'Aina rallies to top Kai, 27-24
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAILUKU, Maui — In a game fit to be tied, 'Aina found its finishing kick in the Hula Bowl yesterday.
Maui News via Associated Press
'Aina — aided by two successful onside kicks in the fourth quarter — rallied from a 21-point hole to shock Kai, 27-24, at War Memorial Stadium.
University of Hawai'i's Chris Brown celebrated after his interception that set up Kai's first touchdown.
'Aina scored 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
"Wasn't that a great game?" 'Aina coach Larry Coker said. "I'm really proud of the way the guys fought back and didn't give up."
The final two scores came with just 55 seconds remaining. California running back Joe Igber's 1-yard touchdown and the ensuing extra point tied the score at 24. Minnesota's Dan Nystrom drilled a 44-yard field goal with 9.3 seconds left.
"It was crazy, man," said Igber, a former Iolani School standout. "I thought we were going into overtime."
After Igber's touchdown, the crowd dared Coker to go for two-point conversion with his team trailing 24-23 with 55 seconds left. But Coker, thinking that his team could get the ball back for the winning score, elected to kick the extra point and tie the game.
The plan worked. A successful onside kick by Miami's Todd Sievers was recovered by Louisiana-Lafayette cornerback Ivan Taylor at the 'Aina 32.
"It was just an amazing play to recover the ball deep in their territory," said Arizona quarterback Jason Johnson, who played for 'Aina. "Magic things just happened,"
Four plays later, Nystrom, who alternated kicks with Sievers, ended a wild game with his uncontested, wind-aided field goal.
"I just went out there and relaxed," Nystrom said of his winning kick. "I've been in that situation before. It's most important to feel comfortable and have confidence knowing I can make that kick."
After a sluggish first half, 'Aina quarterbacks — Iowa's Brad Banks and Johnson — led their team to three touchdowns and one field goal in the second half.
"It was a great game," said Texas coach Mack Brown, who guided Kai.
"We played the great first half, they played the great second half."
Johnson said 'Aina wanted to win the game for Coker who lost the national championship game to Ohio State.
Associated Press
"We were sitting there at halftime, joking with the Miami guys. They said coach Coker hasn't lost two games in a row, ever," Johnson said. "We can't let it happen now."
"I just went out there and was relaxed," said Minnesota kicker Dan Nystrom of his game-winning kick.
Johnson said 'Aina didn't practice an onside kick all week, and to execute two, was "quite an end to an amazing week."
The comeback overshadowed brilliant performances from Kai, including one from Grand Valley State wide receiver David Kircus who caught six passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He was named Kai MVP and offensive MVP. San Diego State wide receiver Kassim Osgood was named 'Aina MVP.
"That's how those all-star games go," said Kai quarterback Kliff Kingsbury of Texas Tech, who finished 9 of 24 for 87 yards and one touchdown.
Sparked by two Hawai'i players, Kai dominated in the first half.
Hawai'i linebacker Chris Brown's interception set up Kai's first touchdown.
Brown, the Kai defensive MVP, picked off Banks at the 'Aina 39 and rumbled three yards upfield.
"We wanted to show the world that the Hawai'i guys can play with the best," Brown said. "Some of us did really well."
Seven plays later, Kingsbury connected with Kircus on an inside screen for an 8-yard touchdown and a 7-0 Kai lead.
On 'Aina's next possession, Rice defensive end Brandon Green slammed into Banks and jarred the ball loose. 'Aina recovered the ball on the Kai 39.
On the next play, Kai scored its second touchdown on a trick end-around play. Harvard wide receiver Carl Morris took a pitch from Kingsbury, looped toward the right sideline and lofted a 39-yard pass to Kircus who made a leaping catch in the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
Kai increased its lead to 21-0 in the second quarter behind 1998 University High graduate Neil Rose. The Harvard quarterback directed a 7-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard touchdown pass to BYU tight end Gabriel Reid.
'Aina responded with a 24-yard field goal by Nystrom with 2:41 left in the first half. Banks drove 'Aina to the 1-yard line, but Michigan safety Charles Drake sacked Banks on third down.
In the third quarter, Kai added to its lead. BYU wide receiver Reno Mahe returned a field-goal attempt that fell short and raced 62 yards to the 'Aina 38. Five plays later, Nebraska's Josh Brown kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 24-3 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Johnson guided 'Aina to its first touchdown with 6:27 remaining. Johnson capped the 8-play, 75-yard march with a 8-yard touchdown pass to San Jose State wide receiver Charles Pauley, cutting Kai's lead to 24-10.
After a successful onside kick, 'Aina marched 53 yards in 1:41 and scored on Banks' 9-yard touchdown pass to Utah's Paris Jackson with 4:43 remaining to cut the Kai lead to 24-17.
Kai tried to run out the clock, but surrendered the ball on downs at the 'Aina 40 with 2:32 remaining. Johnson then engineered a 7-play, 60-yard drive, capped by Igber's touchdown run.
After a successful onside kick, 'Aina ran the ball three times to the Kai 27.
That set up Nystrom's game-winning kick.
Notes: A moment of silence was held before the game to honor the astronauts who died in the space shuttle mishap yesterday....Kentucky punter Glenn Pakulak was the winner of the 2002 Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Award. Tatupu presented Pakulak with the award at halftime yesterday. Pakulak was also a finalist for the Ray Guy Award this year and was named first-team All-America by CBS SportsLine.com. Pakulak is the leading punter in Wildcat history with a career average of 44.3 yards per kick. The former walk-on averaged 45.6 yards per punt this season, which led the SEC and ranked third nationally. Pakulak is the sixth player to win the award He follows Iowa's Kahlil Hill (2001), Oklahoma's J.T. Thatcher (2000), California's Deltha O'Neal (1999), Arizona's Chris McAlister (1998) and Missouri's Brock Olivio (1997). Tatupu, who played in the 1978 Hula Bowl, was a standout for Punahou School, USC and the New England Patriots. In 1986, he was named to the Pro Bowl and was honored as the NFL's Special Teams Player of the Year.
