The two squared off in a nasty scuffle that not only resulted in the first Pro Bowl ejections since the game was moved to Hawaii 19 years ago, but continued as the two were escorted off the field by security guards.

The fourth-quarter incident began with a shoving incident between the two. As Gogan was going back to the huddle, Smith punched him hard on the back of the helmet.

Referee Gary Lane, who said he had never seen an incident like this in the Pro Bowl, tossed both players from the game.

"I've seen the intensity when somebody goes after somebody's legs, but it's inadvertent and they get up and start a hassle," Lane said. "I think that's what happened in this case.

"We had eight flags on that situation. That's how many people saw it. There were punches thrown and kicks, and when that happens, it's a disqualification.

"I saw a kick and that's when my flag went. Then all the guys (officials) came together and everyone said it was an ejection."

Smith told ABC-TV sideline reporters that Gogan started it by going for his legs during a running play. Gogan came back on the field in street clothes. He talked briefly with 49ers teammate Steve Young in the closing moments of yesterday's 29-24 loss to the AFC, but didn't say much to reporters after the game.

"I don't want to talk about it," Gogan said in the NFC locker room. "But he hit me with a cheap shot. And who says these games don't mean anything?"

GOING FOR IT: AFC head coach Bill Cowher might be 0-for-2 in Pro Bowls if not for a fake punt.

Down 21-7 with time running out in the third quarter, Cowher opted to go for the fake on a fourth-and-1 from the AFC 44.

Upback Eric Metcalf took the snap and run 6 yards for a first down. Six plays later, AFC quarterback Drew Bledsoe hit Jacksonville wide receiver Jimmy Smith on a 17-yard scoring strike to pull within seven points.

"The fake was a big play," Metcalf said. "We were kind of going through the motions, then that play kind of put us back in it. When we scored, suddenly we were down by only seven points."

Cowher also gambled on a fourth-down play later in the quarter. Running back Jerome Bettis didn't make it, setting up a 35-yard field goal by Jason Hanson to give the NFC a 24-14 lead.

Cowher's decision to go for two points with 2:31 left -- after Eddie George scored on a 4-yard run to cut the NFC's advantage to 24-23 -- also went awry.

"I probably approached this game a little differently from a regular-season game to a certain extent," Cowher said. "I'm not sure we would have gone for two points to win the game with that much time left. But hey, it's the Pro Bowl. Why not have some fun?"

RECORD FALLS: San Francisco's Steve Young set the record for most career touchdown passes in the Pro Bowl (four).

The six-time Pro Bowl player tossed touchdowns to Detroit's Herman Moore and Arizona's Rob Moore to set the mark. He also tied John Elway, Dan Fouts and Roger Staubach for most Pro Bowl starts with four. Had Elway, who didn't attend because of an injury, played in yesterday's game, he would have set the record.

"It's always nice to be a part of the record book," said Young, who would have been named MVP if not for Warren Moon's last-minute heroics. "I just wish we could have held on for the win."

Former Fresno State star Trent Dilfer was the first Tampa Bay quarterback to compete in the Pro Bowl, and Jacksonville's Jimmy Smith was the first Jaguar to catch a touchdown pass in the Pro Bowl.

"I can't tell you how much fun this was," Dilfer said. "We lost, but I still had a week I won't forget."

DIAZ WINS AWARD: Edward "Skippa" Diaz, head coach of the Farrington High School varsity football team, was presented to the crowd as the first winner of the Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's "No Hope In Dope" award.

The award honors a Hawaii prep coach who goes beyond the call of duty to help student-athletes on and off the field.

Diaz recently won his 100th game as a varsity coach.