He pushed past a lineman and with one outstretched arm Malo Taumua blocked a field-goal attempt in overtime and led the UNLV Rebels to an unlikely upset of then-No. 15 Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., this past weekend.

"It was the best feeling I've ever had," the sophomore defensive lineman out of 'Aiea said. "Knowing we came back from 10 points down and beat the No. 15 team in the nation, it was awesome."

But in his life, he's gotten past much larger obstacles than an offensive line.

Taumua, a 2005 'Aiea High graduate, had a mild form of leukemia when he was 4 years old. With the resiliency of a young child, Taumua doesn't even remember what would be one of the most traumatic experiences in his father's life.

"I slept in the hospital so many nights," Malo Sr. said. "And he doesn't remember. I told him you only remember what you want to."

Taumua was named the Mountain West Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after his block of a 35-yard field-goal attempt sealed UNLV's 23-20 overtime win at Arizona State.

"I went to check my e-mail, and when I went on UNLV Rebels, it was my picture right there, and I was like, 'Wow,' " Taumua said.

The Rebels took a 23-20 lead in overtime on a field goal, then faced 2007 Lou Groza Award winner Thomas Weber for the potential tying attempt.

Weber made all six field goals this season and 30 of 31 in his career before Saturday's overtime attempt.

"When they did the field goal before that, I noticed the guard just bends over and tries to cut me," Taumua said. "And when they kicked the ball in overtime to tie the game, I just pushed him off to the side, and I just blocked the kick. I could have run into the placeholder but I didn't want to get a penalty."

Taumua, his voice still buzzing with excitement Monday, added that "right when I blocked it and swiped it I started running to the sideline. I usually have a tendency to trip over the lineman, but I guess luck was on my side."

He remembers every detail of the block, even how his arm wasn't completely outstretched, yet can't remember one of the most traumatizing experiences in his young life.

"I forgot what it was, I was just a kid," Taumua said. "My grandma would tell me stories that I would go to school with bruises all over my body."

It was enough that Malo Sr., was questioned by police and was under suspicion until doctors finally diagnosed his son correctly. Taumua recovered with the assistance of Pregnozone treatments.

"He started to grow stronger and more rascal," said Taumua's father, Malo Sr.

What Taumua will never forget is the feeling of the football bouncing off of his right forearm, hard enough to leave an impression of the laces a few hours later.

"A lot of students were jumping on me (Monday); I was late to one of my classes because they just kept holding me," he said.

The Rebels (2-1) won two games in each of the previous two seasons. Taumua hopes they will carry the momentum into Saturday's game against Iowa State. His father will be in the stands watching, a welcome treat since Malo Sr. missed the block because he was on the plane headed to Las Vegas.

Taumua was an MWC preseason third-team pick by Athlon Magazine after playing in all 12 games, starting the first 11, in 2007.

It is an amazing feat for a person many said would never play college ball.

"It was a motivating thing for me," Taumua said. "When I was a child, everyone thought it was nuts, that college football was my dream. I had ADHD, and I just kept pushing forward."

His father said Taumua's stubbornness is a characteristic that drove him crazy when Taumua was young, but helps him now.

"That makes me feel so good," he said. "If you tell him he can't do something, he'll make you eat your words."