By Greg James | [email protected] 

In his second year at the helm of the Granger High, Lancers head coach Pala Vaitu’u has seen an immense change in the team.

“It is night and day at Granger High School now,” Vaitu’u said. “They understand routes and pass blocking. We are in a different place then we were last year.”

Vaitu’u joined the Lancers before last season and experienced a learning curve installing his different offense at the school. The team had thrown the ball less than twice per game in past seasons so many players did not even know what a passing route was.

The players have learned quickly by spending extra time learning and practicing.

“In the offseason they have put in a lot of work. In the weight room and in our Zoom meetings. They are good kids and they work hard. It shows, we scrimmaged several good teams and we did very well,” Vaitu’u said.

Training with the high school students has been important, but Vaitu’u said it has also been his goal to reach out to the younger kids, too.

“The little league has been so supportive. We want to keep our kids at Granger, so far the bantam (oldest little league teams) kids want to come to the high school. Last year, we lost several kids that should be attending our school,” Vaitu’u said.

In 2019, the Lancers had 40 players listed on their roster. This season they have logged over 70 participants.

“We have had several freshman and sophomores, we are still a young team,” he said.

In summer camp, the team trained against other teams. In those games they scored in bunches. They scored 56 points in one contest.

During quarantine the team participated in Zoom training and classroom learning sessions, but players found other ways to stay in physical shape.

“We kept in contact and told the kids to work out on their own. They had to be responsible for their skill development. We did not want to get out and start from square one. They needed to know the plays. We did that during Zoom meetings and when quarantine ended we all understood what needed to be done,” Vaitu’u said.

Senior lineman Alvaro “Bobo” Naeata and his younger brother trained by pushing his father's big truck down the road.

“That is one of the ways I am getting better,” Naeata said. “We are getting better every practice.”

Naeata is a 6-foot-1, 280 lb. offensive lineman. He was recently invited to participate in the Under Armour spring football camp for potential college players. His leadership on the front line will certainly impact the team’s offensive capabilities.

The Lancers return 17 starters from last season’s team. 

A potent offensive game will fall on the shoulders of returning quarterback Kadius Fuimaono and his receiving corps including Tasi Alatini, Dion Fue and Andrew Fleischer. The ground game could see several players have an impact including Vita Finau and Desmond Fue.

The Lancers will depend on several players to play on both sides of the ball. Finau will secure the middle of the defense at middle linebacker and Fue plays safety. The front line returns Anthony Misi and Dwayne Tapusoa.

“We had students that did well with online school. We have been really working with the kids to help them be eligible. We don’t give the kids a free pass, but we made a way for them to improve,” Vaitu’u said.

Granger lost every game last season. In the Utah High School Activity Association’s RPI system the Lancers qualified for and lost in the first round of the playoffs to East 48-18.

They are scheduled to begin their 2020 season Aug. 14 at Syracuse and host their first home game Aug. 21 against Clearfield.

“This summer our opponents have not been able to key on any one player. The line has played well. These are good kids,” Vaitu’u said.