Kalani, Gerela honored with golden football

Roy Gerela, a 1965 Kalani graduate, poses with princpal Mitchell Otani after being presented with an Honor Roll Wilson Golden Football by the National Football League. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Roy Gerela, a 1965 Kalani graduate, was one of 16 former NFL players honored by league as part of its Super Bowl High School Honor Roll program.

A ceremonial presentation was made at Kalani High School Thursday, where the National Football League delivered a specially-commissioned and encased golden football to the school.

The Honor Roll Wilson Golden Football features the high school's name and location, honoree's name and the Super Bowl(s) the honoree appeared in.

Gerela was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 AFL draft by the Houston Oilers and played with the team for two years. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1971, and during his NFL stint led the AFC in scoring in 1973 and 1974, named was a Pro Bowl selection in 1972 and 1974.

He was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams, 1974, 1975 and 1978, and ranks third on the Steelers' all-time scoring list.

Gerela went on to work as a high school and college assistant coach following his playing career, and in 2012, became the head football coach of Gadsen High School in Anthony, New Mexico.