COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: NEILL'S BACK, AND SO IS WOLF PACK RENO REBOUNDS AGAINST HAWAII.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Chris Kobe had waited for an opportunity to lead his team to a win. The Saugus High and College of the Canyons product got his chance Saturday, leading Saint Mary's College to a 35-23 victory over Central Washington.

Kobe's primary role with the Gaels has been running the offense on two- point conversions. But he got the start when regular quarterback Gus Papanikolas was sidelined with a sprained right shoulder.

Kobe led Saint Mary's on successful scoring drives in the first four possessions. He was at his best running the ball, gaining 170 yards on 18 carries. The Gaels rushed for 501 yards overall.

``That's always been a dream of mine,'' he told the Oakland Tribune of quarterbacking the Gaels to a victory. ``My whole family was here to see it. It's nice getting there and feeling like I'm a big part of the team.''

Kobe was 6 of 14 and threw for 91 yards. Papanikolas is questionable for Saint Mary's game at Bucknell this Saturday. Kobe will be ready to fill in again or accept his role as a backup.

``You have to do your best when the opportunity is there,'' he said. ``There's certainly no quarterback controversy here, but it was nice to get that taste of a big game.''

--Quarterback controversy II: California's 0-3 start, all lopsided losses, has coach Tom Holmoe's job in jeopardy. Trying to decide on a quarterback complicates the situation.

In a 51-20 loss at Washington State, Holmoe benched starter Kyle Boller (Hart) in favor of senior Eric Holtfreter. The latter entered the game early in the second quarter and completed 10 of 27 passes for 161 yards and an interception. He was victimized by a dropped pass in the end zone by Sean Currin.

Boller's receivers also watched possible scores slip through their fingers. The junior finished with two touchdowns, an interception and 135 yards. He returned in the fourth quarter.

``We didn't have anything going for us and (Holtfreter) was prepared,'' Holmoe said of the quarterback switch. ``It wasn't a desperation thing, we just needed to get something going.''

Golden Bears offensive coordinator Al Borges said Boller, just 6-16 in two-plus years as the starter, will keep the job.

--Little brother: Holtfreter's younger brother Justin (Quartz Hill/Antelope Valley College) had a much happier day in leading Division I-AA Sacred Heart University (Conn.) to a 44-31 win at Robert Morris.

Holtfreter picked apart the Colonials' secondary, throwing for 321 yards on 14 completions. He had touchdown passes of 15, 52 and 74 yards to lead the Pioneers (2-0) record.

--David's big day: Nevada senior David Neill returned from a one-game suspension to lead the Wolf Pack past Hawaii 28-20.

Neill was 21 of 28 for 231 yards and a touchdown as Nevada won its Western Athletic Conference opener.

The Wolf Pack had lost 10 of its last 11 games.

``This team has the character and we are finally starting to get the momentum and the confidence where it is going to be hard to stop us,'' Neill told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

--Odds and ends: Will Demps (Highland) led San Diego State with seven tackles, including one for a seven-yard loss, and a pass deflection in the Aztecs' 14-7 upset at Colorado State.

Brian Gelt (Canyon) contributed one catch for seven yards for SDSU. ... Joe Manning (Antelope Valley) had just one reception in New Mexico's game at Baylor. But it was a big one, a 64-yard touchdown from Rudy Caamano in a 16-13 overtime loss.