Small lineman big contributor to Linfield success

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Daryl Agpalsa, his coach says, "proves that the game of football is not based upon size."

Agpalsa, a 1998 Kamehameha Schools graduate from Waikele, is listed on the Linfield College (Oregon) roster as 5 feet 10 inches and 225 pounds. He may not be quite that tall.

But he has been Linfield's starting right guard the past three years on teams with a collective record of 25 victories, 3 defeats and a league championship every year. Northwest Conference coaches have chosen him as a first-team all-conference offensive lineman the past two years.

Agpalsa is more than four inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter than the average (6-2 1/4, 275 pounds) of other first-team All-Northwest Conference offensive linemen the past two years.

Linfield offensive line coach Doug Hire (Pearl City '83) explains how Agpalsa offsets his size with preparation and technique:

"He understands defenses, he watches tape, and takes advantage of opponents' weaknesses," Hire said. "He's so quick that he gets into position and he can block people by knowing how they move, how they line up. He beats them to the punch.

"He always blocks oversized opponents. Darryl proves that the game of football is not based upon size."

Agpalsa is less analytical about his ability. "I try my hardest," he said. "I get into position as fast as I can."

He has been used to blocking bigger players since high school. "At Kamehameha, I played against St. Louis teams that had Division I-caliber and size linemen, so I knew already that I could compete against bigger athletes."

But Agpalsa had never seen anyone as big as the giants lined up across from him last month when Linfield played Menlo College of California. "One guy was 6-2, 340 and the other was 6-1, 320," Agpalsa said. "They were twice my size. I took a look and said, 'I don't know how this is going to go down.'

"It was like blocking an eclipse."

But he and the rest of the Wildcats blocked effectively. Linfield led 56-0 by halftime.

Linfield ranks third in NCAA Division III in scoring (46.2 points per game), sixth in total offense (471 yards per game), and 13th in rushing (244.7 yards per game).

Hire gives Agpalsa's leadership much of the credit. "His ability to play brings out the best in our other linemen," Hire says. "People around him play better because of him."

This season, which Agpalsa calls "a once in a lifetime experience," almost never happened for him.

In his red-shirt freshman season of 1999 —in his first career start — Agpalsa suffered a severely broken wrist at Menlo. "We had a 17-hour bus ride back to Linfield after the game," he said. "(With the pain), that was one of the worst experiences of my life."

"They called it an ulnar translocation. I tore four ligaments in my wrist and it caused all the carpals to slide over. The doctor, who is the Portland Trailblazers' surgeon, said he found only seven recorded cases like it in history," Agpalsa said.

Agpalsa was in a cast more than seven months. "I didn't think I could ever play again," he said.

This year also was in question, but for a different reason.

Agpalsa could have graduated last May. "I didn't know if I would be financially able to come back for credits I didn't really need," he said. NCAA Division III does not allow athletes to receive any financial aid specifically for athletics.

Two factors made him decide to return for his fourth year of football. "My dad (Ron) and mom (Wonda) had never seen me play in college and my dad really wanted to see me play. This year they have been up for two games.

"And, if we went to playoffs, it would be something I would never get to participate in again. It was worth putting off starting in the real world for three or four months."

Linfield (9-0) was one of four Division III teams in the nation to be seeded through the opening round of the 28-team NCAA Championship Tournament. The Wildcats play Wartburg of Waverly, Iowa, Saturday at Linfield in a round-of-16 game.

EXTRA POINTS: There are nine players from Hawai'i on the Linfield roster and offensive line coach Doug Hire said three others — also Kamehameha graduates — may make the playoff roster. True freshman Brandon Tom (Kamehameha '02 of Kailua) is a pass-rush specialist; senior James Yen (Kamehameha '98 of Kane'ohe) is in the receiver rotation (15 catches), and red-shirt sophomore Puni Ellis (Kamehameha '00 of Kailua) is a backup running back.

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• California

1999 Iolani School graduate Joe Igber has finished his career as the second leading rusher in the 120-year football history of University of California.

In what Cal spokesman Herb Benenson called "a crowning performance," Igber, of Palolo, rushed for a Big Game-record 226 yards in Cal's 30-7 victory over Stanford on Saturday to end his career at Berkeley with 3,124 yards.

Igber might have broken Russell White's career record of 3,367 yards from 1990-92, except that he missed the last four games last season with a broken clavicle.

Igber, a 5-8, 190-pound tailback, played one more season than White and had 15 more rushing attempts.

This year, as Cal compiled its first winning season (7-5) in nine years, Igber enjoyed his finest season statistically, rushing for 1,130 yards — third most in Cal history.

"He is so fun to watch," said Golden Bear quarterback Kyle Boller. "He has so much fun playing the sport. I can't say enough good things about him — off the field and on the field. He's a great person. ..."

Igber, a quick (direction) change artist, got off runs of 55 and 42 yards on Saturday in his most prolific game and the fifth-best in Cal history.

At Sunday night's team banquet, Igber received three awards: Most Valuable Back, team captain and Outstanding Player in the Big Game.

Igber has committed to play in the Hula Bowl on Maui on Feb. 1.