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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

HOMEGROWN REPORT
Masoli: Sitting Duck to star QB


By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jeremiah Masoli, who went from fifth string to starting quarterback, has led Oregon to the top of the Pac-10.

AP LIBRARY PHOTO | Oct. 31, 2009

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jeremiah Masoli

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Jeremiah Masoli isn't the prototypical Division I quarterback.

Masoli, a 2006 Saint Louis graduate and University of Oregon junior, is undersized at 5 feet 11 and 220 pounds, but has more than made up for it.

After his freshman season at the City College of San Francisco in 2007, Masoli transferred to Oregon, but was the fifth quarterback on the depth chart.

"It was hard when I first got here. I was fifth string because of a wrist injury and they wouldn't let me take any reps," Masoli said.

However, the injury bug bit the Ducks hard and Masoli ascended from potential redshirt candidate to starter. He went on lead Oregon to a 10-3 record, capped by a Holiday Bowl victory over Oklahoma State. Masoli ran for three touchdowns and threw for another to earn Offensive MVP honors.

"I just did what I was expected to do," Masoli said. "Once my wrist began to heal and get stronger, I knew I could contribute."

Masoli, who is from Daly City, Calif., transferred from Junipero Serra High — whose alumni include Tom Brady and Barry Bonds — to Saint Louis prior to his senior season.

"My father had a job in network marketing at the time and Hawai'i was a hot market at the time," Masoli said. "I had got into some trouble at (Serra) and so I applied to Saint Louis and got in."

Masoli, who is of Sämoan descent, said he has family in Nänäkuli and tries to return to Hawai'i often.

Upon returning to the Bay Area after high school, Masoli hooked up with current Hawai'i quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich, who was then at CCSF in the same position.

"He was a great mentor to me," Masoli said. "He was one of the few coaches that could relate to me and know what I see on the field. Me and coach Rolo are really good friends and I can't talk about how much he has helped me grow as a leader and a player."

Masoli earned third-team All-America honors after leading CCSF to the junior college national championship in 2007. He passed for 3,592 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 448 yards and 11 scores.

This season, Masoli entered fall camp entrenched as the No. 1 quarterback. He was named to the Davey O'Brien Award (nation's best quarterback) watch list and was received numerous other accolades.

"You try to tune that stuff out and just keep working, but at the same time, it is an honor and a good sign," Masoli said. "There were a lot of high expectations this season, but if anyone has high expectations, it's myself."

The season began on a sour note for the Ducks as they were toppled by Western Athletic Conference-member Boise State on national TV. What's more, senior running back LeGarrette Blount was suspended indefinitely after he threw a punch at a Broncos' player during postgame.

"That first week of the season, everything that could go wrong, went wrong," Masoli said. "At the time, it felt devastating, but we kind of rallied around each other after that — we knew that this was something that could make us or break us — and we were able to pull off that win streak after that."

Blount has since been reinstated and is expected to make his return Saturday at Arizona State.

The Ducks regrouped after the Boise State loss with non-conference wins over Purdue and Utah before opening the Pac-10 schedule with a 42-3 drubbing of California. They followed that with victories over Washington State, UCLA and Washington before a huge showdown with national powerhouse USC on Halloween.

In that game, Masoli ran for 164 yards and passed for 222 to lead the Ducks to a 47-20 win. He scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and threw a 17-yard TD pass late in the second.

However, Oregon itself was upset Saturday, losing at Stanford, 51-42. Despite a four-touchdown performance by Masoli, the Ducks suffered their first conference loss, but remain atop the Pac-10 standings.

"I think we definitely learned a lesson last week," Masoli said. "We have three games left, so we have to regroup quickly, but the good thing is we have our destiny in our hands."

The Ducks (7-2 overall, 5-1 Pac-10), who have not won a Pac-10 title since 2001, finish with Arizona State at home Saturday, a road game at Arizona on Nov. 21 and the Civil War against archrival Oregon State on Dec. 3.

Which means there is little time to rest for Masoli.

"Taking a step back and looking at everything, it's been a crazy ride for myself," Masoli said. "I remember watching college and Pac-10 football as a little kid and now it's me out here ... but this is what I'm meant to do."

MORE FOOTBALL

• Notre Dame freshman outside linebacker Manti Te'o (Punahou '09 of Lä'ie) had five tackles in a 23-21 loss to Navy Saturday in South Bend, Ind.

• Washington senior defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (Hawai'i Prep '04 of Waikoloa) was in on two tackles, including a sack, in a 24-23 loss at UCLA Saturday. He also forced a fumble in the second quarter.

• California senior defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) was in on seven tackles in a 31-14 loss to Oregon State Saturday. OSU sophomore linebacker David Pa'aluhi (Wai'anae '07) had three tackles and broke up a pass, and junior safety Suaesi Tuimaunei (Kahuku '06 of Lä'ie), freshman linebacker Kevin Unga (Kahuku '06) and junior linebacker Walker Vave (Kahuku '04 of Lä'ie) each made two tackles for the Beavers.

• Colorado junior inside linebacker Michael Sipili (Damien '06 of Honolulu) had six tackles, including one for loss, and junior outside linebacker B.J. Beatty (Kahuku '06 of Ka'a'awa) added three stops with two quarterback hurries and was in on a sack in a 35-34 win over Texas A&M Saturday.

• Arizona junior defensive tackle Lolomana Mikaele (Damien '06 of Honolulu) recovered a fumble on the first play of the second quarter of a 48-7 rout of Washington State Saturday. Mikaele fell on the fumble by Cougars' quarterback Jeff Tuel and the Wildcats' offense scored on a 1-yard run to make the score 31-0.

• Idaho junior linebacker JoJo Dickson (Baldwin '07 of Wailuku) had a game-high 12 tackles and sophomore linebacker Robert Siavi'i (Leilehua '08 of Wahiawä) added seven stops in Saturday's 31-21 loss to Fresno State.

• UNLV junior defensive end Malo Taumua ('Aiea '05 of Honolulu) made three tackles and senior long snapper Kamu Kapanui (Kamehameha '05 of Honolulu) added another in Saturday's 35-16 win over Colorado State.

• Harvard senior linebacker Jon Takamura ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu) had a team-high six tackles, including three for losses, in a 34-14 win over Columbia. Takamura, who is 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, also had two sacks and intercepted a pass.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

• Washington senior libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05 of Käne'ohe) had 15 digs in a sweep of Stanford Friday. In Saturday's five-set loss to California, Miyashiro recorded 17 digs and one service ace. Washington (20-3) remained at No. 4 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Top 25 poll.

• Texas sophomore defensive specialist Sydney Yogi (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) recorded 16 digs, three assists and an ace in a five-set loss at Iowa State last Wednesday. The Longhorns (19-1) remained at No. 2 in the AVCA Top 25 this week.

• Saint Mary's (Calif.) sophomore outside hitter Chanteal Satele (Word of Life '08 of Mililani) had 14 kills and senior middle blocker Megan Burton ('Iolani '06 of Kapolei) added six kills and 11 blocks in a four-set win over San Francisco. Junior setter Kapua Kamana'o ('Iolani '07 of Honolulu) contributed 26 assists, 10 digs and three aces. SMC (18-4) moved up two spots to No. 23 in this week's AVCA Top 25.

• Cal Poly freshman setter Anuhea Keanini (Punahou '09 of Honolulu) had 54 assists and four digs in a four-set win over Long Beach State Saturday. Freshman outside hitter Chelsea Hardin ('Iolani '09 of Honolulu) added 10 kills, nine digs and six blocks.

• Long Beach State sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Minkel ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) had a team-high 21 digs in a four-set win over Pacific (Calif.) Friday. Senior defensive specialist Dancyne Kama (Kamehameha-Hawai'i '06 of Hilo) had a match-high 24 digs, freshman setter Pihana Kea (Punahou '09 of Ho-nolulu) added 38 assists and nine digs, and sophomore outside hitter Rebekah Torres (Kamehameha '08 of Wahiawä) added seven kills and eight digs for UOP. Kama had 30 digs and two aces, and Kea recorded 44 assists and seven digs in Saturday's five-set loss to Cal State Fullerton. Senior outside hitter Deven Bukoski (Kamehameha '06 of Kula) had 18 digs and five kills for Fullerton.

• UC Irvine junior outside hitter Larissa Nordyke (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had 11 kills, five digs, three assists and two blocks in Saturday's sweep of Cal State Northridge.

• St. John's (N.Y.) freshman libero Ashley Asing (Moanalua '08 of 'Ewa Beach) recorded a match-high 23 digs in a five-set loss to Rutgers Sunday.

• Boston College sophomore libero Brennan Clark (University High '08 of Mililani) tied for a match-high 18 digs in a four-set loss to Clemson Sunday.

• Hofstra freshman defensive specialist Kylee Maneja (Sacred Hearts '09 of Kapolei) notched 14 digs in Friday's four-set win over Georgia State and she matched the effort in Sunday's four-set win over UNC-Wilmington.

• Oregon State senior setter Camilla Ah-Hoy (Kahuku '06 of Lä'ie) had 26 assists, four digs, three kills and two blocks in Friday's four-set loss to Arizona State. In Saturday's four-set win over Arizona, Ah-Hoy had 17 assists, three digs and two blocks.

• Pittsburgh junior defensive specialist Melanie Feldman (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had eight digs and an ace in a sweep of Villanova Saturday.

• Fairfield (Conn.) sophomore outside hitter Haililani Pokipala (Sacred Hearts '08 of Honolulu) had 10 digs, six kills and two blocks in a five-set win over Loyola Saturday.

• Siena (N.Y.) senior setter Kau'i Robello (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) had 65 assists with 16 digs and freshman defensive specialist Lesli Akeo (Kamehameha '09 of Kapolei) added 19 digs in a five-set win over Niagara (N.Y.) Sunday.

• Colgate junior outside hitter Logan Keala (Kamehameha '07 of Käne'ohe) had 13 kills and 12 digs in Saturday's five-set win over Lehigh (Pa.).

• Southern Utah junior outside hitter Jazmine Ma'afala (McKinley '07 of 'Ewa Beach) had 13 kills and hit .478, and freshman libero Courtney Lelepali (Punahou '09 of Wai'anae) added five digs in a sweep of Oral Roberts Thursday. In Saturday's sweep of Centenary, Ma'afala had 17 kills (.464) and Lelepali added nine digs.

• Nevada junior outside hitter Kylie Harrington (St. Francis '07 of Honolulu) had a match-high 14 kills with seven digs in a sweep of San Jose State Saturday. Freshman setter Caitlin Andrade (Kamehameha '09 of Kailua) had 29 assists with eight digs, senior defensive specialist Kristal Tsukano (Kamehameha '06 of Honolulu) added 10 digs with four assists and freshman outside hitter Alex Akana (Kamehameha '09 of Kailua) added six kills and four blocks for San Jose State. Harrington had 25 kills in Monday's four-set win over Fresno State.

• George Mason (Va.) freshman libero Koala Matsuoka (Kamehameha '09 of Wahiawä) was named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week Monday after she had career-high 29 digs in Friday's four-set win over William & Mary. The mark is the fourth-highest single-game total in school history and most since 2005. Matsuoka, who is averaging a team-best 3.46 digs per set, had 15 in Saturday's win over VCU.

• Adelphi (N.Y.) junior setter Heather Mau had 33 assists, eight digs, five aces and two kills in a sweep of Franklin Pierce Friday. Mau had 34 assists, eight digs, six kills and an ace in Saturday's four-set win over Southern New Hampshire.

• Concordia (Ore.) sophomore setter Skyler Kamaka (Kamehameha '08 of Käne'ohe) had 41 assists and 10 digs in a four-set win over Eastern Oregon Saturday.

• Bryant (R.I.) freshman outside hitter Macy Mitravich (Sacred Hearts '09 of Waimänalo) had a team-high 20 digs with 12 kills in a five-set loss to Fairleigh Dickinson Sunday.

• Regis (Colo.) sophomore libero Cassidee Young (Kamehameha '08 of Pearl City) had 15 digs in Saturday's five-set loss at UC-Colorado Springs.

• Central Washington junior libero Brandie Vea (Kalani '07 of Ho-nolulu) recorded 18 digs in Saturday's five-set win over Western Washington.

• Puget Sound senior libero Leigh Sumida ('Iolani '06 of Käne'ohe) and Linfield (Ore.) sophomore libero Samantha Lau (St. Francis '08 of Kailua) each had a game-high 13 digs in a meeting between the teams Saturday. UPS won in straight sets.

• Whitworth (Wash.) sophomore middle blocker Ka'ipo Rocha (Seabury Hall '08 of Pukalani) had 10 kills, six blocks, three digs and an ace and sophomore outside hitter Kaimi Rocha (Seabury Hall '08 of Pukalani) added nine kills, eight digs and two aces in a sweep of Pacific (Ore.) Friday.

• Redlands (Calif.) senior setter Kelina Smith (Waiäkea '06 of Kurtistown) had 46 assists, 10 digs and four kills in a four-set win at Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) Friday. Smith had 34 assists and 10 digs in Saturday's sweep of Occidental (Calif.).

• Western New Mexico freshman middle blocker Ziona Verhulsdonk (Hawai'i Prep '09 of Kailua, Kona) had a match-high 11 kills and freshman outside hitter Jovan Falemalu (Kahuku '09 of Lä'ie) added nine kills and 16 digs in a sweep of CSU-Pueblo Saturday.

• Washington University (Mo.) freshman libero Kelly Pang ('Iolani '09 of Honolulu) had 25 digs in a sweep of Rochester Friday. Pang had 16 digs in Saturday's sweep of NYU.

• Western Nebraska Community College sophomore outside hitter Kalei Kabalis (Moanalua '08 of Hilo) put away 13 kills with 10 digs and freshman defensive specialist Ku'ulei Kabalis (Kamehameha-Hawai'i '09 of Hilo) added 11 assists and seven digs to lead the Cougars their 11th straight regional title with a sweep of Northeastern Junior College Saturday. Kalei Kabalis was named to the All-Tournament and All-Region teams.

CROSS COUNTRY

• Kevin Acacio (Waipahu '07) of Illinois Tech finished 25th at Saturday's Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships with a time of 28:51.62 in the men's 8K.

• Bailey Massenburg (King Kekaulike '09 of Kula) of Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) finished 22nd at Saturday's Golden State Athletic Conference Championships with a time of 19:00 in the women's 5K.

• Cal State Stanislaus' Dawson Vorderbruegge (Kaiser '08 of Honolulu) finished 24th in 32:26.7 in the men's 10K at Saturday's NCAA Division II West Region Championships.

• Patrick Understeller (Kea'au '09 of Mountain View) of Viterbo (Wis.) finished 15th in the men's 8K at Saturday's Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships with a time of 28:27.

MEN'S SOCCER

• Gonzaga junior forward Nick Love (Punahou '07 of Käne'ohe) scored in the sixth minute of Friday's 2-1 loss at LMU off an assist from senior forward Tye Perdido (Seabury Hall '06 of Kula).

• Swarthmore (Pa.) junior forward Morgan Langley ('Iolani '07 of Honolulu) was named First Team All-Centennial Conference Monday after helping the Garnet offense lead the league in shots (304), goals (44), points (123) and assists (35). Langley scored 28 points with 13 goals this season.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

• UAB junior defender Marie Yempuku (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) was named to the Conference USA All-Tournament Team Sunday and last week was honored as Second Team All-CUSA.

• Denver senior forward Lizzy Carlson (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) scored in the 17th minute of Thursday's 3-1 win over Arkansas State.

• Pacific (Ore.) juniors Ashley and Lauren Kanda (Castle '07 of Käne'ohe) scored goals in a 2-1 overtime win over Willamette Saturday. Lauren scored her sixth goal of the season in the 81st minute and she assisted on Ashley's goal — the game-winner and her fifth of the season — in the 82nd minute.

GOLF

• Cal State Northridge junior Ashlee Nagamine (La Pietra '07 of Honolulu) won medalist honors at her second consecutive tournament after finishing with 2-under 142 at the Lamkin Grip/Cal Poly Invitational Nov. 1-2 at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Nagamine opened with a 76, but rebounded with a 66 to win by one stroke. Portland junior Lisa Okazaki (Mid-Pacific '07 of Mililani) tied for 13th after she shot 79-72—151.

SWIMMING & DIVING

• Vassar (N.Y.) sophomore Jack Smart (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) was named Liberty League Men's Swim-Dive Performer of the Week on Monday after picking up three individual wins in a meet against Skidmore Saturday. Smart won the 100-meter breaststroke (1:02.28), the 200 breaststroke (2:19.12) and the 100 butterfly (58.34).

• Northern Arizona junior Meredith Egloria (Kapolei '06) was on the winning 200-meter medley relay, which won in a time of 1:57.53 in a meet against Washington State Friday. Egloria also swam on the runner-up (1:49.17) 200 freestyle relay and was fourth (59.77) in the 100 freestyle.

Advertiser Staff Writer Stanley Lee contributed to this report.