Senior LB Tupou ready to lead North
Known for his speed to the point of attack, Sione Tupou has spent this summer focused on punishing ballcarriers.
The North High School senior middle linebacker is back for his final season with the Huskies, and he’s added several pounds of muscle to his stout 5-foot-8 frame in an effort to prepare for a new league and new opponents.
“I’ve been working this offseason because I know the competition is about to rise and it’s going to get harder,” Tupou said. “I’m trying to get stronger because I know the level of linemen that we’re going to go against is going to be pretty big.”
The Huskies posted an 11-1 record last season and were unbeaten Sunbelt League champions. Tupou and his teammates enter 2022 as new members of the Ivy League.
“I’m happy because as North we want to go back to when we were one of the top dogs,” Tupou said. “I think it’s good that we’ve moved up competition-wise because we want to play the best, and we want to be the best.”
An All-CIF Southern Section Division 5 first-team selection last season, Tupou rates among the best players at his position in the Inland area.
“He’s instinctive and has a lot of speed, so he’s sort of that classic linebacker in a way,” North coach Opalani Vaipulu said. “He’s a great run-stuffer (and) he’s been working on mixing up his coverage skills and getting thicker.”
Tupou led a bend-but-don’tbreak defense to a perfect regular-season record and the team’s second league title in three years. He enters his third season as the Huskies’ defensive captain.
“Last season was, like, fun,” Tupou said. “That felt like a good season just because of the bond that I had with my defense.”
The Huskies defeated Capistrano Valley 49-21 in the first round of the playoffs but then lost a heartbreaker, 24-21, to Oaks Christian at home in the quarterfinals
North High School linebacker Sione Tupou was an All-CIF Southern Section Division 5first-team selection last season as a junior.
for their only defeat last season.
“It didn’t end the way we wanted to but I enjoyed it because of my teammates and the relationship that we had, having each other’s backs,” said Tupou, who finished with 100 total tackles and five sacks.
This season will bring changes to the Huskies starting lineup on both sides of the ball. Tupou is keenly aware that his role now must be to lead both in word and action.
“This year’s team is a younger group than last season so a bunch of young guys are going to have to step up,” he said. “I like this team though. Overall, I think our team speed is up.”
Growing up in a football family that includes uncle Opalani Vaipulu, the game and Husky football
have been central to Tupou’s experience.
“I’m a Riverside baby so I’ve always been in Riverside my whole life and growing up was pretty fun. Football’s always been around,” Tupou said. “‘Coach OP’ is my uncle, and he can ball, and he’s helped me improve since I was young.”
A gifted student, Tupou is receiving attention for his grades as much as his play on the field.
“He’s getting recruited now more for his academics and by those kinds of schools, like UC Davis,” Vaipulu said. “He can play inside and outside and he’s only going to get better.”
A new league with new opponents and new opportunities waiting has meant an offseason of work, which Tupou gladly accepted.
“I get that motivation from my grandparents, my parents, my family, and I try not to take anything for granted,” Tupou said. “Every opportunity in life I try to take it.”
10 more linebackers to watch this season
OWEN CHAMBLISS, CENTENNIAL » The Utah-bound senior will be one of the leaders on the Huskies defense.
VINCENT MACALUSO, UPLAND » Registered 93 tackles and 8½ sacks for the Highlanders his junior season.
SITANI MIKAELE, SUMMIT » The hard-hitting linebacker racked up 59 tackles during his sophomore year.
CHASE MILLER, NORCO »
Brings
veteran leadership after tallying 84 tackles during his junior campaign.
KADE MUSSER, CHINO HILLS » Led the Huskies with 123 tackles and picked off three passes as a junior.
GABE SERNA, MURRIETA VALLEY » Finished his junior season with 103 tackles to lead the Nighthawks.
JAKE SINZ, TEMECULA VALLEY » Had an impressive junior year with 120 tackles, 25 of those for loss.
DEZMEN WATKINS, RAMONA » Will lead the defense again after tallying 106 tackles his junior season.
JOSEPH ZELAYA, CITRUS VALLEY » Among the area’s top tacklers (134) last season as a junior.
JOHNNY ZOMALT, RANCHO VERDE » Orange Vista transfer finished his junior campaign with 83 tackles.