[ NFL ISLANDERS ]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Leilehua graduate Adrian Murrell achieved season highs in carries and yards for the Cowboys yesterday. He rushed 16 times for 76 yards in a 10-6 win over the Bills.
Leilehua alum Murrell
runs for Cowboys
Dallas head coach Bill Parcells was looking for a little offense from his Cowboys and he seems to have found his man.
Former Leilehua High running back Adrian Murrell (West Virginia), who was cut by Parcells in training camp, played most of the second half to finish with 76 yards on 16 carries to help Dallas beat Buffalo 10-6.
Last week, the 33-year-old played in his first game since being released by Washington in 2000. He had four carries for 24 yards in the first half, but is challenging starter Troy Hambrick, who had only 33 yards on 13 carries. Murrell wasn't the only NFL player with local connections to get a win.
It's been a long season for Atlanta offensive lineman Kynan Forney (Hawaii) and Pittsburgh defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen (Molokai/Boise State), but both found themselves on the right side of the scoreboard.
Both started for the ninth consecutive time this season. In Pittsburgh's victory over Arizona, von Oelhoffen finished with one tackle. He also recovered a fumble as the Steelers snapped a five-game losing streak. Forney was part of an offensive effort that produced 281 yards as the Falcons ended a seven-game winless skid. The O-line yielded only one sack to the up-and-down New York Giants.
Local boys Vince Manuwai (Farrington/Hawaii) and Chris Naeole (Kahuku/Colorado) also started for the ninth consecutive time this season and were rare winners as well. Jacksonville won for the second time in a major upset of Indianapolis.
The two O-lineman were part of a solid offensive effort. The Jaguars managed 179 yards through the air with no sacks of quarterback Byron Leftwich. They also had 174 yards on the ground, including 11 by Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (Saint Louis/Utah).
Talented centers Dominic Raiola (Saint Louis/Nebraska) of Detroit and Olin Kreutz (Saint Louis/Washington) of Chicago squared off for the second time this season. The Lions won this time around, despite only 17 yards on the ground. The Bears yielded two sacks, while the Lions gave up one. Both players started for the ninth consecutive time this year.
St. Louis linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (Hawaii) also started his ninth game in last night's prime-time win over Baltimore. He finished second on the team in total tackles with nine and forced a fumble as well. Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu (Kahuku/Utah) wasn't as fortunate. He played, but didn't have a tackle.
Seattle tight end Itula Mili (Kahuku/Brigham Young) started for a second consecutive weekend, but wasn't as fortunate as his fellow island boys. He didn't find the end zone, but did grab two passes for 19 yards, including a long of 16 in the loss to the Redskins.
Several players with local ties were on the inactive roster. They are Washington Redskins wideout Clifford Russell (Campbell/Utah), Tennessee Titans quarterback Jason Gesser (Saint Louis/Washington State), Buffalo defensive tackle Lauvale Sape (Leilehua/Utah) and Seattle offensive tackle Wayne Hunter (Radford/Hawaii).
