'Aina topples Kai in Hula Bowl, 26-7

Associated Press

'Aina running back Fred Russell (Iowa) scores on a 12-yard run in the first quarter with Kai's Sean Weston (Texas A&M) in pursuit. Associated Press

Russell ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns to help 'Aina beat Kai, 26-7, in the Hula Bowl at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui.

"The O-Line did a great job for me," he said. "It starts up front and when I see daylight, I make it happen."

The speedy, 5-foot-8 back carried the ball eight times, including scoring runs of 12 and 35 yards, and was selected 'Aina's most valuable player.

Russell, who ran for 1,355 yards and seven TDs for Iowa, said the scouts didn't see anything new from him.

"They've seen all that before," he said.

'Aina, which means "land" in Hawaiian, was led by Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. Kai, which means "ocean," was coached by Maryland's Ralph Friedgen.

"Both teams competed very hard," Tressel said. "Our guys made some big plays out there and that made the difference."

'Aina built a 16-0 lead and went into halftime with a 19-7 advantage behind the play of Central Florida's Ryan Schneider.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound quarterback had 206 yards passing and a touchdown in the first half, but cooled off in the second half closing with eight straight incomplete passes.

Schneider, who took nearly every snap for 'Aina with teammate Casey Bramlet of Wyoming sidelined by a sore right shoulder, finished 11 of 27 for 206 yards and one TD.

Kai's Luke McCown of Louisiana Tech was 6 of 18 for 155 yards and threw two interceptions. Michigan State's Jeff Smoker was 7 of 13 for 47 yards.

SHORT SNAPS

Las Vegas Classic: Oregon's Jason Fife threw two touchdown passes to lead the West to a 14-7 victory over the East in the Las Vegas All-American Classic.

Fife, 8 of 16 for 83 yards, was selected the most valuable player of the college football all-star game.

Georgia: Georgia defensive end Robert Geathers will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Geathers recorded three sacks and 33 tackles last season.