PREP ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Tui Moliga

 

Lewiston Tribune

September 4, 2018

Lapwai's Tui Moliga scored five rushing TDs in his prep football team's 50-12 win over Salmon River, earning him the Lewiston Tribune's Prep Athlete of the Week award. But what Moliga took the most pride in was something else.

He loved how the win helped his team regain some momentum after a season-opening loss the week before.

The running back also added that his performance owed to the superb blocking by his linemen.

Neither of those comments might surprise Genesee coach Tim Sperber, who knows the Wildcat senior well.

"He's just a good quality kid," Sperber said of Moliga. "He's one of those kids I would love to have on my team. I would love to coach him."

Sperber said Moliga reminds him of one of his former players, who also wore many hats.

"He'll win games for you. He is the x-factor," Sperber said of Moliga, his team's backup QB. "He's the kid that as he goes they go. He's hard to tackle, he's smart, he's patient, and he waits for his openings... He's a smart football player."

And a difficult one to tackle.

Sperber compared Moliga's rushing style to that of a "bowling ball."

"He has a lot of strength and power," Sperber said, "and he knows how to use it."

 

The numbers back that up. Moliga's performance against Salmon River also included 415 all-purpose yards, and 10 tackles.

How would Moliga characterize that outing?

"Just giving it all I got, playing the game hard," Moliga said.