COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Conklin Passes West to Hula Bowl Win

Washington’s Cary Conklin passed for three touchdowns and James Francis of Baylor blocked two field goals and a punt as the West defeated the East, 21-13, Saturday in the Hula Bowl at Honolulu.

Conklin, the game’s most valuable offensive player, passed 11 yards to Washington State running back Steve Broussard for a third-quarter touchdown that broke a 7-7 halftime tie. He threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Oregon State’s Phil Ross in the fourth quarter.

In all, Conklin completed 23 of 34 passes for 232 yards.

Francis, an All-American linebacker, was named the game’s outstanding defensive player. He holds the NCAA record for career blocked punts with 13, including eight this season.

Notre Dame quarterback Tony Rice of the East was intercepted twice, by Walter Briggs of Hawaii and Jeroy Robinson of Texas A&M.;

The East capitalized on West fumbles for two touchdowns, including a diving catch by Tony Moss of Louisiana State on a 31-yard pass from Florida State’s Peter Tom Willis, and won the Japan Bowl, 24-10, Sunday at Yokohama, Japan.

Heisman Trophy runner-up Anthony Thompson of Indiana scored twice for the East, on runs of one and 15 yards. He also was stopped on a one-yard plunge in the game’s last minute.

There were two long punt returns in the game. Florida State’s Leroy Butler, who also intercepted a pass, had a 67-yard return to set up an East touchdown. Tony Jones of Texas had a twisting, 62-yard return that set up a West touchdown.

It was the East’s second consecutive Japan Bowl victory, but only the fifth in 15 games.