LOCAL NEWS

2 former Stansbury High School teammates to faceoff in the Super Bowl

Feb 3, 2023, 6:49 PM | Updated: Feb 14, 2023, 12:45 pm

STANSBURY PARK, Utah — Two former Stansbury High School football players are preparing to face each other in the Super Bowl.

Sua Opeta and Zayne Anderson were teammates in high school. Opeta graduated in 2014 and Anderson in 2015 – together bringing home several wins.

“I really love Tooele County. I take pride from being from there,” Opeta said.

Clint Christiansen coached the two players. They said his influence shaped them into the players they are today.

“He really brought the best out of me, he was one of the first ones to see my potential,” Anderson said.

Christiansen said that coaching Anderson and Opeta was easy because they knew how to work hard.

“Zayne was one of those kids that just stood out. You knew he was going to be something special,” he said. “Sua is just a hard-working kid. He always went the extra mile, you never had to push him.”

After high school Opeta went to Weber State to play football and is now in his fourth season playing offensive line for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Coming from a small place you never think that you would make it all the way to the NFL, so I’m just grateful,” he said.

Anderson played football for Brigham Young University, and is playing his second season as a safety for the Kansas City Chiefs.

“It’s showing to any kid that if you put your head down and work then you can do anything,” Anderson said.

Neither thought they would be playing against each other in the world’s biggest football game.

“It’s crazy I’m actually going to the Super Bowl, I never would have dreamed of it but here I am,” Opeta said.

Opeta said that he and Anderson are planning on taking a picture after the game and swapping jerseys.

“It’s kind of surreal that someone I played with will be on the opposing team,” Anderson said.

Anderson and Opeta said that whoever you are rooting for in the Super Bowl, they are thankful the communities continued support them through every football level.

“Something about Tooele County is, Tooele County loves football, so everyone pours their heart and soul into it and kids like me reap the benefits and we get better because of it,” Opeta said.

“You know where you’re from and you know where your roots are, so you are playing for those people,” Anderson said. “I’m trying to represent my hometown.”

And their former coach couldn’t be prouder of how far they had come.

“It’s kind of fun for all of us, they are our heroes now, we know we these big-time players in the NFL,”  Christiansen said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Police confirmed Monday they were investigating whether the same driver was responsible for multipl...

Andrew Adams

Police investigate whether same driver is responsible for multiple hit-and-runs

Police confirmed Monday they were investigating whether the same driver was responsible for multiple hit-and-run collisions.

1 hour ago

two men sit at a table and look at a phone...

Matt Gephardt

Imposters stealing Utah restaurant names to deceive drivers and customers on food delivery apps

When a popular Provo pizzeria couldn’t get a food delivery app to remove an impostor account, the owners decided to Get Gephardt to investigate.

2 hours ago

The spring homebuying season is here, and realtor Alicia Holdaway says Utah’s housing market is g...

Daniel Woodruff

What’s changing in Utah’s housing market after real estate lawsuit settlement

The spring homebuying season is here, and realtor Alicia Holdaway says Utah’s housing market is getting busy.

3 hours ago

One of Utah County's three commissioners has been battling a tumor causing him to miss a series of ...

Lindsay Aerts

Utah County Commission chair calls for resignation of Tom Sakievich over ability to work

One of Utah County's three commissioners has been battling a tumor causing him to miss a series of recent commission meetings and other county work.

3 hours ago

A Weber County family is mourning the loss of a 28-year-old man killed in a wrong way crash early S...

Garna Mejia

Family grieves the loss of a man killed in Sunday’s wrong-way crash

A Weber County family is mourning the loss of a 28-year-old man killed in a wrong-way crash early Sunday morning.

5 hours ago

The motorcycle accident that happened near 350 South 200 East....

Michael Houck

Motorcyclist crash closes road in Salt Lake City

Police say a critical injury crash involving a motorcyclist has closed a road in downtown Salt Lake City.

5 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

2 former Stansbury High School teammates to faceoff in the Super Bowl