If you were a Western Athletic Conference running back several years ago, you didn't want to go head-to-head against Hawaii linebacker Jeff Ulbrich. Ulbrich makes career-high
12 tackles
Star-Bulletin staff
Ulbrich was a feared hitter for UH, and he's playing the same role for the San Francisco 49ers these days. He made a career-high 12 tackles yesterday, but the 49ers lost to Green Bay.
He's played in 12 of San Francisco's 14 games and now has 60 tackles with a sack.
Pittsburgh's Kimo von Oelhoffen, who grew up on Molokai, recovered a Carolina fumble, batted down a pass and made a tackle in a victory over the Panthers.
A nine-year pro, von Oelhoffen has 21 tackles and two sacks this year, and he's over the 20-tackle mark for the sixth year in a row.
Denver rookie Ashley Lelie, the former UH standout, set up two touchdowns with catches of 40 and 28 yards as the Broncos held off a late Kansas City rally.
Lelie increased his season totals to 30 receptions for 414 yards.
Denver teammate Jason Elam (Hawaii) kicked a 30-yard field goal and made four extra points.
Seattle tight end Itula Mili (Kahuku High School) made one catch for 5 yards in a win over Atlanta, while New Orleans running back James Fenderson (Hawaii) rushed once for 4 yards in a loss to Minnesota.
Baltimore backup defensive end Maake Kemoeatu (Kahuku) made one tackle in a victory over Houston.
Six others with connections to the 50th state played yesterday: starting centers Dominic Raiola (St. Louis School) of Detroit, Olin Kreutz (St. Louis) of Chicago and Kevin Mawae (dad grew up in Hawaii) of the New York Jets; starting guards Toniu Fonoti (Kahuku) of San Diego and Chris Naeole (Kahuku) of Jacksonville; and backup guard Kynan Forney (Hawaii) of Atlanta.
Forney is back after missing one game with a hamstring injury, but didn't return to the starting lineup.
Two players with Hawaii connections, Steven Grace (Kamehameha Schools) and Mario Fatafehi (Farrington High School), have re-emerged on NFL rosters, but neither played yesterday.
Grace , a center, was brought back up from the Arizona practice squad. Fatafehi, a defensive end who spent last season and some of the this season with the Cardinals, was signed by Carolina.
National Football League
