Paddy” Davis (1-3-2)

• 1938-1941 — Pat Ryan (10-12-3)

• 1920-1937 — Roy E. McIntyre (63-40-7) *one state title
• 1919 — Homer P. Christensen (5-2-1)

• 1911-1918 — Henry G. “Heinie” Richardson (31-15)

• 1910 — Joe Busse (4-2)

• 1903-1909 — David H. Callahan (28-12-3) *one state title
• 1902 — Mr. Boyle (6-1-2)

• 1898-1901 — David H. Callahan (15-2-1)

• 1893-1897 — team captain (15-7-1)


Deseret News All-State Archives

Check out our archives of Deseret News all-state teams from 1929 to 2019 at Deseret.com.