Posted on: Wednesday, November 5, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Fotu driving Utah's quest for BCS bowl
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Nai Fotu
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NAI FOTU
School: Utah Position: Linebacker Height: 6-0 Weight: 235 High School: Kahuku '07 Hometown: La'ie Season stats: 31 total tackles (13 solo, 18 assisted), 5 1/2 tackles for losses (-18 yards), 2 sacks (-14 yards), pass defended, quarterback hurry, forced fumble, fumble recovery Fun facts: Youngest of 12 children (8 boys, 4 girls); born in Montclair, Calif.; spent most of his childhood in Tonga
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SEND US PHOTOS
If you know of any athletes deserving recognition, give us their names, high schools and graduation years, colleges and sports. Photos are also welcome. E-mail us at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or contact Kalani Takase at 535-2404.
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Nai Fotu took notice of the University of Hawai'i's 12-0 run to the Sugar Bowl last season. The Utah sophomore is hoping tomorrow's highly anticipated game against Texas Christian keeps his team on that same track.
Fotu, a 2007 graduate of Kahuku, starts at outside (strongside) linebacker for the Utes, who are ranked No. 8 in this week's Bowl Championship Series standings. Utah is No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches' poll and No. 10 in the Associated Press poll.
Fotu, who is 6 feet and 235 pounds, has 31 tackles, including 5 1/2 for losses, with two sacks. He has also forced and recovered a fumble.
As a true freshman last year, Fotu saw limited action on special teams, finishing with 11 tackles. He began his Utah career as a defensive end — his position at Kahuku — but was moved to outside linebacker in time for spring camp.
Fotu, who had four tackles in Saturday's 13-10 win over New Mexico, is one of seven players from Hawai'i on the Utah roster. The others are offensive linemen Tyler Williams (Kamehameha '05 of Mililani) and Daniel Bukarau (Kailua '03), linebackers Kepa Gaison (Kamehameha '05 of Kane'ohe) and Afa Garrigan (Kahuku '04 of Hau'ula), defensive lineman Thor Salanoa (Radford '07 of Honolulu) and running back Ray Stowers ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu).
TCU (9-1 overall, 6-0 MWC), whose only loss was at Oklahoma, is ranked 11th in both the AP and USA Today polls and 12th in the BCS standings. Utah (9-0, 5-0) has games left at San Diego State and against intra-state rival Brigham Young.
Tomorrow's kickoff is set for 3 p.m. The game will be shown locally on CSTV (Oceanic digital 247).
MORE FOOTBALL
Southern California senior linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin '04 of Wailuku) made five tackles in the a 56-0 victory over Washington Saturday. Maiava also had one tackle for a loss of 2 yards. Senior defensive lineman Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (Hawai'i Prep '04 of Waikoloa) had three tackles for the Huskies.
Oregon sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (Saint Louis '06) rushed 21 times for 97 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown, and passed for 44 yards in Saturday's 26-16 loss to California.
Weber State sophomore quarterback Cameron Higgins (Saint Louis '06 of Hawai'i Kai) completed 21 of 36 passes for 242 yards in Saturday's 31-21 win over Portland State. Higgins' 32-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Cody Nakamura (Baldwin '05 of Wailuku) early in the third quarter put the Wildcats (8-2 overall, 6-0 Big Sky) ahead 31-0. Freshman defensive lineman Ryan Eastman (Saint Louis '08 of Honolulu) had three tackles and a sack for a loss of 9 yards.
Western Oregon junior wide receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku (Saint Louis '05 of 'Ewa B each) had nine catches for 129 yards and a 19-yard TD reception in Saturday's 34-10 win over Humboldt State.
Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) sophomore wide receiver Gabe Tuata (Kealakehe '07 of Kailua, Kona) had three receptions for 92 yards, including a 60-yard TD catch, in Saturday's 26-21win over El Camino. Freshman defensive back Manoa Latu (Saint Louis '08 of Kapahulu) had 8 1/2 tackles and an interception.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Washington junior libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05 of Kane'ohe) had 12 digs and two assists in a three-set loss at Stanford Friday. Miyashiro had a match-high 19 digs with two assists in Saturday's sweep of California.
Oregon State junior setter Camilla Ah-Hoy (Kahuku '06 of La'ie) had 29 assists and 12 digs in a three-set loss at UCLA Friday. In a five-set loss to USC Saturday, Ah-Hoy had 60 assists, 12 digs, three kills, two blocks and an ace.
Pepperdine sophomore setter Kealohilani Kea (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) had 23 assists, five digs and two kills in a three-set loss to Santa Clara Thursday. Kea recorded 46 assists, eight digs, a block and a kill in Saturday's four-set loss to St. Mary's (Calif.). Sophomore setter Kapua Kamana'o ('Iolani '07 of Honolulu) had 43 assists, 10 digs and was in on four blocks for St. Mary's. Freshman outside hitter Chanteal Satele (Word of Life '08 of Mililani) added eight kills and three digs and junior middle blocker Megan Burton ('Iolani '06 of Kapolei) had five kills, two blocks and a dig for the Gaels. Kamana'o had 62 assists, eight digs and four kills in Thursday's five-set win over Loyola Marymount. Satele had 14 kills and Burton added 13. Freshman libero Diana Hiromoto (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) had a team-high 18 digs for Loyola Marymount.
Syracuse senior defensive specialist Marissa Kanemura (University High '05 of Honolulu) had 14 digs and two assists in a five-set loss at Notre Dame Saturday. Kanemura recorded 16 digs and two aces in Sunday's four-set win at DePaul.
St. John's (N.Y.) senior libero Lena Yee (Moanalua '05 of Honolulu) had a match-high 28 digs with six assists and two aces in Saturday's four-set win over Villanova. She recorded her 2,000th career dig in Sunday's four-set win over Seton Hall. Yee, the Red Storm's all-time digs leader, had 12 digs and five assists for the match.
Boston College freshman outside hitter Jordan Meredith (Kamehameha '08 of Honolulu) had 12 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and an ace in Thursday's sweep of North Carolina State. Freshman defensive specialist Brennan Clark (University High '08 of Mililani) had six digs and two aces — the second coming at match point.
Fairfield (Conn.) senior libero Brandi Higa (Hawai'i Baptist '04 of Honolulu) had 28 digs and freshman outside hitter Haililani Pokipala (Sacred Hearts '08 of Honolulu) added 10 digs in Saturday's four-set win over Niagara.
South Dakota State sophomore setter Melia Iwamoto (Kalani '07 of Honolulu) had 54 assists, eight digs, three aces, three blocks and a kill in Friday's five-set loss to IUPUI. In Saturday's three-set loss to Western Illinois, she had 23 assists and nine digs.
Bryan (Tenn.) freshman libero Jessica Kaya (Word of Life '08 of Honolulu) had 25 digs in a four-set win over Milligan Saturday.
Adelphi (N.Y.) sophomore setter Heather Mau (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) recorded 36 assists, nine digs, four aces and two kills in Thursday's four-set win over Concordia (N.Y.). On Saturday, Mau had 32 assists, 19 digs, three aces, two blocks and two kills in a five-set win over Saint Rose (N.Y.) and 40 assists, six digs, two kills and two blocks in a four-set win over Southern Connecticut.
MEN'S SOCCER
Gonzaga sophomore forward/midfielder Nick Love (Punahou '07 of Kane'ohe) scored a goal in both of the Bulldogs' wins this weekend. In Friday's 2-1 win over Santa Clara, Love scored in the 74th minute off an assist from junior midfielder Tye Perdido (Seabury Hall '06 of Kula) to tie it 1-1. Perdido scored his seventh goal of the year in the 34th minute of Sunday's 3-2 double overtime win over San Francisco. Love scored the game-winner in the 103rd minute off another assist from Perdido.
Occidental (Calif.) sophomore forward Deryck Lim (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) scored a goal and assisted on another in a 5-2 loss at Cal Lutheran Saturday.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Pacific sophomore forward Sammi Teramae ('Iolani '07 of Kapolei) scored in the 75th minute of Sunday's 2-0 win over UC Davis. The play was started by a free kick and assist by sophomore defender Kylee Ah Choy (Kamehameha '07 of Mililani) and resulted in Teramae's third goal of the season. The Tigers (10-7-1 overall, 4-3-1 Big West) finished fourth in the conference and qualified for the Big West Championship Tournament. Pacific meets top-seeded Long Beach State tomorrow. LBSU beat UOP, 2-1, on Oct. 5 in their only meeting this season.
Wisconsin-Parkside freshman Lauki'i Cheng (Kalaheo '08 of Kailua) was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year. For the season, Wisconsin-Parkside has outscored its opponents, 46-3. Cheng, who helped the Rangers post 10 shutouts in league play, also had two goals and four assists this season.
SWIMMING & DIVING
Fairfield freshman Kekoa Taparra (Kamehameha '08 of Mililani) won three events as the Stags dropped a dual meet against Providence Saturday. Taparra set a school record in the 200-meter individual medley (2 minutes, 12.11 seconds) and also captured the 800-meter freestyle (8:46.86) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:06.20). Freshman Michelle Yoshida (Punahou '08 of Kane'ohe) helped set a school record in the 400-meter freestyle relay (4:08.19). She also won the 200-meter freestyle (2:13.11) and swam the anchor leg on the winning 200-meter medley relay. Fairfield beat Providence in the women's competition.
North Carolina State senior Andrew Lester (Moanalua '05 of Honolulu) won three races to help the Wolfpack beat Duke and Maryland in dual meets last weekend. Lester won the 400-yard individual medley (4 minutes, 2.74 seconds), 500-yard freestyle (4:34.29) and 1,000-yard freestyle (9:27.84). He also finished second in the 200-yard freestyle and swam on two relay teams.
Pepperdine freshman Rachel Cote (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) scored 37 points to lead the Waves at the Malibu Invitational Sprint Meet two weeks ago. Cote was first in the 50-yard butterfly (26.57 seconds), 50-yard backstroke (27.45) and the 100-yard backstroke (57.09). She also swam the anchor leg on the winning 300-yard freestyle relay team (2:27.31).
HONORS
Kailua's Barry Naone, who played football at Portland State from 1985 to 1988, will be inducted into PSU's Hall of Fame on Nov. 21. Naone, who played tight end, earned NCAA Division II All-America honors as a senior and was a three-time All-Western Football Conference selection. He is second all-time in receptions (1999) and fifth in receiving yards (2,237) in Vikings' history. Naone is a 1984 Punahou graduate.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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