Monday, November 1, 1999

Aleaga solid in
Saints’ start

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Even though his team lost for the sixth time in seven games, New Orleans Saints linebacker Ink Aleaga (Pac-Five) made the best of his first start of 1999.

Aleaga was inserted at weak side linebacker and had five tackles and a pass deflection in the Saints' 21-16 loss to Cleveland at the Superdome.

It was only the fifth start of Aleaga's three-year NFL career.

Meanwhile, Aleaga's teammate, Chris Naeole (Kahuku), started his 23rd consecutive game at guard for the Saints.

In Cincinnati's 41-10 loss to Jacksonville, backup nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen (Molokai) nailed Mark Brunell for a 10-yard sack. It was his second sack of the season and the third of his six-season career.

Arizona's Adrian Murrell (Leilehua) had 47 yards on 13 carries and 29 yards on three receptions as the Cardinals were crushed, 27-3, at home by New England.

Murrell carried five times on a 10-play drive in the third quarter to set up Arizona's only score, Chris Jacke's 24-yard field goal.

After six games this season, Murrell has 257 yards on 103 attempts for 2.5 yards per carry. He has had three straight 1,000-yard seasons.

In Denver's 23-20 home loss to Minnesota, defensive end Ma'a Tanuvasa (Mililani) had four tackles (three solo).

Former Hawaii kicker Jason Elam had a 19-yard field goal and an extra point for the Broncos.

Gary Anderson's 23-yard field goal won it for the Vikings in the final four seconds, but Tanuvasa played a role in stopping the touchdown drive.

On second-and-goal at the Denver 2, Tanuvasa hit Leroy Hoard for a two-yard loss. Anderson made his kick after Hoard was knocked back to the Denver 5 on the next play.

Elam, the Broncos' all-time leading scorer, has made 11 of 15 field goal attempts and has 46 points on the season. He is tied for eighth among kickers.

In Washington's 48-22 victory over Chicago, Olin Kreutz (St.Louis) made his eighth consecutive start at center for the Bears. His line allowed three sacks.

Hawaii's senior NFLer, Kurt Gouveia (Waianae) subbed at linebacker for the Redskins but didn't record a tackle.