Harding easy choice as UH’s most valuable

It was no surprise that the master of suspense — Scott Harding — was given the Alec Waterhouse Award as the University of Hawaii football team’s most valuable player at the annual luau on Sunday.

This season, the Australia-raised Harding was a co-captain, slotback, punt returner and punter.

It was in the latter position when Harding mystified opponents, holding onto the football until the last nano-second before punting. Harding, who could punt with either foot off rollouts to either direction, averaged 41.3 yards per punt. Also, consider this:

» Opponents averaged 0.3 return yards on Harding’s school-record 86 punts.

» Five punts led to turnovers.

» Eighty-five percent of his punts were not returned, with 34 downed inside the 20, including 17 inside the 10.

Harding did not miss a game despite suffering injuries to his right shoulder, right hip, ribs and right foot. He played in games in which he could not raise his right arm without grimacing. He played despite wearing a protective vest. With his right foot in a medical boot, he did not compete in the practices leading to the final two games. He played in both of them.

Ben Clarke, who moved from center to left tackle in the spring, was named the offensive player of the year. He allowed two sacks in 510 pass plays this season, and finished with a line-high grade of 88 percent.

Defensive end Beau Yap was named the team’s top defensive player. This season, he had 45 tackles, including 8.5 for losses and 4.5 seconds.

Kicker Tyler Hadden was selected as the top specialist after converting 18 field goals and being perfect on 28 point-after kicks. Twenty-seven of his 58 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.

Scout-team awards went to running back Ryan Tuiasoa and offensive lineman Tavita Eli on offense, and defensive tackle Ka‘aumoana Gifford and linebacker Tumua Tuinei on defense.