Not only was Saturday’s road victory over Southern California a big boost for Washington in the race to the College Football Playoff, but it was an emotional one for Huskies senior edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui.
A week ago, after Washington defeated Stanford on the road, Tupuola-Fetui learned his father died in his home state of Hawaii.
Playing with a heavy heart, Tupuola-Fetui had a major impact against the Trojans. With the game tied at 28 late in the second quarter and USC with the ball, Tupuola-Fetui was able to get to QB Caleb Williams and force a strip sack, with the Huskies recovering it deep inside Trojans territory. Washington ended up adding a touchdown before the half to give it a seven-point lead, and it proved to be a major score in the 52-42 victory. Tupuola-Fetui finished the game with four tackles and 1.5 sacks.
‘My dad would want me to play’
After the win, Tupuola-Fetui was asked by Dave Mahler of KJR Seattle what it meant to have a big impact on the game one week after he lost his father. The senior then got emotional talking about his father.
‘This week was really hard, but I knew my dad would want me to play,’ he said. ‘He loves this game, he loves UW and I knew I’d just be doing him wrong if I didn’t play.
‘I’m thankful that I was able to play good in his memory, that was him playing through me. At the beginning of the game, I didn’t even know if I wanted to play to be honest. I’m here for my brothers but I’m glad I was able to play a good game.’
Tupuola-Fetui also had a heartwarming moment with head coach Kalen DeBoer, as the two embraced each other.
A ‘sack fumble’ for dad
As if the game couldn’t get any more poetic for Tupuola-Fetui, he said on social media after the win that what he accomplished in the game was something his dad had wanted.
