It happens almost every time Dash Fifita is on the football field. He somehow managed to outmaneuver 300-pound offensive linemen to make a run. As if he had the magical power to make himself invisible and suddenly appear to match the player with the ball.
“It comes with the territory being an undersized linebacker, you have to know the game inside and out,” he said.
No one in Southern California was a better role model for overcoming the mold of success in football than the 5-foot-9, 195-pound All-Southern Section linebacker for Santa Margarita High. He has his own role model in brother Noah, who came from Arizona, you can be a 5-10, 186-pound college quarterback.
Troy Thomas knows the family well. He coached Noah at Servite as the Friars made a run to the 2021 Southern Section Division 1 championship game and saw Dash continue the family tradition of being fearless and tough.
“Family is a huge part of their inspiration,” Thomas said. “You can see how they play. They play for their teammates. They play for God. I don’t see a lot of linemen getting their hands on it very often. The brothers are very similar. They put it on the line. They put their bodies on the line to represent their family and their team.”
Fifita was part of Southern California’s best defensive unit heading into the CIF Open Division state championship game against undefeated Concord De La Salle on Saturday at Saddleback College at 8 p.m.
“I have the best defensive line in the country and that makes my job easier,” Fifita said.
Fifita’s uncle Steve is Santa Margarita’s defensive coordinator. His father, Les, helps run the OC Buckeyes youth football organization. There should be more than 50 cousins, aunts and uncles who cheered on the Dash, plus former OC Buckeyes, in the stands on Saturday. If his name is on the PA system, expect a lot of noise. Noah will be there to lead the charge.
“There are a lot of cousins and they come out and support,” Thomas said.
Linebacker Dash Ffita of Santa Margarita is headed to Arizona.
(Eric Sondheimer/Los Angeles Times)
Fifita, who plays center back, leads the Eagles in tackles with 95. He also has 5½ sacks and one interception. He has the vision and instincts of an eagle, anticipating, reading and then pouncing and attacking.
After showing his size to be an asset rather than a hindrance over the last two seasons, Fifita has earned universal respect for his speed and instincts.
From defensive coordinator St. John Bosco Chris King: “Dash is just a super smart football player. If you really know the game, he’ll slow down for you. He plays with relentless effort. He has that attitude of, ‘I’m the best guy on the field.’ He is a coach on the field and knows more than his role. He’s 18, but he acts like a defender coach with 10 years of experience.”
Steve Fifita said Dash “has been around football his whole life”. He was playing the video game Madden with his brother Noah the other day, and the two kept talking about “real” football in the middle of the game. As for those who won, the word is Dash.
Fifita signed with Arizona last week to follow his brother to Tucson.
The big question is which Fifita with his size has faced the longest course?
“It’s tougher for quarterbacks than quarterbacks,” Thomas said. “As long as you’re tough and quick, you can still see the linebacker. As a quarterback, you’ve still got to find those lanes. Not many people can do that and Noah does.”
If you come to Saddleback College on Saturday, there’s a good chance you’ll run into someone related to Fifitas. You can feel their energy. You will see their loyalty. They’re all about family and proving the skeptics wrong.
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