Playing football is a glamorous job in high school, from donning your jersey in school on game days, to seeing your name in the local paper; high school football definitely has it perks.

It also complicates things. For Fausia and La'au Tanuvasa, twin brothers who have led the Hunter High football team to the 5A state semifinals, they have learned that though the game of football will go on, the game of life is not afforded that same luxury.

Halloween weekend, their grandma, Alosia Tanuvasa, passed away. She had bravely battled the effects of a stroke for the past few years and did so in a way that not only inspired La'au and Fausia, but other members of the Hunter team.

"We love La'au and Fausia and all week we wanted to win this game for them and for their grandma's memory," Hunter running back Ekuasi Tavo said.

The Wolverines did win the game, a thrilling four-overtime 45-37 victory over Lone Peak. The game was wild, with Hunter leading the entire first half, only to fall behind in the early in the third quarter before ultimately winning the game in the fourth overtime on a 15-yard Tavo touchdown run.

Both Fausia and La'au came up huge throughout the game. La'au carried the ball 35 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns while Fausia had seven carries for 47 yards and also added a 10-yard touchdown pass out of the Wolverine formation.

"It's fun to see the ball in Fausia and La'au's hands", said coach Dustin Pearce, "They are such electric players, and with the Wolverine package we are giving our offense an added dimension."

Hunter had been working on their version of the Wildcat offense, titled Wolverine, all season, but waited to unveil it in the playoffs. In the Wolverine formation, Fausia, who normally plays receiver, lines up as the quarterback 5 yards back in the shotgun. Once he receives the snap, Fausia has many different options, and what the defense does usually dictates what his choice will be.

If the rush is keying on Fausia he can hand it off. If he sees an opening he can keep the ball and rush it himself. There even is a safety valve dump off pass to a tight end or fullback that can be an option as well.

Hunter used the formation and it proved instrumental in their win against Lone Peak. Hunter's usual dominating run game was kept in check for the most part in regulation. Their Wolverine formation seemed to catch the Knights off guard, as they were not prepared to stop it.

After the emotional victory, La'au stood at midfield, both mentally and physically drained. He looked up to the sky, pointed a finger in the air and said a prayer.

"Man this is the playoffs, and we just beat Lone Peak in the toughest game I've ever played, an unbelievable game, everybody stepped up," said La'au, "I dedicate this game to my grandma, I know she's watching us up there."

This Friday when they go to Rice-Eccles Stadium to face off against Davis High with a spot in the 5A state championship on the line, we will all be watching too.