Deyvid Palepale has made that long and winding journey, and he’s fitting in quite well with Hempfield’s football team. The Black Knights’ bruising sophomore two-way talent has earned starting spots at left tackle and defensive end, and after getting acclimated to his new surroundings — in Pennsylvania and around the Lancaster-Lebanon League — he’s been a force to be reckoned with at both spots this fall.
Palepale’s backstory is an interesting one. He’s Samoan, and he’s ultra-proud of his heritage; Palepale is already counting down the days until he gets his first traditional Samoan tattoo. His family hails from the islands of Samoa and Tonga with some Hawaiian roots as well, and he was born to parents Tumua Lauano and Sayonara Palepale in Anchorage.
Palepale started playing football there when he was six, and he played through middle school, aged 14, before the family — including little brothers Dehvyn and Dezmon — uprooted and left Anchorage for the greener, rolling pastures of Lancaster County.
“In Alaska, we had shorter summers and really long winters, that’s for sure,” Palepale said. “But it was really hard moving because Anchorage was all I knew. So, moving here was a big change.”
He’s certainly made the best of it. And quickly. Palepale played for Hempfield’s freshman team last year, and immediately after the season, he became a weight room junkie, getting his body ready for the rigors of varsity football. When the Knights broke camp this August, Palepale earned a starting spot at D-end and right tackle. In Week Three, he slid over to the all-important left tackle spot — blocking for Hempfield dual-threat all-star QB Cam Harbaugh — and he’s excelled.
Twice this season Palepale has earned L-L League Quarterback Club Lineman of the Week honors, so coaches around the area are taking notice of his skills.
“He can withstand a bull-rush because of his strength,” Eager said, “and he can also kick-back and take care of an edge rusher who is trying to beat him with speed. He’s versatile.”
“The first couple of weeks this season I was kind of holding myself back,” Palepale said. “I was kind of afraid; I’m not sure what I was afraid of, but I was. I think I knew that I wasn’t playing up to my potential, but then I got more and more comfortable as the season went on. Now, I’m playing with a lot of confidence.”
Palepale certainly has plenty of motivation. His cousin, Penei Sewell, plays O-tackle in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, after playing major Division I college ball for the University of Oregon.