Saturday, October 10, 1998
Iolani's Joe Igber ran rampant through the Damien
defense in last night's 49-32 victory.
Igber runs wild
The Iolani running back
By Pat Bigold
scores six TDs and runs for
251 yards to set the state
career rushing record
Star-BulletinJoe Igber's magic feet carried him to the state career rushing record last night at Aloha Stadium in one of his most brilliant performances.
The elusive 5-foot-7, 190-pound running back scored six touchdowns and rushed for 251 yards on 22 attempts in Iolani's 49-32 victory over Damien to smash the state record of 3,404 set by Kahuku's Mark Atuaia in 1988-90. Igber now has 3,466 yards.
The compact Nigerian-born Igber set the record on his first carry of the second half and 16th of the game -- a 3-yard gain that brought him to 191 yards for the night.
On his 11th carry, a 9-yard gain in the first half, Igber surpassed Mosi Tatupu's (Punahou) Interscholastic League of Honolulu career rushing mark of 3,367.
"It hasn't hit me yet and I don't know if it's even gonna hit him," Iolani head coach Wendell Look said. "But this is a great accomplishment for him personally, and very fitting because he's a great kid, a great person. He's a highlight film."
Igber's statistics were compiled by the Star-Bulletin staff with input from the Iolani athletic department's records and don't necessarily reflect records kept by other media.
There is no central clearing house for prep football statistics in Hawaii.
Igber was low-key after his record-breaking performance, saying "It's one less game."
But two officials from the Arizona Interscholastic Association who worked the game as part of an annual exchange program with Hawaii's prep officials, said they were amazed by Igber.
"Watching him from behind, he reminded me of Barry Sanders," said Rob Stephens, the game referee. "I haven't seen anybody like him in Arizona. It was fun to watch him because he was avoiding tackles left and right, and guys were swiping at air."
Another Arizona official, line judge Bob Martin, said he and his crew were advised to keep an eye on Igber because of his great balance.
"When he's hit, he bounces off and continues to move," Martin said. "When it looks like he's ready to fall down, he'll balance himself with his hand and still keep moving.
"He has great lateral movement, great speed. He's an incredible ball carrier and he reminds me of Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. He's very comparable to them with the moves he has."
Igber, who told the Star-Bulletin that Cal-Berkeley has made him his first solid scholarship offer, has 1,011 yards in five games this season.
Last night, he scored on runs of 5, 25, 33, 11, 19 and 4 yards.
He has 15 touchdowns -- all rushing -- this season and is one short of the state career record of 45, held by former St. Louis star George Ornellas. Iolani plays St. Louis on Friday at Aloha Stadium.
He also is within reach of the ILH single-season record for rushing touchdowns (21) and total touchdowns (23) and the state single-season record for TDs (25).
Igber's records
ILH and state career rushing: 3,466 yards
