Savali recovering from minor injury, focuses on his studies

Savali Talalemotu, right, had 8 tackles and 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble in the PSU Vikings’ 13-31 loss to the Idaho State Bengals. (PSU Vikings Website)

Talalemotu, playing defensive tackle and a back-up defensive end, suffered a minor injury in the fourth quarter of the PSU Vikings’ 13-31 loss to the Idaho State Bengals late last month.

The Criminology and Criminal Justice major said he’s doing fine after playing pretty well in the Vikings last few games before he suffered a concussion in the final minutes of the fourth quarter in their game against the Bengals.

The Big Sky Conference’s season is almost over with the Vikings to play their final road game this Saturday when they visit the Sacramento State Hornets and then host cross-state rivals Eastern Washington Eagles on Nov. 21 for their last match.

Talalemotu is resting and missed the Vikings’ game against the Montana State Bobcats (29-22). He is also doubtful in PSU’s match against Sacramento State on Saturday.

Now, he has concentrated with his studies since he is a student first and an athlete second. He is also doing light training in football practices and working out at the gym to keep in shape.

“If I’m not at football practice or working out, you can find me in the classroom. That’s all the time I have right now. I’m trying to keep my grades up during football season,” Talalemotu said.

Despite the challenging schedule of being a student-athlete, Talalemotu said he has managed to juggle his academic work with football.

“It’s challenging at times but if you just put your mind to it and get your work done it’s not that hard.”

With the season almost over, he said that he will give it all that he’s got in the Vikings’ final season game.

“I’m just going to continue to work hard and play harder. The season is almost over so I have to give it all I got,” said Talalemotu, who is still undecided what to do after he graduates at PSU two years from now.

The 6’3”, 275-lb Talalemotu moved from Saipan to Beaverton, Oregon to finish high school where he was spotted by PSU scouts. His final year at Beaverton High earned him a third team All-Metro League honors.

After graduating in high school in 2011, he red-shirted for PSU in 2012 and the following year made his debut as a defensive tackle where he played 11 games as a backup defensive end, registering 15 tackles, two in a Vikings loss, and 1.5 sacks.

University of Montana, University of North Dakota, Northern Arizona University, University of California-Davis, University of Northern Colorado, California Polytechnic State University, and Southern Utah University, are the other Big Sky Conference teams. (Jon Perez)