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Four-star USC football commit Tomuhini Topui has addressed a viral video showing him stomping on an opponent’s leg. The high school football player wants his “dirty player” label to be dropped immediately.
The scene played out during a game between Mater Dei and Centennial. The Monarchs‘ superstar took two Ls in the Friday night showdown.
Mater Dei is a powerhouse high school football program in Santa Ana, California. The Monarchs entered a matchup against the Centennial Huskies with a No. 1 ranking and hopes of moving to 3-0 on the year.
That wouldn’t happen as the Huskies emerged with a 43-36 victory. Mater Dei’s chances of a perfect season ended. Controversy has since followed.
Tomuhini Topui stomped on an opponent’s knee.
NO room for this in football, ever.
Injured kid had to be carried off the field by 2 teammates.
Hate seeing this stuff. pic.twitter.com/IIkhzVBrfV— Chris Fore (@chriscfore) September 13, 2025
The defensive tackle appeared to stomp on a Centennial offensive lineman’s knee after a frustrating play. A second angle shows the dirty maneuver more clearly.
This isn’t intentional?
I been around football a long time. This stomping is an intentional as it gets. https://t.co/j4rlHCwERo pic.twitter.com/MRElkKVCt1— Chris Fore (@chriscfore) September 13, 2025
The play resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Centennial player was reportedly helped off the field by two teammates.
Topui refused to apologize.
Topui is a four-star prospect rated as a Top 10 player at his position by 247 Sports. He committed to USC in April.
He addressed the situation after the fact but did so by placing the blame on Centennial.
You guys want to paint the picture that I’m a “dirty player” because of who I am. Let’s not act like I was playing against Saints though. Their players were doing that damn near the whole game, and I tried to help the kid up before the flag was thrown but no one wannna show that. pic.twitter.com/L1zrghVQSw
— Tomuhini Topui (@TomuTopui52) September 14, 2025
“You guys want to paint the picture that I’m a ‘dirty player’ because of who I am,” he said in a post on X. “Let’s not act like I was playing against Saints… I tried to help the kid up before the flag was thrown but no one wanna show that.”
Topui says he offered to help his opponent to his feet. He would not, however, apologize for his actions.
His mother also responded to the play. After initially denying the stomp, she reversed course.
Let them paint whatever picture they want, at this point it’s pointless to go back and forth, learn from this and move on! There’s so much more to life than letting these nobodies get a reply from you! I love you son and I got you forever!
Yola Fifita / X: @yola2531
The star defender suggested that Centennial was playing just as dirty in the California high school football showdown. In this case, however, two wrongs don’t make a right.