Trying to Turn Tragedy Into Triumph : Prep: Hawthorne football team carries spirit of two former teammates into Southern Section Division III championship game.

Before the start of the football season, Hawthorne High senior Tevita Moala suggested that his younger brother, Kalisi, a sophomore, wear jersey No. 35.

Moala wanted to pass on the number he wore last season in honor of his best friend, Kenny Tuihalamaka, who was shot to death in Carson in June, 1990. Tuihalamaka wore No. 35 as a freshman at Hawthorne in 1989.

In November, 1990, the team experienced another loss when sophomore nose guard Robert Douglas was shot and killed in South-Central Los Angeles. Douglas wore No. 67 for the Cougars’ sophomore team.

Hawthorne dedicated the season to Tuihalamaka and Douglas, who would have been seniors this year. When the Cougars (11-2) play top-seeded Bell Gardens (12-1) in the Southern Section Division III championship game Friday night at La Mirada High, they will wear the numbers 35 and 67 on their helmets, as they have in every game since last season.

“The kids have dealt with the grieving and denial and being angry, the stuff like that,” Hawthorne Coach Dan Robbins said. “Now they are dealing with the fact that they have to learn something from this. For them to learn nothing from it would have been a real tragedy.”

Moala impressed Robbins at Tuihalamaka’s funeral. Although he was only 15, Moala led his family to the casket in the Tongan tradition and explained to his 4-year-old brother, Tolu, what had happened.

“He led the procession down, kissed (Tuihalamaka’s) hands, went down to Tolu, picked him up, and explained how his friend was in heaven and that they would see him again later,” said Robbins, who coached Moala and Tuihalamaka as freshmen. “Tolu just worships Tevita. He’s like another father to him.”

Ronnie Morrissette, another Hawthorne senior, makes a point to visit Tuihalamaka’s and Douglas’ graves several times a year. He plans to visit Inglewood Park cemetery, where his former teammates are buried, tonight with teammates after Hawthorne’s weekly team dinner.

“I think about Kenny and Robert all the time, on every play,” Morrissette said. “Robert’s motto was to live each day to its fullest, and now I try to do that too.”

On Friday in the Cougars’ 14-9 semifinal victory over San Marcos, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Morrissette forced Brian Ricce to fumble the game’s opening kickoff when he hit him at the San Marcos 19-yard line. Kalisi Moala recovered the ball and ran for a touchdown 10 seconds into the game.

“Our kickoff team is named the K.T. team in honor of Kenny,” Morrissette said. “Every time I go out for a kickoff, I just think about Kenny.”

Morrissette, who plays tight end, defensive back and quarterback, is one of the Cougars’ team captains. But he feels co-captain Tevita Moala, who plays fullback and linebacker, is the team’s true leader.

Aside from talents as a football player, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Moala is president of the school’s Polynesian Club and a member of the Principal’s Council, a group of 20 students who discuss different cultures and gangs to try and reduce tensions among ethnic groups.

Moala, who set a Hawthorne record with 155 tackles this season, has demonstrated his toughness on many occasions. He wasn’t supposed to play Nov. 6 against Inglewood because of a sore shoulder. But after watching the game in street clothes in the first half, Moala borrowed a uniform, pads, cleats and a helmet from an ill teammate and changed just in case he was needed.

With Hawthorne leading, 21-19, late in the fourth quarter, Moala entered the game and secured the victory by intercepting a pass after Inglewood had first-and-goal at the Hawthorne three-yard line.

The next week against Leuzinger, Moala dislocated his shoulder in the second quarter and was taken to the hospital. After being treated, he returned and spent most of the fourth quarter asking Robbins if he could re-enter the game that Hawthorne lost, 28-24. Robbins refused his request.

“His heart is so involved,” Robbins said. “Some people would be tentative about what might happen, but he has no concern for his body’s well being.”

Moala returned to the lineup the following week in Hawthorne’s playoff opener against Schurr of Montebello. With his right wrist strapped to his left shoulder to protect his ailing right shoulder, a one-armed Moala had 10 tackles, caused a fumble and deflected a pass that was intercepted in the Cougars’ 15-7 victory.

Moala, who said he is interested in attending either California or Brigham Young, plans to attend college for a year before going on a two-year Mormon mission.

After college, Moala said he would like to coach, perhaps at Hawthorne.

“That would be great,” he said. “I’m sad that my (high school) career is ending, but I’m not sad how it’s ending.”