Football: Decatur Gators sting the Hornets in season opener

There is something special about Friday night lights. No, not the Billy Bob Thornton classic, but the energy that comes from high school football without the thought of school the next day.

Fans in attendance of Decatur hosting Enumclaw in week one on the high school season were treated to that special atmosphere. The Gators stunned the NPSL newcomers and league favorite with a 14-7 victory on Sept. 6.

“It is a giant leap forward. That is a great team over there. The name rings bells and resonates for a reason…It was a great way to see them come out and really finish a game … I don’t know if we win that game last year,” Head Coach Matt Vaeena said.

Enumclaw has dominated on the football field since coming out of the pandemic. At the 2A level, the Hornets have gone 24-2 since 2022. The two losses came in the semifinals of the state tournament. In 3A, no team has made it out of the first round of the state tournament the past two seasons. Enumclaw is definitely setting the standard this season for the NPSL, and Decatur just one upped them.

“It was awesome to play an opponent like Enumclaw. We want to be them. They are the measuring stick in the league just based on success. For years [Federal Way] has been the measuring stick. Those are the teams we want to emulate, come after and model our program after,” said Vaeena.

Decatur’s biggest threat on offense and defense has been senior Nehemiah Washington. But for the first three quarters of the season, Washington will be on the sidelines for the foreseeable future after suffering a broken arm at practice. It sent a shockwave through the Gators camp, especially knowing who the opponent is coming up.

“As soon as he went down, it was a tough day. There were a lot of tears, a lot of shock of it all. We got a chance to regroup and know that he’ll be back at some point. Until he does, it is your job and obligation that all the work that was put in is not in vain,” Vaeena said.

“It took a toll on me. It took a toll on all of us,” Sefa Leapai said.

With Washington on the sidelines, the game couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the Gators. Senior quarterback Spencer Holloway’s first pass attempt found the hands of an Enumclaw defender.

“They called it an arm punt. Whatever it was called, it worked. Obviously wasn’t how we wanted to start, but we kept our head up and knew that the work we put in would pay out,” Holloway said.

Enumclaw took that momentum and drove into the Gators’ red zone where the drive stalled. A touchdown was taken off the board due to a hold, and the Gators ended up with an interception in the back of the end zone.

From that moment forward, with the defense not allowing any points, the Gators looked comfortable in the moment and settled in.

Enumclaw runs the Wing-T offense, a playbook that requires defensive discipline and a few firecrackers to break up plays before they can develop. Mount Rainier transfer Sefa Leapai was that guy.

Leapai flashed his bright orange gloves and mouth guard all over the place. He was routinely in the back field and bringing the hammer down on the Enumclaw offense. Decatur defensive coaches Uso Olive and Evan Cook made comments the likes of “Sefa looks like he’s playing defense like the rent is due.”

“The minute Nehemiah went down, his demeanor changed… He is a great asset to the team and we are lucky to have him,” Vaeena said on his linebacker.

“My brothers are right here with me. If I am not fighting for them, who am I fighting for,” Leapai said.

Decatur found the end zone early in the second quarter on an 18-yard catch from tight end TJ “The Big Rig” Riggins from Holloway. The Gators led 6-0 heading into halftime.

“Riggins came in and fit flawlessly with our guys. He had the same attitude to work hard and care as the rest of us,” Holloway said on his big tight end.

After the early interception, Holloway really settled in, making high quality reads on read option plays and throwing the ball. That is all Vaeena needs his quarterback to do.

“He’s a threat. That is all you can ask for as a quarterback that you have a threat back there… His decision making was good tonight. He didn’t make all the plays that were out there, but went to the right place,” Vaeena noted.

The Hornets were actually held scoreless for three quarters of play, but they did end up taking the lead in the fourth on a one-yard rush from Seamus Twohey. Enumclaw converted the point after and took a 7-6 lead.

On the home sideline, there was no panic after that. Decatur stalled on its next drive, but the defense forced a turnover on downs with some huge plays from Leapai and junior Michael Havili.

“Little Mike went out there and imposed his will. If you don’t have a game plan for 5 (Leapai) and 15 (Havili) and the D-Line, you got problems. It was great to see,” Vaeena said.

“Mike is an electric guy… He is a dawg,” Leapai said.

From the Hornet 34-yard line, Holloway found Riggins once more and the Gators snatched the lead from right under Enumclaw. With some luck from the football gods, on the two-point conversion, a tipped pass found the hands of Maddox Heyliger.

Enumclaw had 4:20 to respond to the Gators’ score, but failed to do so. The Decatur defense rose up and stopped the Hornets on a 4th and 10 with an incomplete pass.

The Hornets’ seven points is tied for the fewest point scored since 2021 in a week six loss to Steilacoom, which was also their last league loss.

“We have a great defensive staff with Cook, Uso and Green,” Vaeena said on his defense.

Decatur now is tasked with leg two of its difficult start to the 2024 season — rival Federal Way who is coming off an impressive 41-18 win at Auburn Mountainview.

“Going into Federal Way, nothing changes. We are going to be physical and hit hard. Effort and intensity are going to him us games,” Holloway said.

“Federal Way is gonna see me coming,” Leapai said.