Through the first weeks of the 2024 high school football season, Empire senior running back Ngonkra Fuangunyi has emerged as one of the top rushers in Southern Arizona with 312 yards and a touchdown 鈥 the former ranking 20th in the entire state.
Fuangunyi is averaging 156 rushing yards per game and 6.8 yards per carry this season and has led the Ravens to a 2-0 start ahead of a matchup against Ironwood Ridge (1-1) on the road Friday night.
A week after having 209 yards and a touchdown in a 14-7 win over Phoenix Sierra Linda, Fuangunyi had 103 yards in the Ravens鈥 31-12 win over Avondale La Joya Community School; he also had a sack on defense on Friday.
Fuangunyi, nicknamed 鈥淕ronk鈥 by his EHS teammates, is also a soccer and track standout for the Ravens. The EHS multi-sport star joined 鈥淪pears and Ali鈥 on ESPN 大象APPto discuss Empire鈥檚 quick start to the 2024 campaign and more.
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During a matchup last season at Empire High School, Empire鈥檚 Ngonkra Fuangunyi (2) forces his way out the reach of Amphi鈥檚 DeAngelo Mendoza (13) during the teams鈥 Oct. 5, 2023, contest.
How was Empire able to jump out to a hot start for the first two games?
A: 鈥淭he first week, we had a lot of penalties. We went over that during practice. We made sure we did the right blocks.
鈥淎lso, our passing game wasn鈥檛 working as well, so we also went over that as well in practice. When we played La Joya, we were able to the pass the ball pretty easily when the run game wasn鈥檛 working and we had a lot less penalties than last game.鈥
Why do you think you had so much personal success in the first two games?
A: 鈥淣othing really. I鈥檓 pretty calm. ... I listen to calm music before the game.鈥
As a leader, how do you keep the team focused for Ironwood Ridge?
A: 鈥淧robably tell them to not get too overhyped and just do your job and we鈥檒l be successful.鈥
When did you first start playing football?
A: 鈥淏efore I played football, I played soccer since I was 6 years old. I decided to start playing football my sophomore year of high school.鈥
Are you from Tucson?
A: 鈥淚 was born in Tucson, but my entire family and some of my brothers were born in Cameroon.鈥
How is your family dynamic?
A: 鈥淚鈥檓 really close with my brothers. They鈥檙e like my best friends. My parents, they鈥檙e like my best friends also.鈥
During a matchup last season at Empire High School, Empire鈥檚 Ngonkra Fuangunyi (2) slams into Amphi鈥檚 Ethan Goodall (10), jarring him enough to send his pass off course in the third quarter of their Oct. 5, 2023, contest.
Since your parents are from Cameroon, how do they view football?
A: 鈥淥h yes. My parents don鈥檛 really like the sport. Whenever they come and watch my games, they鈥檙e pretty bored, because they don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going on.鈥
What鈥檚 Cameroonian culture like, especially within your family?
A: 鈥淢y dad is a chief. Basically every week we have a meeting for the people of my village at a house or a meeting location.鈥
How many people attend?
A: 鈥淟ike 30 or 40 people, not counting kids.鈥
What does it mean to you to have a contingent of people who hail from the same culture and country?
A: 鈥淔or my parents, it鈥檚 probably very special. What they talk about is very important. I鈥檓 not sure what they鈥檙e talking about, but it鈥檚 probably very important. For me, it鈥檚 important to see kids who came from Africa.鈥
What鈥檚 your favorite Cameroonian dish?
A: 鈥淔ufu ... It鈥檚 made out of yams. It鈥檚 pounded yam or at least I think it is. But you mix it up with soup, pick it up, dip it in and eat in. It鈥檚 pretty good.鈥
What do you like to do outside of football?
A: 鈥淪pend time with my family and that鈥檚 pretty much it.鈥
What鈥檚 your plan for next year and do you envision yourself playing football beyond the high school level?
A: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the plan, to play football. I also want to focus on my education, so playing football and education is important.鈥
What are you going to pursue outside of football?
A: 鈥淧hysical therapy.鈥
What led you down the physical rehab route?
A: 鈥淭he sports medicine class I took at Empire High School. I was pretty good at sports medicine. I took anatomy and was good at that, so I think I鈥檒l be a good physical therapist.鈥
High school football: Marana HS receiver Dezmen Roebuck closes in on state receptions recordAfter setting the state record for receptions (121) in a single season in 2023, Marana High and University of Washington-bound receiver Dezmen Roebuck is now closing in on another record: this one for catches in an Arizona prep career.
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Michael Lev column: Years in the making, Tucson鈥檚 Desert Christian High School finally has a football program. This is the story of how it all came together for the Eagles.
From Greg Hansen's Notebook: Salpointe Catholic High School basketball standout Taliyah Henderson's decision to play collegiately at North Carolina wasn't a surprise; many of Salpointe's best have left 大象APPfor NCAA opportunity.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star鈥檚 Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
