Thursday, November 22, 2001

Fonoti, Lelie
All-American choices

The Nebraska guard and
Hawaii receiver are honored
by Football News

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Two graduates of Hawaii high schools were named to the Football News All-American teams released yesterday by the 62-year-old publication.

Nebraska junior left guard Toniu Fonoti (Kahuku) was selected to the first team and Hawaii junior wide receiver Ashley Lelie (Radford) was named to the third team.

Fonoti, a two-year starter, has already set No. 2 Nebraska's single-season record with 182 pancake blocks (blocks in which an opponent is knocked off his feet) in 11 games entering tomorrow's meeting against Colorado.

Football News associate editor Alain Poupart was among those who selected the honorees.

"You look at Nebraska and their monster numbers," Poupart said. "It seems like every year their offensive line is among the best in the country. This year is no different and he's the leader of that bunch."

The 6-foot-4, 340-pound Fonoti has helped Nebraska average a nation's leading 311.1 rushing yards per game and set NU's single-game pancake record with 32 against Texas Tech on Oct. 20. The Lombardi Award semifinalist needs 18 more to break the career record of 377 pancakes set by Cornhuskers' 1997 Outland Trophy winner Aaron Taylor (35 games from 1995 to 1997).

"It's certainly an award that's well deserved," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. "He is a very strong, powerful, aggressive football player that has done a great job for us throughout his career."

Lelie is second in the nation with 14 touchdown catches and sixth in receiving yards with 1,166. He is Hawaii's career-record holder with 27 touchdowns.

"That's pretty cool," Lelie said when told of the honor. "It's obvious if it wasn't for my teammates, something like that couldn't happen. If we weren't winning, I doubt anyone would know about us."

Poupart said "a combination of things" helped Lelie get selected.

"He put up good numbers, and the people who have seen him play have come away impressed with his ability. Some receivers put up huge numbers because of the conference they play in, but in Lelie's case, he's the type of guy who could stick with any big-time program.

"It also helped his cause to have such a big game against Fresno State on national television."

Hawaii coach June Jones said Lelie is "deserving."

"He's a great kid who has worked hard for everything he has accomplished," Jones said. "He's our big-play guy and any team that plays us needs to account for him on every down. Any award for him is an award for the entire team."

Hawaii kicker Jason Elam was a Football News second-team All-American in 1991.

The complete teams, as well as all-conference teams, will be published in the Dec. 15 issue of Football News.