Dec. 8, 1991: Big backs a boost for Inchelium

(PHOTO: Eti Ena, left, Aifala Ama, center, and Ryan Stensgar pose near the State B-8 Championship trophy. in 1991)

Pateros coach Joe Worsham saw about all he wanted to see of Inchelium bruiser Aifala Ama on Saturday.

"They should make him play in the AAA game," Worsham said with a laugh.

Ama, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior out of Lotofaga, Samoa, rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in the Hornets' 44-34 victory over Pateros in the Class B-8 championship game. On defense, Ama made some jarring hits and returned a fumble 29 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Ama, who played junior varsity last season at Orem High, a 4A school in Orem, Utah, finished the season with 1,763 yards rushing — more than 10 yards a carry — and 24 touchdowns. He rushed for 549 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in the Hornets' three postseason games.

Ama and his cousin, Eti Ena, a 5-11, 220-pound senior, start at running back and linebacker for Inchelium.

"They've got some big backs," Pateros wide receiver/defensive back Travis Maitland said. "You just have to try to concentrate and try to hit them low. A couple times, he (Ama) jumped right over me."

Ama and Ena both have scheduled visits to Washington State University and Idaho. They're hoping for a package deal – but realize it might not work out that way.

"That would be cool," Ena said. "Things will change maybe. But if I could have it my way, that's the way it would be."

Ena also played at Orem, where he was a backup on the varsity team. He said the level of play was different – but there were similarities.

"Football is football," he said. "You put on your pads and enjoy the game."

FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS

Although he saw only a few minutes of action in Inchelium's victory over Pateros, sophomore offensive guard "Blue Jeans" Warren was just happy to play in the Kingdome. 

"This is almost like a dream playing here," Warren said. "Last year we almost lost every game, and this year we won it all."

According to Warren, he got his nickname several years ago when some kids in his neighborhood school couldn't pronounce Eugene.

"I guess Eugene was a little tough to say when you're young," Warren said. "They started calling me Blue Jeans, and the name kind of stuck."

Here's some other interesting names from Kingbowl XV: Wilkko Jaross (Cascade); Robert Redford (Puyallup); Angel Luna (Prosser); Ismael Cantu (Lyden); Blake Burpee (Cascade) and Claybear West (Inchelium). 

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