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Denver

Sione Pouha's hair is an unruly mop. His thick, black locks go every direction, in contrast to the close-shaved look that once identified him.

Ever since the day 15 months ago when his dying father hugged him and rubbed his head, Pouha has allowed his hair to grow in tribute to Sonasi Pouha, who drove his only son to all of those youth football practices in Salt Lake City and supported him.

Whenever he needs inspiration, Pouha brushes his fingers through his hair. And when he took down Denver quarterback Kyle Orton for his first sack of the season, the New York Jets defensive lineman pointed heavenward Sunday afternoon.

"He'd want us to go enjoy and celebrate life," Pouha said, and this was one of those moments. With five straight victories, including Sunday's 24-20 win at Invesco Field, the Jets (5-1) own the NFL's best record.

"Overall, you can kind of see the perseverance," said Pouha, a former East High School and University of Utah star.

The Jets summoned just enough of that trait after trailing most of the game. Pouha is not one of the team's glamorous players, and he likes it that way.

"I just come in with my lunch box, clock in and clock out," he said. "That's pretty much my job."

That summarizes the life of a nose tackle, whose primary purpose is to take up space and occupy blockers. Yet even as part of a defense that features cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and linebacker Bart Scott, Pouha is distinguishing himself in his sixth pro season.

The fourth-quarter sack was one of his four tackles Sunday, besides a quarterback hurry and a pass deflection. His 25 tackles for the season rank fourth among the Jets, remarkable for any defensive lineman — especially someone who plays right in the middle.

"He's a great player, strong guy, plays with great leverage, real active guy," said former Ute offensive lineman Zane Beadles, who started his fourth game for the Broncos as a rookie at right tackle. "He's been a mainstay in New York for a while, and he's probably going to keep doing that."

They usually lined up several yards apart, but Beadles occasionally blocked Pouha. Those moments brought together linemen who barely missed one another at Utah, while each played a major role in an unbeaten season and Bowl Championship Series victory for the Utes.

Pouha, 31, started the Jets' season opener at another tackle position, then moved inside when Kris Jenkins was sidelined with a knee injury for the second year in a row. Pouha hurt for Jenkins, after witnessing his long rehabilitation and having missed the 2006 season himself with a knee injury. But he was ready to move over and fill in again, and the results have been impressive.

The 8-yard sack was a nice bonus, considering Pouha initially thought Orton had delivered the ball just before he arrived, and he's not usually on the field in pass-rushing situations. That was the only time the Jets caught Orton all day, and it helped them stem Denver's momentum with a 17-10 lead after three quarters.

"It was fun, man," Pouha said.

Denver is the closest NFL city to his hometown, so Pouha figures his father would have attended this game if not for the pancreatic cancer that ended his life in July 2009. He's equally sure that sack did not go unnoticed, though.

His father is "on the sideline for all my games now," Pouha said, smiling.

kkragthorpe@sltrib.com Twitter: @tribkurt