Mira Costa's football team has a ton going for it this season, including returning almost all of its top players from last year's squad, which won the Bay League and reached the CIF Southern Section Western Division championship game. But perhaps no duo is more important to Mira Costa's success than the Tavai brothers, who will be difficult to miss as they mix it up in the middle of the action on both sides of the ball this season.
Mira Costa, which opens its daunting nonleague schedule with a Week Zero game tonight against powerhouse Loyola, breathes a little easier with Jordan and J.R. Tavai leading the charge.
Both players have switched positions on the defensive side of the ball. Jordan, a senior, moves from tackle to right end, filling the role of Matt Williams, who was so effective putting pressure on the quarterback from that position last season.
"Jordan will fill that role well, he has a great motor, and he never stops chasing the ball," Mira Costa coach Don Morrow said. "He has great quickness and acceleration."
Jordan said the move has been seamless.
"The transition has been smooth and I get to make more tackles on the back side," Jordan said.
He also gets to play alongside his younger brother, J.R. (6-foot-1, 245 pounds), who moves from linebacker to nose tackle.
"It's great playing on the defensive line with my brother. He gets to the ball pretty fast, and if he doesn't, I will," said Jordan, who also plays on the offensive line. "If it's on the other side, someone else will make a play. Teams can't get passes off, and we're tough against the run, too." J.R., who is a junior this season, has been looking forward to playing on the same defensive line as his brother for a long time. "It's something I've looked forward to since Pop Warner, I'm loving it," J.R. said. "Hopefully we can go to the same college and do the same thing. "That's what we want to do, it's a family thing." On offense, J.R., who is only a junior, is a fullback who draws comparisons to USC fullback Stanley Havili. "We try to design plays for him," Morrow said. "He can run the ball, he can crunch guys with his blocking and he can catch the ball out of the backfield." For J.R., it helps having guys like his brother opening up mammoth holes for him and Mira Costa's running backs. "Our line creates big holes for all of our running backs," Jordan said. "And when I'm blocking for my brother, he follows me the whole way, he doesn't cut like other backs." As good as Jordan (6-1, 255) is on defense, he's also part of an offensive line that could be dominant. "I think it's even better than last year," Jordan said. "Our offensive line pushes the defensive line off the ball better and we protect the quarterback better." Morrow thinks Jordan is primed for a huge season. "J.R. has gotten more acclaim so far, but I tell people to watch out for Jordan," Morrow said. As good as J.R. is as a fullback, he's probably even more of a playmaker on defense. "I like defense better, getting to the quarterback, that's what I've done ever since Pop Warner," J.R. said. "I feel my pass rush is a strength and so is stopping the run, whatever the coaches want me to do." Both Jordan and J.R. bring a family atmosphere to the field that rubs off on the entire team. "We like to laugh, and our whole team pretty much laughs it off, we like to play around with each other," Jordan said. "We all love the game and we all try to play as one, not as individuals." Morrow loves the duo's attitude toward the game. "They'd be out there playing all day if you let them," Morrow said. "They have a lot of fun. They are two fun-loving kids and the kids feed off them." "We pump each other up and try to pump the team up," J.R. said. Mira Costa has an tough battle tonight taking on perennial powerhouse Loyola, but the team is looking forward to another stellar season with most of its players returning from last year's squad, including the indomitable Tavai brothers. "Cal Preps predicts we'll go 8-2, but we're looking for an undefeated season and to go all the way," Jordan said. "I think this year we'll take it."
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