Galloping Colt: Havili leads Cottonwood in rushing

Running against Hunter's super-size defense is tough enough when players aren't trying to decapitate you on every hit.

Last Friday, not only did Cottonwood's Stanley Havili endure hit after bone-crunching hit, but he did it in style.

"Those were the hardest hits I've taken," said Havili, who rushed for 193 yards on 31 carries. "I think they were surprised I kept getting up."

Havili admits being sore after racking up the toughest 193 yards of his life, but upsetting the defending 5A champs made it all worth while. Of Havili's 31 carries, eight were for first downs and three were for touchdowns. Only eight of his carries were for 10 yards or more, and his longest run from scrimmage was just 14 yards.

"He runs hard and runs low," said Cottonwood coach Tom Jones. "He runs between the tackles so well."

Much of Havili's tendencies and knowledge he picked up from his older brother, Sione Havili.

The elder Havili graduated from East High in 1998 and signed with BYU. Those plans abruptly ended when he was sentenced to seven months in jail for a 1998 firebombing incident. After serving his sentence, Havili enrolled at the University of Utah, but upon paying his own way for two semesters the athletic department denied his request to join Utah's football team.

Around the same time, Havili served as a volunteer assistant coach at Cottonwood during the summer of 2001 and 2002. What impressed Havili most about Cottonwood's coaches was their professionalism. It made a lasting impact on Havili and ultimately led his little brother to Cottonwood.

During his ninth-grade year, Stanley Havili's family decided it would be best for him to transfer to another school. The family didn't want the younger brother to follow in the other brother's troubled footsteps.

When Havili's older brother first mentioned Cottonwood as an option, Havili immediately balked. Given the choice between several other schools, why would he want to transfer to a school without a winning record since 1990?

"My brother said I would like it here," said Havili, who transferred to Bonneville Junior High for his ninth-grade year. "The first day I came here, I knew I made the right choice."

Through six games during his junior year, Havili has 828 yards and eight touchdowns.

"Stanley is a big part of putting all the critical pieces together on this team," said Jones.

With a 4-2 record, Cottonwood's primary goal is a winning season for the first time in 14 years. That objective is just a few wins away, and if Havili keeps bulldozing his way between the tackles, the Colts' wish list may include playoff aspirations.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com