The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
It’s not that Lakewood hasn’t won important football games recently, it’s the manner in which they lost the big ones.
Two years ago, the Lancers hosted a CIF Southern Section championship game only to lose 35-14 against Northwood. Last year, Lakewood had a chance to pull even atop the Moore League with Long Beach Poly and Millikan only to lose a pair of blowouts. Then the 2023 season ended unceremoniously with a 35-6 defeat at King in the first round of the playoffs.
“It definitely left a bitter taste in our mouths because we felt like we underachieved,” Lakewood fourth-year coach Justin Utupo said of the loss at King. “We can’t let the moment get too big for us. We’ve got to take it one play at a time, one (practice) rep at a time. I think (this team) understands what it takes to be dialed in and focused for those big time moments.”
With a quality core of starters returning on both sides of the ball, Lakewood now has a chance to turn the corner as a program and win some more big games.
“We’re being urgent in everything we do,” senior defensive back Tiwan Jones said. “We have to lock in… and our leaders and key players need to step up and lift each other up.”
For the first time in a long time, Lakewood has the top college recruit in the Moore League. Caleb Tafua is back for his junior season as one of the top ranked tight ends in the nation. His 6’4” 215-pound frame and dedication has earned Tafua dozens of scholarship offers from top universities including Michigan, USC, UCLA and Georgia. He caught 36 passes for 540 yards with eight touchdowns last season.
“The country is on notice,” Utupo said of Tafua. “With all the rankings and all the offers, he’s remained hungry and humble. That becomes contagious. Guys are looking up to him. He’s stepping up as a leader and role model.”
Tafua said that lifting weights and plyometric workouts helped him get bigger and stronger without losing speed. Going to some top-ranked offseason camps like elite-11 and Rivals got him more exposure, but he also used that as an opportunity to improve.
“Going and competing with the top kids around the country, it helped me,” Tafua said. “I just went home and thought about how I needed to work harder.”
Utupo also praised Tafua for his improved physicality on both sides of the ball. He will also play some defensive end.
“He loves to put his hand in the dirt and block,” Utupo said. “And he’s not just blocking these guys, he’s looking to finish them. He’s setting the tone.”
“I’m quiet but when you get on the field you’ve got to change that mindset,” Tafua said. “You have to be a dog on the field. Everyone can be friends (outside of football) but once you get on that field all of the players know it’s time for business. I do whatever it takes to win for the team. If they told me to play safety, or any position, I’d play it.”
Tafua is just part of a talented Lakewood offense that has both of its quarterbacks returning in junior Kade Casillas and senior Valentino Saenz-Castruita. Casillas had a breakout sophomore season with 2,202 yards passing (200 yards per game) and 19 touchdowns. The 5’11” 185-pound skilled scrambler also rushed for 407 yards and two touchdowns.
It was Casillas’ playmaking and a two-back rushing attack that turned Lakewood’s season around a year ago, so Utupo and his new offensive coordinator Tavaka Tuioti are breeding a power rushing attack alongside Casillas. Junior Nytrell Miller and St. Anthony transfer Josiah “Jojo” Apisala are both hard-nosed ball carriers who are over 200 pounds.
The offensive line is led by returning starters Joe Joe Togiola, Jayshaun Tauala-Harris and Sebastian Jimenez. The sophomore center Jimenez is back after filling in due to injury last year while Tauala-Harris played alongside his older brother who is now at San Jose State.
“I think (my brother) really showed me a lot last year about being a leader and being more vocal with the O line,” Tauala-Harris said. “(The Moore League) is a very physical league and everybody is gonna come out to play and give it their all. We’ve got to be more physical and come more prepared.”
There is room at Lakewood for someone to step up as the go-to wide receiver, but junior Kenny Niumataevalu and senior Cecil Xavier Smith look like the top targets out wide and in the slot, respectively.
Lakewood’s defensive line will be the anchor on that side of the ball with All-Moore League senior Rovana Tufugafale leading the way. Last year, he was in on 64 tackles and had 10 sacks. Utupo said of Tufugafale, “He’s a better pass rusher than I was when I played at Lakewood.”
Juniors Kaelib Verduzco and Troy Norried will be the key linebackers while Tiwan Jones captains the defensive secondary from his corner position.
“He’s the heart of the secondary and he’s trying his best to be the heart of the defense as a vocal leader, and we’re excited for him to make plays,” defensive coordinator Vincent Hernandez said of Jones.
“I’m just trying to have my teammates on the same page,” Jones said of becoming a leader. “Not everything will go well, but it’s about being a better man and helping my teammates be better men and people.”
The secondary will also be bolstered by the expected return of injured Ayeven Aupiu and Reggie Butts.
Utupo said that keeping kids healthy by working closely with the Lakewood athletic trainers, keeping the logistics straight with athletic director Mike Wadley and keeping the same assistant coaches has been the recipe for rebuilding the Lancers program.
“Our goal was to bring consistency to the program and I think that’s what our kids need. I was the sixth head coach in 10 years. We’ve not only been able to instill the winning standard on and off the field, we’ve also established really close relationships with (the players) and their families. We’re building that family atmosphere.”
“I love this team,” Tafua added. “With the players we have I think we can go far this season.”
Probable Starters:
Offense
QB – Kade Casillas (Jr.) / Valentino Saenz-Castruita (Sr.)
RB – Nytrell Miller (Sr.) / Josiah (Jojo) Apisala (Sr.)
WR – Kenny Niumataevalu (Jr.) / Cecil Xavier Smith (Sr.)
TE – Caleb Tafua (Jr.)
OL – Joe Joe Togiola (Jr.) / Sebastian Jimenez (So.) / Jayshaun Tauala-Harris (Sr.) / Travis Zoebisch (So.) / Edmond Smith (Sr.)
Defense
DL – Rovana Tufugafale (Sr.) / Evan Boyd (Jr.) / Soloalofa Lepaga-Ili (Sr.) / Hezekiah Pryor-Lynch (Sr.)
DE - Caleb Tafua (Jr.)
LB – Kaelib Verduzco (Jr.) / Troy Norried (Jr.)
DB – Tiwan Jones (Jr.) / Ayeven Aupiu (Jr.) / Viane Leilua (Jr.) / Reggie Butts (Sr.)
2024 Lakewood Lancers Football Schedule
8/23 – vs. Carlsbad
8/29 – at St. Anthony
9/6 – vs. Edison
9/13 – at Mayfair
9/20 – vs. Compton
9/27 – at Long Beach Poly
10/4 – at Cabrillo
10/11 – vs. Jordan
10/18 – vs. Millikan
11/1 – at Wilson
