The local high school football community is mourning the loss of a popular football player known for his big smile and ability to make people laugh.
Feiloaki Mateni Jr., a sophomore who starred at Bishop Amat High School during the fall, died early Saturday, March 9, when the car he was driving struck an overturned vehicle on the southbound 15 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga.
Mateni, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Jenny Sanchez, 30, whose overturned vehicle was struck by Mateni’s car, sustained major injuries and was transported to Riverside Community Hospital, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol.
According to the CHP report, at 2:51 a.m. Saturday, a Hyundai Sonata driven by Sanchez was involved in a two-vehicle crash that left her car overturned and on its roof, blocking the No. 2 and No. 3 lanes north of Philadelphia Avenue.
Mateni, who was driving a 2006 Toyota Solara, crashed into the overturned Hyundai minutes later. Because of his age, Mateni was listed on the report as John Doe.
“At approximately 2:55 a.m., a second crash occurred, involving John Doe, a 17-year-old male resident of Jurupa Valley,” a CHP news release explained. “Mr. Doe was driving a 2006 Toyota Solara on I-15 southbound, north of Philadelphia Avenue, in the No. 3 lane, at a high rate of speed. This crash occurred when the Toyota crashed into the Hyundai, causing the driver of the Toyota, Mr. Doe, to sustain fatal injuries.”
The fatal crash Saturday was the second in as many days involving teens with ties to the Inland Valley. Late Friday afternoon, a brother and sister died and a third teen was hospitalized after the car they were traveling in crashed into a power pole and a tree in Rancho Cucamonga, authorities said.
Hundreds of community members gathered Saturday morning at the crash site near Los Osos High for a vigil and to pay their respects.
Mateni, whose family and friends called him “Junior,” had transferred to Rancho Cucamonga High School in January, where he planned to continue to play football.
At Bishop Amat, he was known as a gifted player with a promising future ahead of him.
Bishop Amat football coach Steve Hagerty was struggling with the loss Monday.
“Junior was a team favorite. We all loved his smile and easy-going personality,” Hagerty said. “He was a hard worker and a great teammate who went out of his way to pick up others when they were down.
“He had a great spirit about him and enjoyed the family he met at Bishop Amat,” Hagerty added. We are devastated by his death, and will mourn our loss, but will carry his loving spirit with us as we move forward.”
Rest in Heaven my brother. Love you 4L toko🇹🇴❤️ pic.twitter.com/CiBS6wpG7m
— tahj crutchfield (@tahjhimself) March 11, 2024
One of of the senior captains on Bishop Amat’s football team, Richie Munoz, said some of the team’s players went to the crash site on Sunday to gather together and pray.
Munoz was a safety on the team like Mateni.
“It’s been rough, shocking and in disbelief that this could happen to him,” Munoz said. “We all got together for a little memorial, but we were all in shock. We still are. We never would have expected something like this would happen. Nobody wants to believe it.”
Munoz said Mateni was well liked.
“He had a big heart, he was very outgoing and was always someone that would make people laugh,” Munoz said. “He made you smile. This is so hard.”
Junior Noah Faapito and Mateni were cousins and also teammates at Bishop Amat.
“He was a good soul and a kind-hearted person,” Faapito said of Mateni. “Everyone wanted to be around him. He was a loving and caring person.”
Faapito shared his grief on an Instagram post.
“Hardest day of my life to tell my Tongan brother goodbye,” Faapito wrote. “I love you toko and I miss you. You changed my life and let me experience the happiest moments with you. You mean the world to me and forever will I miss you.”
Rancho Cucamonga football coach Brian Hilderbrand said Mateni’s transfer paperwork had recently been cleared and he was looking forward to competing on the school’s track and field team this spring.
Hildebrand never had a chance to coach Mateni in football but was still shaken by the news.
There was a prayer circle Monday morning inside Rancho Cucamonga’s football stadium. Grief counselors were also available for students having a difficult time coping with the death.
“It’s surreal, it feels like he had a big future and so much ahead of him, “Hilderbrand said. “Having a chance and opportunity to get to know him, he was a genuine kid. He had a great presence and spirit about him. Everyone is pretty devastated.”
The RCHS Athletics Dept is stunned and saddened by the passing of sophomore Feiloaki Mateni Jr. Please keep his family in your thoughts, as well as his teammates and coaching staff during this very difficult time.@RCHSCougarsFB pic.twitter.com/h6ZTZST2mL
— RCHS Sports (@sports_rchs) March 10, 2024
