When Roy Gerela attended Kalani High school in the 1960s, football clinics for youths were almost unheard of.

So, too, were All-Pro kickers from Hawaii.

Gerela’s remarkable road to a college scholarship, an 11-year NFL career (Houston and Pittsburgh) and three Super Bowl rings was largely self-taught, through trial and error and what tips he could pick up.

Which was why he said, “I’m glad to be able to come back, to give back to these kids today.”

Gerela was among those Hawaii high school graduates who played in the Super Bowl who were honored at Sunday’s Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, where he sat with members of the current Kalani team. He is also serving as “Heads Up Football” ambassador to the state.

The NFL, in partnership with USA Football is hosting a series of youth football clinics led by former and current NFL players, including Gerela and Marcus Mariota, and USA Football-certified coaches.

More than 750 youth from local branches of the YMCA, Boy and Girl scouts, Salvation Army and Special Olympics took part in NFL FLAG and PLAY 60 drills and challenges and learning “Heads Up Football” safety techniques this weekend.

“Events of this nature were something we didn’t have back then,” said Gerela, a 1965 Kalani graduate. “These programs the NFL offers provide a wonderful opportunity to learn, not just about football, but health and safety in athletics.”

Gerela, 67, played in two Pro Bowls but is perhaps best remembered for kicking two field goals with broken ribs in Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl X victory 40 years ago over Dallas.

Gerela suffered a cracked rib while making the tackle on the game’s opening kickoff and missed his first field-goal try. But he came back to make two others in the 21-17 victory over the Cowboys.

The NFL presented Kalani with a gold football in recognition of Gerela’s Super Bowl appearances with the Steelers.

He is a retired teacher who lives in New Mexico and volunteers to work with kickers at New Mexico State, his alma mater.

Seahawks LB Wagner hunts down his teammate

Bobby Wagner promised his Seattle Seahawks teammate, Richard Sherman, he’d get him this week if Sherman played on offense.

Promise fulfilled.

Team Irvin drew up a reverse play in the third quarter for Sherman, a cornerback, who stretched it to one side of the field and tried to reverse course and come back the other way.

Wagner, a middle linebacker, chased him down from the middle of the field and forced him out of bounds, resulting in a loss of 22 yards on the play.

Wagner fell on top of Sherman and stayed there for a couple of extra seconds, jawing with his Seahawks teammate.

When asked later in the game on the sideline if the Seahawks would use that play in the future, Seattle defensive lineman Michael Bennett said, “not if we want to win.”

Rams punter Hekker shows off his arm

One of the best throws in Sunday’s Pro Bowl belonged to a punter.

Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker extended a drive in the second quarter on fourth down with a 10-yard pass to Tyler Lockett.

Lockett, a returner for the Seattle Seahawks, beat Richard Sherman on the play, coming back to catch a bullet thrown by Hekker that was right on point.

Hekker, who has made two Pro Bowls in his first four years in the NFL, played quarterback for Bothell High School in Washington state.

He was the only member of Team Rice who attempted a pass in the game not to get intercepted.

Tyrod Taylor threw three interceptions, while Derek Carr had two and Eli Manning was picked off once.

Martin finds paydirt back at Aloha Stadium

Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin made good on this appearance at Aloha Stadium.

Martin, a former star at Boise State, had his least productive outing of the 2009 season when BSU rolled past WAC foe Hawaii 54-9 in Halawa. He had a single carry for minus 4 yards.

But as an All-Pro Buccaneer, the 5-foot-9 Martin was productive. He powered through at the goal line for a 3-yard score for Team Rice to open the third quarter — the only rushing touchdown of the game.

The two-time Pro Bowler finished with seven carries for 20 yards and five catches for another 20, and recovered a fumble to boot.