Aug 31, 2003
Final Stats?|?Quotes?|?Notes?|?Photo Gallery
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Katie Hnida knelt under the south goal posts atUniversity Stadium, silently reflecting on her journey into the record book.
The senior walk-on from Littleton, Colo., became the first woman to score ina Division I game, booting a pair of extra points in New Mexico’s 72-8 win overTexas State-San Marcos on Saturday night.
Minutes after the game was over, Hnida emerged from the Lobos’ locker room,rested her hands on one knee and put her head down.
“I was just kind of taking it all in,” Hnida said. “It’s been a long timethat I’ve been waiting for this.”
Hnida, a 5-foot-10, 140-pound senior, entered the game with 5:05 left in thefourth quarter after New Mexico scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass fromthird-string quarterback Tali Ena to Hank Baskett.
Hnida, her long blond hair protruding from the back of her helmet, split theuprights with her kick to give the Lobos a 65-8 lead, then waved her hands inthe air.
Hnida also kicked a low extra point after the Lobos’ final touchdown with1:21 left.
“I’ve been kicking for a long time and this is something I’ve been workingfor since my freshman or sophomore year in high school when I knew that Iwanted to go to Division one and kick,” Hnida said. “It’s never been aboutmaking history or records. It’s just about kicking. I love football so much.”
Hnida made history last December by becoming the first woman ever to play ina Division I game when she entered the Las Vegas Bowl to attempt an extra pointagainst UCLA with 8:20 left in the first quarter. That kick was blocked by theBruins and Hnida had to wait eight months to get another chance.
Hnida was on Colorado’s roster in 1999 as a walk-on, but never got into agame. Earlier this month Hnida alleged she had been the target of verbal abuseby some of the Colorado players in her time there. She alluded briefly to thatagain Saturday night.
“I’m sometimes humbled by how wonderful my teammates (at New Mexico) areafter I had such a negative experience elsewhere.”
DonTrell Moore ran for four touchdowns and Casey Kelly threw for three more,but had to share the stage with Hnida’s late-game trot into the record book.
By the time Hnida entered the game, only a fraction of the kickoff timecrowd of 35,331 remained.
New Mexico scored on all six of its first half possessions, with Moorescoring three TDs in the first quarter on runs of 16, 2 and 14 yards. Kellytook over in the second quarter with scoring passes of 14, 32 and 6 yards.
Moore and Kelly both left the game in the third quarter. Moore, who rushedfor 1,134 yards last season, had 109 yards on 20 carries and Kelly was12-for-16 for 165 yards.
Kelly made it 27-0 with a 14-yard scoring pass to tight end Mike Augustyniakon the first play of the second quarter and Texas State then got its only scoreof the night when Barrick Nealy threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to John Tyson.
By PETE HERRERA
AP Sports Writer