Lelie soars to new heights in victory

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Is it the hair or the hops?

Ashley Lelie celebrates after catching an 11-yard touchdown pass that gave Hawai'i a 31-27 lead with 5:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. He later caught a 14-yard touchdown pass to give UH the lead for good. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I'm so happy, I don't even know what to say," said Lelie, a 6-foot-3 junior wide receiver out of Radford High. "I feel like I can fly right now."

He certainly appeared to be in flight for two spectacular touchdown grabs in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner with 13 seconds remaining.

"What a performance he put on," gushed UH receivers coach Ron Lee. "He's always had the talent, but in a big game like this, only the cream rises to the top. That's exactly what Ashley did."

Lelie's first touchdown came midway through the second quarter on a trick play. Chad Kapanui, a former quarterback at Roosevelt High, took an option pitch and then lofted a 3-yard pass to Lelie, who out-jumped three closing defenders to grab the football.

It was one of only three catches Lelie made in the first half, for 27 yards.

"I dropped some I should have had," he said. "I knew I had to make up for it."

So with less than six minutes remaining in the game and Fresno State leading, 27-24, Lelie and quarterback Nick Rolovich put on a performance that will rank among UH's most memorable.

With the ball at the UH 44-yard line, Rolovich lofted a deep sideline pass that Lelie snagged just before keeping his feet in bounds at the Fresno State 11 for a 45-yard gain. On the next play, Rolovich threw a pass high over the middle of the end zone that Lelie soared to catch over Bulldog safety Bryce McGill.

"I don't know if I've ever jumped that high in my life," said Lelie, who has a vertical leap of 38 inches. "But I knew I had to get it."

The touchdown gave the Warriors a short-lived 31-27 advantage. Fresno State drove for its own touchdown with 4:55 remaining to regain the lead, 34-31.

On UH's final game-winning drive, Lelie made two more crucial receptions. On a 3rd-and-7 from the Fresno State 31, he kept the drive going with a nine-yard catch.

"The quarterback can go to any receiver on any play," Lee said. "But Ashley kept getting open and he was making the big grabs, so it made sense to go to him."

But he saved his best for last. On 3rd-and-goal from the 14, Rolovich lofted a "fade" pass high into the back corner of the end zone. Lelie out-jumped cornerback Devon Banks for the ball, and came down with his right foot in bounds, giving UH a 37-34 lead, and setting off an eardrum-shattering celebration.

"I knew I could get it," Lelie said. "The only thing I was worried about was getting my foot down."

UH head coach June Jones said: "I told Nick to make it a catchable ball and Ashley climbed the ladder to get it."

Rolovich, who completed 30 of 53 passes for 347 yards, said he had various options on the play, but wanted Lelie to be the first choice.

"It depended on how (Fresno State) came out in their defense," Rolovich said. "But (Lelie) is a big-play guy. That's why he's in there."

For the game, Lelie caught nine passes for 122 yards. Making it even more impressive, Lelie left the game for a few plays early in the second half after twisting his right ankle.

"No. 8 ate us alive all night," Fresno State head coach Pat Hill said, referring to Lelie's jersey number.

Knowing the game was televised nationally on ESPN, Lelie said he had his hair braided tight against his scalp yesterday.

"I just wanted to look good on TV," he said. "But I think I may have to do it every game now."