[ NFL ISLANDERS ]
Elam bails out Fatafehi
With his game-winning kick yesterday, Jason Elam -- a Hawaii alumnus and the Denver Broncos kicker -- spread a little aloha to another player from Hawaii.
Broncos defensive tackle Mario Fatafehi was having a high-impact game in what turned out to be a 17-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Farrington and Kansas State product had only two tackles and one assist, but those two solo tackles were sacks, one of which ended the Steelers' drive to score at the end of the first half.
However, he made a mistake as the Steelers drove while down 14-6 with less than four minutes left in the game. Fatafehi was called for roughing the passer on an incompletion by Pittsburgh quarterback Tommy Maddox. What had been a third and 3 from the Denver 8 became a first and goal from the 4.
Down 8 and staring at fourth and three, the Steelers likely would have kicked the field goal and then tried an onside kick.
But the penalty gave Pittsburgh new life and running back Jerome Bettis scored on the next play and then made the 2-point conversion, tying the game at 14.
Had the Steelers gone on to win, Fatafehi might have become the goat, but Elam -- with a big assist from the Denver offense -- picked him up.
The Broncos drove 51 yards to the Pittsburgh 29 and Elam hit a 47-yarder as time expired for the win. Elam also made two extra points in the game, pushing his career point total to 1,249.
Also playing in the game were Radford/Hawaii alumnus Ashley Lelie and Molokai/Boise State product Kimo von Oelhoffen.
Lelie didn't start as he has in three games this season and caught only one pass for 5 yards. He did, however, draw a pass interference call on rookie safety Troy Polamalu.
Von Oelhoffen made only one tackle, but it was a big play. He sacked Denver signal-caller Steve Beuerlein and forced a fumble. Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe recovered, but the team was forced to punt.
Another player from Hawaii having a big day yesterday was Seattle tight end Itula Mili.
The Kahuku and Brigham Young alum started for the Seahawks and caught a 15-yard touchdown pass to put them up 6-0 in the first quarter. It was the only pass Mili caught in yesterday's 20-19 win over San Francisco.
Mili's teammate from Hawaii, offensive tackle Wayne Hunter (Radford/Hawaii), was inactive.
On the other side of the ball was former Hawaii linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, who started for the 49ers and made a solo tackle and three assists and also defensed a pass.
After Denver, Jacksonville is the NFLteam with the strongest Hawaii connection, with three players suiting up for the Jaguars.
Vince Manuwai (Farrington/ Hawaii) and Chris Naeole (Kahuku/Colorado) continued their string of starts on the offensive line and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (Saint Louis School/ Utah) got three carries for 11 yards as the Jags lost to the Miami Dolphins 24-10.
Other Hawaii players starting for their teams yesterday were a pair of offensive linemen -- center Olin Kreutz (Saint Louis School/Washington) for the Bears and left tackle Makoa Freitas for the Colts.
Two defensive tackles from Hawaii, the Ravens' Maake Kemoeatu (Farrington/Utah) and the Bills' Lauvale Sape (Leilehua/Utah), played but made no tackles. Leilehua and Hawaii product James Fenderson played on special teams in the Saints' win but also made no tackles.
Two more University of Hawaii alums will likely start tonight on national television -- guard Kynan Forney for the Falcons and rookie linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa for the Rams.
