By now, Euless Trinity senior defensive lineman Mao Leota knows that opposing teams scrutinize his every move.

But Leota is sizing them up, too, especially on that opening drive.

"After the first drive is over, I've got a feeling as to how their o-line is, if they're pretty good or pretty bad or all right," Leota said.

No matter what verdict Leota reaches, the sentence handed down is firm and unrelenting. The pressure, speed and strength come together at once, sending foes running for cover.

Leota has 51/2 sacks and 49 tackles, including seven for losses.

The numbers, though, can't measure Leota's impact. Jesuit coach Bob Wunderlick said Leota is one of the rare defensive players who can individually affect the outcome of a game.

"He's big enough to play with his hand on the ground, but he's fast enough to run after a running back and cover and go after a quarterback," said Wunderlick, whose playoff team was shut out, 24-0, by Leota and Trinity. "He's big, fast and explosive, and it's not an exaggeration to say he's the best player in our district."

Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver said Leota's football sensibilities and experience are priceless, especially as the playoff run deepens.

"The No. 1 thing is his awareness," Lineweaver said. "He just understands the game and understands where to be."

Family ties

Mao Leota often looks into the stands and sees his grandparents, Laifa and Semisi Leota.

Sometimes, it's a little too much for Mao to bear, as was the case when Trinity dominated archrival Hurst L.D. Bell, 44-0, on Nov. 8.

To everyone's surprise, Laifa Leota jumped down on the field and did the traditional Haka dance with the Trinity players.

"I'll see her act a fool," Mao said, "and I'll say 'Wow, I wonder whose grandma that is?' And she's wearing my jersey!"

Laifa was a little off-beat, Mao said, but he wasn't embarrassed. After all, there's no telling if Mao would have ever played football if not for his grandparents.

The half-Tongan, half-Samoan Mao was born 18 years ago in Missouri as the first child of Lua and Auna Leota. He was also the oldest grandchild, so Laifa and Semisi asked Mao's parents if they could raise him as their son. Mao's parents entrusted Laifa and Semisi with him, and Mao was sent to live with them in Texas.

Semisi, a former professional rugby player on the islands of Tonga, signed up his grandson for flag football when he was in second grade. Laifa then started bringing Mao to Pee Wee football games. The older, bigger children intimidated him at first, but he became comfortable as a tackler.

Mao had found his place on the football field and kept playing the sport through his elementary years.

Once he reached junior high, Mao said he became sidetracked. He lost focus with his schoolwork and got involved in fights at school.

But before such activities ruined his future, a wise figure stepped in and talked to him about why playing football, not being involved in mischief, offered lucrative possibilities.

That person was Lineweaver.

Mao realized the error of his ways and cleaned up his act for his grandparents' sake.

"I saw how I was hurting them," Mao said. "Not only am I hurting myself, I'm hurting other people who care for me. So I put a stop to all of that and concentrated on playing football."

Versatility

Leota arrived at Trinity and by his sophomore year was a starting defensive lineman as the team won a state championship.

Before his junior year, Leota played linebacker in spring football. During the 2006 season, he played tight end and fullback.

"I think he could play tailback, like a Jerome Bettis-type tailback, with his size," Lineweaver said. "He grew up playing in the park, playing rugby, so he's real agile and quick."

Leota's versatility was needed when junior running back Dontrayevous Robinson was injured just before the playoffs this season. In Trinity's second-round victory over Lewisville, Leota had a three-yard run for a touchdown, his second of the year.

Leota's methods rub off on teammates, such as linebacker Earnest Norman.

"He gives everybody confidence that the team can play hard," Norman said. "You just play for seven seconds – it's not long – so every play, keep playing hard."

All eyes are on Leota in anticipation of Trinity's showdown with Plano (13-1) at 7 p.m. tonight at Texas Stadium for the right to play in the 5A Division I state final.

As a team captain, Leota is watching everything around him – especially the boys in Trinity black.

"They depend on me because I've been in the big games and this is my last year," Leota said. "I tell the team that no matter what happens, to keep playing."

MAO LEOTA

Height, weight: 6-1, 280

Scouting report: From Irving MacArthur coach Brian Basil, "He's hard to run against because he does such a good job of using his hands to get off of people, to get off of blockers and create separation. He's such a good pass rusher, so he can hurry a quarterback by being a speed rusher at the outside edge."

Scholarship offers received: Hawaii, Utah, Fresno State

People say I look like: The Rock. "At school, I try to tell all the girls I look like him, but they always say I'm lying," Leota said.

Biggest idol: You guessed it, The Rock. "He started out as a wrestler," Leota said, "and I guess he found out he had good looks, so he became a big movie star. If he did it, then any of us Tongans can!"

Career goal: If his gig as a Rock look-a-like doesn't pan out, Leota would like to start his own clothing line. Both Leota and his girlfriend are into fashion, he said.

TRINITY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH