Fake punt was Kapanui's to call
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
EL PASO, Texas — Surely, Chad Kapanui would be the Hawai'i football team's leader in accumulating frequent-mover points.
Since joining the Warriors in 2000, he has played quarterback — his position at Roosevelt High — running back, linebacker and safety. He also is the backup long-snapper and, two weeks ago, was named the No. 1 upback on punts.
It was at that last position, where he serves as the captain of the punt unit, that Kapanui made one of the biggest decisions in the Warriors' 31-6 victory over Texas-El Paso yesterday.
Leading 14-6 in the third quarter, UH coach June Jones sent in the punt unit after a drive stalled at the 27. Kapanui, who is aligned 5 yards in front of punter Mat McBriar, noticed the Miners had double coverage on each of the gunners (the two UH players who sprint toward the punt returner).
"Coach always told me, 'If somebody is going to be open, go for it,' so I went for it," Kapanui said.
He called for a fake, then took the snap from Tanuvasa Moe. Kapanui threw to linebacker Kilinahe Noa, who had sneaked into the secondary. Noa caught the pass, then sprinted. He was chased down at the UTEP 3, from where quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen scored on a momentum-turning keeper.
"I'm just happy Kap got it to me," said Noa, who admits to not being "too fast. I wanted to get as far as I could."
UTEP coach Gary Nord said he wanted to slow the gunners to open more room for punt returner Jahmal Fenner.
"We felt like we had to take some chances on the special teams," Nord said. "We tried to hold the (gunners) to give Fenner a chance. We had to take some chances because of the (offense's) inability to score."
Kapanui was promoted to No. 1 upback after Jonathan Kauka suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 6. Although Kapanui was moved from quarterback during his first UH training camp in August 2000, this was his second completion. As a running back last year, he threw a scoring pass against Fresno State.
"I'm 2-for-2," he said. "Not bad, huh?"
Kapanui said he has practiced fake punts for about a year. When asked to identify the play, he said, "It's called 'judgment.' "
Kapanui said he does not mind being used at different positions. "I want to play," he said. "I'll do whatever I can to get in a game."
