Hifo, Takitaki Make Heritage's Success a Family Affair

If you spend much time around the Heritage High School football team, you know it's hard to miss Limihai Hifo and Sione Takitaki.

Hifo, a senior running back, leads the team in rushing. He also starts on defense, having excelled at several positions for the 6-1 Patriots. Takitaki, also a senior running back, is the team's third leading rusher and a leader on defense as well.

And if that doesn't get your attention, no worries. You'll know they're around. Cousins who consider themselves "brothers," Hifo and Takitaki rarely stand still -- or keep quiet.

"Neither one of them would ever claim to be subdued," said Heritage coach Kraig Broach.

Any feeling of team unity, commitment and just plain football fun on the Patriots seems to stem from Hifo and Takitaki, whose enthusiasm on the sidelines and performance on the field have established themselves as leaders of the team.

Heading into Friday night's "Menifee Bowl" game against Paloma Valley (7 p.m. at Paloma), Hifo has accounted for 672 yards and 9 TDs rushing. He also has caught 10 passes for 171 yards. He is the team's punter, backup quarterback, and has played linebacker, defensive lineman and safety on defense.

"We haven't had a guy like that before," Broach said. "Limihai is very smart. "He has a strong will to play football, and you combine that with his physical gifts. We put a lot of responsibility on him."

Much of the same can be said about Takitaki, who at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds is bigger than his cousin but has just as much impact on the field. He has rushed for 334 yards and 4 touchdowns and is the team's leading tackler with 28.

"He's a bigger kid, so I have no plans to move him to corner," laughed Broach, who starts Takitaki at defensive end and linebacker. "But he's similar to Limihai in that he's versatile. He has strength, speed and football instincts."

Then there's the "personality" factor. The joy and wide smiles spread by both cousins is something they are proud to share with their teammates -- especially the younger players.

"I think the younger guys look up to me and Sione," Hifo said. "They see the relationship we have and how we have good leadership, so they see how they can carry it on when we leave. We want them to keep the tradition.

"We don't really talk about tradition, but it's a big thing at Heritage. We have those little conversations among the players when the coaches aren't there. If someone wants to slack off, I just tell them to pick their head up and not worry about it. Go after the next play."

Takitaki grew up in Rialto, where he played youth football. While he was enjoying the sport with his childhood friends, he couldn't help but notice what the Hifo boys were doing at Heritage. First Tony and Kiu, then Marvin, now Limihai. Takitaki came out to live with his uncle for a year in seventh grade, during which time he played for the Menifee Wildcats. He returned to live with his mother in Rialto the next year, but he had caught the bug. By the end of his freshman year, he was back in Menifee and playing football at Heritage.

"I knew it was a better program here and all my cousins played here," Takitaki said. "I'm glad I moved here. I miss my friends sometimes, but I love it here. I just want our team to win."

Takitaki says he prefers defense over offense, because "I love to hit." He has made an oral commitment to BYU, which is recruiting him as a defensive end.

"It will probably be like here, where they might move me to outside linebacker," he said. "My mind is focused on playing there, but right now we have some big games at Heritage."

Hifo has committed to San Jose State, where coaches originally recruited him as a fullback.

"After they saw some of my recent highlights, they decided they might switch me to running back," he said.

And even when they aren't in the middle of a play, Hifo and Takitaki serve just as important a role.

"Whatever we do, a lot of the guys follow us," Takitaki said about the cousins' influence on the other players. "Sometimes when they talk about me being a leader, I tell them, 'Learn to be a leader yourself.' We can all be leaders."

Tomorrow: A preview of the big game.