[ NFL ISLANDERS ]
Former Hawaii place-kicker Jason Elam knocked a 25-yard field goal through the uprights to give Denver its overtime victory over Kansas City yesterday. This time around,
Elam kicks winner
Star-Bulletin staff
Last week, Elam's field goal with under a minute left put Denver ahead of Miami, but he was upstaged by Dolphins' kicker Olindo Mare, who booted the game-winner with six seconds left.
Elam had two other field goals in yesterday's game -- from 33 and 32 yards -- and he also went 4-for-4 on extra points.
Denver's Ashley Lelie, Hawaii's career receiving leader, made some clutch plays at crucial moments of the game.
Lelie had three catches for 33 yards and he ran the ball from scrimmage for the first time in his career.
Lelie's 24-yard run around left end and 21-yard catch on a third-down-and-10 situation were part of a drive helping the Broncos tie it 20-20 in the third quarter.
In Denver's drive for the tying touchdown to send the game into overtime, Lelie had receptions of 4 and 8 yards.
San Diego guard Toniu Fonoti, a Kahuku alumnus, came up big in overtime for San Diego, making a clearing block to spring LaDainian Tomlinson for a 19-yard game-winning touchdown against Oakland.
San Francisco's Jeff Ulbrich (Hawaii) made six tackles and forced a fumble in a loss to New Orleans. He also stopped Deuce McAllister's attempt at a 2-point conversion run with the 49ers leading by five in the fourth quarter.
James Fenderson (Hawaii) played on special teams and returned a kickoff 22 yards for the Saints. He also made a midfield block of San Francisco kicker Jose Cortez to help teammate Michael Lewis on the tail end of a 51-yard kickoff return.
Jacksonville guard Chris Naeole (Kahuku) and his teammates on the offensive line held the fearsome Baltimore defense to one sack in a loss.
Seattle tight end Itula Mili (Kahuku) made two catches for 22 yards in a loss to St. Louis.
Five other players with Hawaii connections were involved in games yesterday, including starting centers and former St. Louis School standouts Dominic Raiola of Detroit and Olin Kreutz of Chicago, starting center Kevin Mawae (his dad grew up in Hawaii) of the New York Jets, starting guard Kynan Forney (Hawaii) of Atlanta and backup defensive end Maake Kemoeatu (Kahuku) of Baltimore.
National Football League
