Linemen Push Jaguars To Victory
Aug 06, 2015 10:37AM ● By Bryan Scott
The Jaguars will need to replace last year’s senior quarterback,
By Greg James
West Jordan - Go big or go home! The West Jordan High School football team, under new head coach Mike Meifu, has a big strong line to propel them in the win column this season.
“These two months have been real good. The kids are working hard and this is a good situation to come into. The kids were ready to work,” Meifu said.
The Jaguar linemen have been hard at work this off-season. At the Jaguar Challenge in April (a team challenge of speed strength and agility), the players began competing and learning to win.
The team placed third at the 2015 Utah Power Lifting Championship May 8. The winning continued on June 6 as the linemen won the 2015 Ute Shoot Lineman Challenge. They defeated Hunter High School in the tug-of-war championship.
“We have some big strong kids. Our offensive and defensive lines are going to be a big strength for us,” Meifu said.
Senior Antunaisa Mahe has already committed to BYU after he completes his senior season. The 6’1”, 295-lb lineman won the heavy weight division of the state power lifting championship. Seniors Steve Moeai (6’ 4”, 200 lbs.), Tryce Leuluai (6’3”, 284 lbs.) and Scott Clayburn (6’3” 330 lbs.) will be the core of the line for the Jaguars.
Meifu also said the skill players are ready to make an impact. Junior Dylan Krans has stepped in at quarterback and could see the bulk of the starters’ minutes.
“I think we are going to be good. We have some younger players that have really stepped up. Dylan has really taken on a leadership role for us. He is young and whipping the ball around pretty well. We will see how our offense does when it is game time,” senior wide receiver Hunter Christensen said.
The Jaguars are inexperienced at the skill positions. Krans threw 10 passes last season as a sophomore. He will replace last season’s starting quarterback, Brandon Gregg. The team’s second leading rusher, Kennan Galeai, is scheduled to return for his senior season. He rushed for 465 yards and 4 touchdowns. Christensen caught just one ball last season.
“Any time a new coach comes in, there is a different way to do things. There has been an adjustment, but things are going well,” Meifu said.
The Jaguars will play in realigned Region 3. Many of the regular Jaguar opponents will remain on the schedule. Alta has been dropped to the 4A classification. Cottonwood and Taylorsville High Schools will take their place in the region. The Jaguars are 15-8 against Taylorsville in school history and 5-4 against Cottonwood.
The Jaguars are 134-201-1 in school history. They have never defeated Brighton (20 games) and are 20-1 against Copper Hills.
Meifu is the seventh head football coach in West Jordan school history. He replaces Danny Dupaix who stepped down in May to pursue a career outside of coaching.
