There wasn't much memorable about Hawai'i's first touchdown in last November's 49-30 road victory over New Mexico State.

What happened next eventually would become significant.

Dan Kelly missed the point-after kick. "It was wide right," Kelly remembered.

Kelly has not missed a PAT since.

He was perfect on the next five in that game, and 14 of 14 in the final seven games of 2006. He has converted all 50 of his PATs this season, breaking UH's single-season record of 46 in a row by Jason Elam.

"You do your job and good things come of it," said Kelly, whose team faces New Mexico State Saturday at Aloha Stadium. "I do my job the best I can, just like anyone else on the team. (Quarterback) Colt (Brennan) didn't set out to break records. He did it just by doing his job. Good things come when you do what you're supposed to do."

But it wasn't always as easy as snap-hold-kick-celebrate. The Warriors struggled in last year's loss to Boise State, necessitating a change in holders, from punter Kurt Milne to backup quarterback Inoke Funaki. UH also briefly removed Jake Ingram as the short-snapper.

"Kurt was a great punter and a great player, but something wasn't clicking with us three," Kelly said. "We had to find something that was clicking a little better."

Ingram returned as snapper, but then for a few games, Kelly and Briton Forester rotated as PAT kickers.

In search of a groove, Kelly tried different kicking motions.

"It was definitely an experimental year," Kelly said.

During spring practice in April, Kelly settled on a technique. Instead of a looping motion, he went with a compact swing. With his right knee over the football, he would use a downward motion.

"You always think you get underneath it more with a low swing," Kelly said. "This one you come down at the ball. When you swing down at the ball, it pops up higher. It's completely opposite of what you would think logically in your head."

During the summer, Kelly attended Hugo Castellanos' free kicking clinics. Castellanos, who is based in San Bernardino, has tutored several Division I-A kickers. Kelly also consulted with Aaron Barret, a former UH kicker who serves as his volunteer kicking coach.

"Those are the guys who helped me the most," Kelly said. "I developed a kick that looked like a kicker's."

During training camp, head coach June Jones named punter Tim Grasso, a first-year Warrior, as the holder. Jones theorized that Ingram, Grasso and Kelly would have more time to practice together because they are not involved in offensive or defensive drills. Grasso and Kelly also are roommates.

"A lot of the credit goes to Jake and Dan," Grasso said. "All I have to do is be able to catch the ball and put it on the ground, to be honest here."

Of Grasso, an all-state receiver as a high school senior in Utah, Ingram said: "He's a good athlete. He catches it every time."

The three were tested during the 42-35 overtime victory over San Jose State, a game that was played in muddy conditions. The Warriors rallied from a 14-point deficit with less than 4 minutes remaining in regulation.

"The balls were wet every single time," Grasso said. "On the sideline, I'm not going to lie, we were dropping the ball because it was so wet. That's why that last PAT was pretty exciting."

READY OR NOT?

UH today will learn if nickelback Ryan Mouton will be available to play Saturday.

"We'll see in the morning," Mouton said after yesterday's doctor appointment.

He is recovering from a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Even if he is cleared to play, he "will be limited," Jones said.

Two other key players in the nickel package — safeties Desmond Thomas (left hip flexor) and Dane Kealoha Porlas (hyper-extended right knee) — did not practice yesterday. Both said they will resume practicing today. Guyton Galdeira was the fifth defensive back yesterday.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.