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Hawaii alumnus Jason Elam celebrated with Broncos teammate Micah Knorr after hitting a 25-yard field goal in OT.
Elam ties and wins game
Jason Elam is the NFL player with the most longevity among those who played high school or college football in Hawaii. Yesterday he showed he is still one of the most productive kickers in the league while in his 12th season with the Broncos.
Elam kicked field goals of 51, 36 and 25 yards in Denver's 23-20 victory over Cleveland. The two short kicks sent the game to overtime and then won it.
The University of Hawaii's career scoring leader got some help from another UH alumnus, wide receiver Ashley Lelie.
Lelie, a Radford High School graduate, caught a 46-yard pass from Jake Plummer on third down to set up Elam's 36-yarder that tied the game in the final seconds of regulation.
Lelie, a first-round draft pick in 2002 who has been battling a sophomore slump, had one of his better games of the season with four catches for 71 yards.
Another Bronco with Hawaii ties, Mario Fatefehi (Farrington/Kansas State), started at defensive tackle and was in on three tackles.
Other players with island links took the field in Week 15 throughout the league:
Chris Naeole (Kahuku/Colorado) and Vince Manuwai (Farrington/UH) were the starting guards once again for Jacksonville. But running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala did not play in the 27-13 loss to New England.
Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich (UH) continued to play well despite nagging injuries. He led San Francisco with seven tackles, but it wasn't enough as the Cincinnati Bengals beat the 49ers 41-38.
Saints running back James Fenderson (Mililani/UH) missed a 45-7 battering of the Giants with an ankle injury.
Pittsburgh defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen (Molokai/Boise State) started and was in on four stops as the Steelers fell 6-0 to the Jets in a snowstorm at The Meadowlands.
All-Pro Olin Kreutz (Saint Louis/Washington) started his 14th game in a row at center for Chicago as the Bears held of the Minnesota Vikings 13-10.
Detroit center Dominic Raiola (Saint Louis/Nebraska) helped Shawn Bryson to a 105-yard rushing game, but that was far from enough for the Lions, who were 45-17 losers to the Chiefs.
Baltimore defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu (Kahuku/Utah) saw action in the Ravens' 20-12 loss to the Oakland Raiders, but was not credited with any tackles.
Seahawks tight end Itula Mili (Kahuku/Brigham Young) was productive, catching five passes for 69 yards. He was stopped by Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (UH) after one receptions for one of Tinoisamoa's three tackles in St. Louis' 27-22 win.
Colts' offensive tackle Makoa Freitas (Kamehameha/Arizona) played as a backup once again in a 38-7 victory over the Falcons. Kynan Forney (UH) started for the 14th time this season at right guard for Atlanta.
