Santa Margarita linebacker Dash Fifita is a forceful presence

This happens almost every time Dash Fifita is on the soccer field. Somehow he outwits 300-pound offensive linemen to make the tackle. It’s as if he has a magical power to make himself invisible and suddenly appear in front of the player with the ball.

“That comes from Territory being an undersized linebacker, you have to know the game inside and out,” he said.

No one in Southern California has been a better role model for breaking the mold and succeeding in football than the 5-foot-9, 195-pound All-Southern linebacker from Santa Margarita High School. He has his own role model in his brother Noah, who proved in Arizona that you can be a college quarterback at 5-10, 186 pounds.

Troy Thomas knows the family well. He coached Noah at Servite when the Friars reached the Southern Section Division 1 championship game in 2021 and watched Dash continue the family tradition of being fearless and tough.

“Family is a big 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 get their hands on him very often. The brothers are very similar. They put everything on the line. He’s going to put his body on the line to represent his family and his team.”

Fifita was part of the best defensive unit in Southern California heading into the CIF Open Division state championship game against undefeated Concord De La Salle Saturday at 8 p.m. at Saddleback College.

“I have the best defensive line in the country and that makes my job easier,” Fifita said.

Fifita’s uncle, Steve, is the defensive coordinator at Santa Margarita. His father, Les, helps run the OC Buckeyes youth football organization. In the stands Saturday, there should be more than 50 cousins, aunts and uncles supporting Dash, as well as former OC Buckeyes. If his name is mentioned over the PA system, expect a lot of noise. Noah will be there to lead the charge.

“There are tons of cousins ​​and they come out to support us,” Thomas said.

Santa Margarita linebacker Dash Fifita is headed to Arizona.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Playing as middle linebacker, Fifita leads the Eagles in tackles with 95. He also has 5½ sacks and one interception. He has the vision and instinct of an eagle, anticipating, reading and then pouncing and attacking.

Having shown over the past two seasons that his size is an asset and not a liability, due to his speed and instincts, Fifita has earned universal respect.

Chris King, St. John Bosco defensive coordinator: “Dash is just a super smart football player. If you really know the game, it slows down for you. He plays with hard effort. He has that attitude: ‘I’m the best guy on the field.’ He is a coach on the field and knows much more than his role. He is 18 years old but acts as a linebacker coach with 10 years of experience.

Steve Fifita said Dash “has been around football his whole life”. The other day, he was playing the video game Madden with his brother Noah, and the two of them kept talking about “real” football in the middle of the game. As for who won, Dash did.

Fifita signed with Arizona last week to follow his brother to Tucson.

The big question is which Fifita faced the longest problem due to her size?

“It’s harder on the quarterbacks than it is on the linebackers,” Thomas said. “As long as you’re tough and fast, you can still be a linebacker. As a quarterback, you still have to find those lanes. Very few can do that and Noah can.”

If you come to Saddleback College on Saturday, there’s a good chance you’ll meet someone connected to the Fifitas. You will feel their energy. You will see their loyalty. They’re all about family and proving the doubters wrong.