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The Federal Way Eagle football program played their first game following the death of junior lineman DeeJay Tuiasosopo on Oct. 30 at Sunnyside High School. What had been the hardest week for the teammates of DeeJay and the Federal Way coaches, ended with them seeing many communities honor him. Helmet stickers, moments of silence and touching tributes went on across the state as the footballing community all felt the loss of a player.
DeeJay was struck by a car after an alleged drunk driver collided with an oncoming car which then hit DeeJay, who was standing on the sidewalk, waiting to cross the road following the Eagles win over White River on Oct. 23.
His teammates and friends have been dealing with that pain and trauma for a week now and it’s clear how much of an impact DeeJay made on those around him. Junior Jaylon Pitre and senior Chester Malele-Tala both talked to the Mirror following the game against Sunnyside. The two had a long history, going back to middle school, with DeeJay and have everlasting memories of the friend they lost all too soon.
“He was a beacon of light, he always smiled. They are all great kids but he was a special kid,” Federal Way head coach Marcus Yzaguirre said. “This week was one of the hardest weeks for the boys and us coaches.”
“It’s been pretty difficult, the first practice without him felt weird because he is usually on the sideline and field making jokes. The one thing I’ll say about him is he is the only person that will be smiling all day, he had such a good energy around him,” Malele-Tala said.
Yzaguirre also talked about the smile that DeeJay brought with him everywhere. “His smile is unforgettable,” he said.
Deejay’s smile is a favorite memory of many players on the Eagle football team, along with his love for food. “DeeJay was my guy,” Jaylon Pitre said. “Some of my favorite memories are after practice going to get food together. Talking in the locker room, seeing him in school everyday. We had so many memories together.”
Malele-Tala, Tuiasosopo and Perenise “Matai” Maiava would all hang out together outside of football. “I met him my junior year and ever since then we got closer,” Malele-Tala said. “Me and Matai talk about it everyday. It ain’t easy for us, because he would hang out with us everyday after school.”
Yzaguirre has had four players pass away on teams he has coached and the experiences prove to be harder and harder as the years go by.
“You’re never ready for it. I have had as a coach, I have gone through four of these already. That is somebody’s son, that’s all I can play in my head. That is somebody’s son who went to school and didn’t go home,” Yzaguirre said.
Federal Way Athletics has used the mantra of a “brotherhood” for many years and in times of great pain, that bond brings the Eagles closer together. “We had to stick together, we love him so much. It brought us so close as a team,” Pitre said. “The people who hung around him every day knew how much he meant to the squad.”
The Monday following Tuiasosopo’s death, Federal Way football players were together in the library at Federal Way all day.
“We had to come together as brothers and make sure we have each other’s back,” Pitre said.
“Our coaches cooked them breakfast and we stayed all day in the library, we did some homework, grieved and they played some games. They just loved on each other. They were quiet for the first hour and a half. A lot cried and slowly they started leaning on each other,” Yzaguirre said.
The Eagles got on the bus and went three hours southeast to Sunnyside High School, about 30 minutes east of Yakima for their final regular season game. Sunnyside and their interim head coach Anthony Smith were supposed to have their senior night on Oct. 30 but delayed it out of respect to the Eagles and their loss.
“They really wanted to play for him. They really loved him, they still love him. It was special,” Yzaguirre said.
It was a theme throughout the state yesterday as multiple schools honored DeeJay and held moments of silence. Foster High School, where Tuiasosopo went before transferring to Federal Way held a memorial ceremony before their game Friday night.
Before the game along with a moment of silence, Sunnyside gave Federal Way head coach Marcus Yzaguirre a signed ball before the game. Sunnyside’s Pep Club also created spirit packages with motivational quotes for each Federal Way player.
“Sunnyside was first class all the way,” Yzaguirre said. “Sunnyside was very, very welcoming and honorable.”
Sunnyside and Federal Way both wore helmet stickers as a way to honor DeeJay and Federal Way players had custom back plates and towels that read Long Live DeeJay.
“As a team there is a lot of people on this team that really love to support you especially when you are feeling down,” Malele-Tala said.
On the field, Federal Way dominated but the play on the field was secondary as the game served as a way to remember their friend, teammate and classmate. But the final score was a tribute, the Eagles won the game 56-0. 56 is the number that Tuiasosopo wore for the Eagles.
“It felt good to be able to come out here and accomplish our goal for our brother DeeJa. 56, we had to put that up for bro,” Pitre said.
Federal Way will host West Seattle on Nov. 6
