Ex-Warriors center Estes plays 2 quarters
POSTED: Sunday, January 24, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. » Mike Kafka was the only East team quarterback who didn't get to practice the 2-minute drill in front of NFL scouts before the East-West Shrine Game this week.
Instead, he showed the pros what he could do in live action.
The former Northwestern quarterback threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Quarless with 6 seconds remaining, lifting the East to a 13-10 win over the West yesterday in the annual showcase for college all-stars looking to make an impression on NFL scouts.
Former Hawaii center John Estes hoped he did as well. The finalist for the Rimington Award—and lone UH representative—got in for two quarters, playing all of the second and fourth, for the West squad.
“;I had a great week of practice, met some good people, made some friends,”; Estes said in a phone call to the Star-Bulletin. “;It was a lot of fun, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The field was perfect. I feel good about how I did.
“;No, I haven't received an invitation to the (NFL) combine, hoping that I will now. If not, that's fine. I'll be training for the Pro Day at Athletes Performance in L.A.”;
Estes, named the Warriors' MVP at last month's team banquet, snapped for three quarterbacks: BYU's Max Hall, Eastern Washington's Matt Nichols and Todd Reesing of Kansas. Hall's pass to UCLA's Ryan Moya put the West back on top 10-6 with 6:59 left in the game.
The West couldn't hold on.
Kafka overcame a slow start to lead the 11-play, 55-yard drive on a day when his team's defense was dominant. He finished with 150 yards passing and was selected the offensive most valuable player.
It was just as sweet for Quarless, who helped Penn State rally over LSU in the Capital One Bowl in the same stadium on Jan. 1, to have consecutive comeback wins. He slipped behind the defense and allowed Kafka to loft a pass over the middle so he could make the leaping catch.
A play before the winning TD pass to Quarless, Kafka was smothered and surrounded by pass rushers but somehow managed to elude them for 9 yards up the middle.