Havili is a handful

All the three-year varsity lineman did was wreak havoc all game long against the Mustangs -- on both sides of the ball. When he wasn't making crushing blocks to spring Aragon running backs for big gains, he was in the backfield disrupting the Mustangs offense.

Havili had a career day Saturday. As a defensive lineman, he finished with three tackles, a sack, recovered a fumble and pressured the Pioneer quarterback into an interception. On special teams, he came up with the first blocked punt of his career. As an offensive lineman, he helped pave the way for a 201-yard rushing day from the Dons' backfield. He threw key blocks that allowed tailback Seta Pohahau to rush for 100 yards on just two carries.

Havili's efforts earned him the Daily Journal's Athlete of the Week honors.

"He's amazing," said Aragon coach Steve Sell. "He loves to play football. You need a crowbar to get him out of the game. He doesn't take a play off.

"Chris is as good a lineman we've ever had."

High praise indeed considering the Dons have built a reputation of having big, physical, nasty linemen. Last season, Matangi Tonga was one of the highest rated defensive ends in high school football. Two seasons ago the Dons were anchored on the offensive line by Chris and Moses Pita.

But Sell has never had a better two-way lineman.

"We've had better defensive linemen and better offensive linemen," Sell said. "But we've never had a two-way lineman that has performed better than he does."

At 5 foot 11, 280 pounds, Havili -- who is know for the long hair flowing from underneath his helmet -- has the build, technique and desire to be better his opponents. He started his varsity career as just an offensive lineman his sophomore year. Last year, he played every other possession on defense. This season, he goes both ways and neither side of the ball suffers.

Havili said he doesn't like playing one side of the ball better than the other but he does know what gets the attention.

"Making the block (as an offensive lineman) is great but not a lot of people notice it," Havili said. "Making the sack, everyone feels that impact."

Although he finished with only one sack, he Havili and the rest of his defensive line mates had plenty of near sacks. Two plays after recording his sack, Havili put so much pressure on the Pioneer quarterback that he threw an interception to Aragon's Taniela Mapa. Even though Havili didn't get to the quarterback in time, he still put a punishing hit on him.

Havili's sack came in the final minutes of the game. Although it didn't mean a lot -- Aragon was comfortably ahead 31-14 -- the fact that he was still motoring late in the game was a testament to his will and determination. It would have been easy for Havili to just coast, but that's not in his makeup.

"I always breathe hard (from playing so much)," Havili said. "But I just myself I can't go and softer."

Considering Havili plays every snap on offense and 8 out of 10 plays on defense, it would be understandable for Havili to be winded. But he won't come out of the game unless the coaching staff takes him out and forces him to rest.

"He doesn't ask to be taken out," Sell said.

A player of few words, Havili's eye lit up when the blocked punt became a topic of conversation. It was the first block of his career and it led to a touchdown from Anthony Schurba, who scooped the ball up at the 2 and dove into the end zone that gave Aragon a 21-7 lead with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter.

Havili was actually a little upset he didn't get two blocks.

"On the first punt, the dude let me in but I slipped," Havili said of Pioneers' first punt. He was on the spot for the Mustangs' second.

Havili credits the play of fellow defensive lineman Martin Taualo for freeing him up to make plays. Taualo has earned quite a reputation in the Central Coast Section as a beast of a defender, so much so that Pioneer spent most of the day running away from Taualo's side of the field. With so much attention placed on Taualo, Havili is free to roam, making plays all over the field.

"Martin's a great player. He makes up for a lot of mistakes," Havili said.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.<