Sixteen was number of that truck

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

To say that University of Hawai'i running back West Keli'ikipi had an impact in last night's 46-28 win against San Jose State is putting it mildly. Bobby Godinez can attest to that.

Hawai'i cornerback Abraham Elimimian, right, defends a pass intended for Rufus Skillern of San Jose State. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

At least Keli'ikipi didn't leave his feet; the same could not be said of Godinez who gave everyone a view of the soles of both his shoes.

"It was a lot of fun hitting the guy," Keli'ikipi said. "It made the crowd go kind of wild. It made our sidelines go wild. When my teammates see me hit somebody, they just jump up, start yelling and screaming."

The play came following Jason Ferguson's 66-yard kickoff return after San Jose State took a 14-7 lead.

On first-and-10 at the SJSU 34, Keli'ikipi took a short pass from Tim Chang, shook off some tacklers before obliterating Godinez. It was such an attraction it became a distraction for his team.

"I was blocking my guy, but I heard the crowd roar," UH receiver Britton Komine said. "We all got scoldings from Timmy because we were watching the replay in the huddle and not paying attention."

So impressive was the blast, UH right tackle Brandon Eaton said the hit qualified as a pancake, or when an offensive lineman knocks a defender to the ground. Actually, he said Keli'ikipi's was worth two 'cakes.

"You gotta give 'em two," Eaton said. "That was absolutely great. Anytime you fire-up a team, that's great."

Keli'ikipi was pleased to hear his hit heard around the stadium was a pancake.

"He said that?," Keli'ikipi said. "Having a pancake, that's an honor because it's not that often we can hit somebody and put 'em on their back."

Just to make sure the Spartans were paying attention, Keli'ikipi ran the ball on the next play for eight yards and a first down to the SJSU 18.

Four plays later, the former all-star running back out of Wai'anae High drilled through the line for a 1-yard TD run. With Justin Ayat's PAT, the Warriors tied the game at 14.

Keli'ikipi's style of raw power went over well with the crowd. Just before his second 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, the fans started cheering when they saw No. 16 running in from the sidelines.

Keli'ikipi said he felt a sense of redemption for his previous games, when he was less aggressive in running.

"Coach Jones was yelling at me last game," Keli'ikipi said. "He doesn't want to see me juking people. He wants me to just run 'em over."

"I told him if you do that (juking), you won't play," Jones said. "He KO'd some guys (last night). He excited the team and excites the stadium."

Keli'ikipi said people like to refer to him and speedy running back Michael Brewster as "Thunder and Lightning."

"Me, I'd like to be called F-450 Diesel," he said. "Power, you know. Brewster, he's Z-350, the speed."

Keli'ikipi, who had 21 yards on six carries and two receptions for 14 yards, said he loves his role as a blocking back.

"I told him whenever you feel like you don't want to run no more, just come over to O-Line," Eaton joked.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.