Punahou alumnus plays his best game in snow
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Cornerback Jason Ching (Punahou '02 of Hawai'i Loa Ridge) was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week for the second time this season after he intercepted two passes in the snow Saturday to help Brown win its first game, 21-18 at Dartmouth.
Brown's sports information department, looking for a catchy news angle, reported it was the first time Ching had seen snow. Not true.
"I went on ski trips during spring breaks in high school," Ching said. "But I never played a game in the snow before. Instead of being green, the field is white. It was pretty exciting."
Ching also broke up three passes (he said he should have made a third interception, in the end zone; "the ball went through my hands," he said).
"It was the best game I've ever played," Ching said. He had seven interceptions in his career at Punahou, but only one last season. He has three so far this year.
MORE FOOTBALL
• Playoff-bound
Two teams with substantial numbers of players from Hawai'i earned post-season playoff berths last weekend.
Linfield (Ore.) wrapped up its second unbeaten regular season in three years and got one of four first-round byes in the 28-team NCAA Division III national championships. The Wildats (9-0) will host the winner of Saturday's Wartburg (Iowa) vs. Lake Forest (Ill.) game on Nov. 30.
Linfield, which led Division III in scoring with a 46.2 points-per-game average, has nine players from Hawai'i on its roster.
Montana-Western, quickly rebuilding its program under coach Tommy Lee (St. Louis '59) beat Frontier Conference champion Carroll on Saturday to finish 9-2 and was awarded a spot in the 16-team NAIA tournament. Lee's team, which has 17 players from Hawai'i on its roster, will play at Southern Oregon on Saturday.
• Menlo (Calif.)
Junior Duane Miller (Wai'anae '99) is the first player in Menlo's 16-year history as a four-year program to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Miller gained 125 yards net in a season-closing 44-22 victory over Chapman (Calif.) on Saturday to put his totals at 221 attempts, 1,081 net yards gained and 7 touchdowns, with a longest run of 56 yards. He also caught 18 passes for 117 yards.
Miller says it's all in the blocking. "Not only has the offensive line done well, but my fullback (freshman Kainoa Rudolfo, Moanalua '01) has done a great job for me, too."
Looking forward to his senior year, Miller said, "I want to work hard this off-season and get myself ready to put up some numbers that no one will break for a while.
Menlo finished 5-5.
• Mesa (Arizona) Community College
Sophomore inside linebacker Joshua "Junior" Ah You (Kahuku '98) has been selected first-team All-Western States Football League for the second year.
He led Mesa in tackles for the second year with 130. Coach David Rice said that Brigham Young, Arizona State, Temple, Pittsburgh and Weber State appear the front-runners for his talent next season.
Freshman Miki Ah You (Kahuku '96), Joshua's brother, started at defensive tackle and had about 45 tackles. "He should be an all-conference type kid next season," Rice said.
Freshman Kaipo Fiatoa (Kahuku '98) rotated at fullback until he hurt a knee and missed the last three games. "He was doing real good on fullback traps and blocking. (His injury) really hurt us," said Rice, whose team finished 3-7, costing Rice his job.
