Tuatala helps Heritage power its way into Menifee Bowl

At 6 feet and 225 pounds, Ika Tuatala is a force to be reckoned with for Heritage High. Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre

Heritage High football coach Kraig Broach refers to his one-two punch at running back as Thunder and Lightning. And when you look at them, there's no doubt which one Thunder is.

Senior Ika Tuatala stands 6 feet and 225 pounds. When he's coming at you with the football, you know it. He came into the season expecting to play the role primarily of a power back, but in trading carries with teammate Kenny Teter, he's done it all. Two weeks ago in the Patriots' 35-7 win over Elsinore, he rambled 81 yards for a touchdown.

"Coming into the first game, that’s what I thought I would do – just try to power through, get the yardage we need," said Tuatala, who has rushed for 619 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. "But our O linemen are giving us the holes. That’s the reason we’re getting those big yardage plays.

"I was only a starter on defense last year. Once in a while they put me in as a power back when they needed a couple yards. Mostly they put me in to block. But when I got the ball, I just tried to make the most of it. I try to use my size as an advantage over the defense. I’ve got no speed on me, so…"

Broach and his assistant coaches saw all they needed to about Tuatala last year. This season he starts both ways, and is expected to play a key role Friday night when the Patriots (5-2) play host to crosstown rival Paloma Valley (5-2) in the Menifee Bowl.

Despite his success on offense, Tuatala says defense remains his preference. Starting at linebacker, he has been in on 31 tackles this year. Realizing in the off-season that he probably would start both ways, Tuatala says he increased his already solid work ethic.

"Starting both ways ... it doesn’t take away any focus from one of the other," he said. "During summer workouts when I noticed I was going to start on both sides, it just made me work harder to get my cardio up. It made me a better player."

Tuatala says he hopes to continue his football career at BYU, where several other Heritage graduates have and still do play. This year's Cougars roster includes junior wide receiver Aleva Hifo. Other former Heritage stars who played at BYU and elsewhere continue to follow the Patriots' fortunes and give advice to current players, Tuatala said.

"After our games, the older guys will ask for our film," he said. "They will text us back, 'This is what you’ve got to work on.' They give us advice. Some of them will be at the game and they tell us what’s going on. They give us motivation going into the game."

The players need no extra motivation heading into the Menifee Bowl. The Patriots know they have never lost to the Wildcats, who were in the Sunbelt League with them when Heritage was posting a 40-0 record over eight seasons. Now both teams are in the four-team Ivy League, and Friday's game is the league opener.

"People come up to us and talk to us about the streak, and we don’t know who they are," Tuatala said. "We ask and they say they played football for Heritage when it first started. They want us to keep the streak going."

Ika Tuatala is known as a power runner, using his strength to bull his way through opposing defenses. Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre