Prep football: Freshman Fonotisatele fuels Fremont in flogging of rival Weber
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- Fremont High’s Isaia Fonotisatele (5) races for a touchdown past Weber’s Wyatt Nielsen (6) during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Fremont High players, from left, Breckon Phillips, Isaia Fonotisatele (5) and Calvin Cooper (9) celebrate a touchdown against Weber during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Weber High receiver Draycen Munoz (3) puts a move on Fremont defender Porter Hales (21) during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Fremont High’s RJ Fonoti (3) takes down Weber’s Carson Hill (32) for a loss during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Weber High’s Carter Payne (2) rears back to throw as Fremont’s Titan Jordan tries to bring him down during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Weber High’s Carson Hill, center left, is tackled by Fremont defenders Isaia Fonotisatele (5), RJ Fonoti (3) and Kenden Green (4) during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Fremont High’s Ryder Wade (20) runs out of the reach of Weber’s Grayson Jones during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Fremont High students cheer during a football game against Weber on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Weber High’s Carter Payne drops back to pass during a football game against Fremont on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Fremont High quarterback Calvin Cooper pulls back to throw during a football game against Weber on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Weber High quarterback Carter Payne tucks the ball to run against Fremont during a football game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Plain City. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
PLAIN CITY — Fremont High freshman wide receiver and cornerback Isaia Fonotisatele is so new to the Silverwolves football program, he was only recently listed on the team’s roster on MaxPreps.
After his performance against Weber on Friday night, Fonotisatele is not an unknown anymore.
Fonotisatele scored on three long touchdowns and Fremont extended its win streak over Weber to three games, dominating their rival Warriors 34-3 in a season-opening, non-region blowout.
Weber might have been considered a favorite coming into the contest, returning talented skill position players in quarterback Carter Payne and wideout Creed DeVries, while the Silverwolves graduated signal caller Manase Tuatagaloa and five-star receiver Salesi Moa.
But Fonotisatele said he learned lots from the departed seniors and wasn’t nervous in his varsity debut in front of broadcast television cameras.
“I’ve worked out with Manase and Salesi throughout my life, getting ready for varsity and I’ve learned from them; they’ve rubbed off on me,” Fonotisatele said. “I honestly forgot it was on TV, but it was definitely cool that they wanted to come out and film my first week game.”
And he put on a show for the cameras, tallying touchdowns of 39, 55 and 73 yards — plays slightly longer than the six syllables in his last name.
“I’ve been visualizing success this week, so it’s not anything I wasn’t expecting,” Fonotisatele said. “It’s pretty cool; first varsity game and I got three.”
Junior left-handed quarterback Calvin Cooper got the call for Fremont, after spelling Tuatagaloa at times last season.
“Calvin’s been great, especially when Manase couldn’t go. He’s got poise and calm this year and he’s showing it,” Fonotisatele said.
Cooper finished 16 of 32 for 258 yards.
After a fumble stalled Fremont’s initial drive, Cooper connected with Fonotisatele on a 73-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter.
Running back Ryder Wade made it 14-0 with a 47-yard TD scamper on Fremont’s next possession.
A 37-yard field goal by Zach Jenkins put Weber on the board early in the second stanza, then Fonotisatele struck again with a veteran move midway through the period.
Weber had been its own worst enemy on special teams, punting the ball roughly 20 yards in the air before it rolled another 20, because Fonotisatele was back 40 yards waiting for a more normal kick.
He adjusted, moved up, and the result was a 55-yard punt return for six and a 21-3 lead at the half.
“Actually, on that one, I was getting mad because he kept doing it short,” Fonotisatele said. “I thought I’m going to get this one no matter what, and I took it to the house.”
Wade added his second touchdown on a more traditional 10-play, 58-yard drive out of the locker room, and Fonotisatele and Cooper hooked up on a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the final points.
Wade rushed 19 times for 113 yards.
As productive as he was on offense Friday, Fonotisatele said it is defense that really motivates him.
“I mostly pride myself on defense; I’m not worried about touchdowns. This is my first year playing DB. My coaches gave me the assignment to lock Creed down, because he’s a big part of their offense,” Fonotisatele said. “Coming up there and playing against a good receiver was a real challenge, what I’m most proud about. I did my job.”
DeVries was almost invisible during the game, and Payne seldom looked his way because he was never open.
If you can’t tell, Fonotisatele doesn’t lack confidence and he has a pedigree that fuels the fire.
“The head coach (Nate Tuatagaloa) is my uncle; and the other coaches feel like uncles. We’re really tight; we’re a family,” Fonotisatele said. “I worked hard in the offseason. My coaches believe in me and put me on the field. When I get on the field, I’ve got to take the opportunity and make the most of it.”
For those wondering how a freshman integrates himself into high school academics, Fonotisatele has been an online student since eighth grade.
“While it lets me do my workouts and focus on football, I’m ahead of most ninth graders and a taking 10th grade classes as a freshman,” Fonotisatele said.
THE RIVALRY CONTINUES
Kudos to Fremont athletic director Corey Melaney and Weber AD Trevor Howell for keeping this game on the schedule.
Fremont is now a 5A school with the addition of West Field syphoning off some of its students, while Weber remains in the 6A classification. Thus, they aren’t lined up to play region ball and have to work this game in before league play starts.
The game was live broadcast on Channel 5.3, via the new partnership with KSL TV and the UHSAA.
With the victory Friday, Fremont leads the all-time series 23-11 and has a three-game winning streak.
Doing the math, Fremont coach Nate Tuatagaloa and Weber mentor Mo Cannon were both hired three years ago when the current streak began.
“It’s gotten out of hand, from the standpoint of now that this game’s over, we look back and say we’ve won three in a row. We don’t concentrate on the win streak, just focus on this week,” Fonotisatele said. “I still consider them a rival; they’re always going to be a good team every year. We come prepared every year and that’s why we’ve been winning.
“I live a minute from the high school. I love going against Weber; I grew up watching this game; I know them for sure,” Fonotisatele added.
Bob Judson has been covering high school sports for the Standard-Examiner for the past 51 years.
