San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

FOOTBALL: Blunders on special teams cripple SDSU

Glenn Connelly, Photo Editor

PASADENA 8212; San Diego State sophomore quarterback Ryan Lindley throws a 78-yard bomb to receiver Vincent Brown and the text messages start flowing in.

“Got to like this game so far,” one reads.

“We are playing amazing,” says another.

The ensuing kickoff comes seconds later. Junior kicker Bryan Shields boots a fluttering ball to the 23-yard line, and UCLA’s Terrence Austin rips off a 65-yard return. One play later, the Bruins score.

Just like that, what was once a cozy 14-3 lead, is now a scary 14-10 nail-biter.

Everyone knows about the offensive and defensive components of a game, but most forget about the value of special teams. With one play, an entire game can switch.

After Austin answered Brown’s 78-yard score with a huge runback, UCLA rattled off 30 unanswered points 8212; a product of a severe change in momentum.

“That is obviously a big momentum swing,” SDSU head coach Brady Hoke said. “You have the 80-yard touchdown and have some momentum and that’s part of the game, no question about it. It is enthusiasm for the game and the emotion of the game; and then you let a kickoff return squirt out of there and that is a problem.”

But the Aztecs’ special teams’ woes didn’t stop there. No, even after averaging only 49.5 yards per kickoff in the first half, SDSU committed another severe special teams’ blunder in the second half.

Sophomore offensive lineman Tommie Draheim blocked on the right side on the field goal unit. Usually, when he’s finished blocking his man, he looks up, and generally sees the ball flying through the uprights. But against the Bruins on Saturday night in front of 55,761 fans at the Rose Bowl, Draheim saw something different.

“I looked up to see the ball, and it was nowhere,” he said. “I started hearing the crowd and I turned around and he was running down the sidelines.”

“He” was UCLA corner Alterraun Verner, who scooped up a blocked Lane Yoshida field goal and took it 70 yards to the house. The Aztecs could have cut into a 26-14 UCLA lead in the third quarter, but instead, missed a field goal and gave up seven points.

“That was a huge, huge deflating moment for me,” Draheim said. “Considering the opportunity we just had. We had an interception and then we go 3-and-out and then getting the field goal blocked; that was definitely a momentum change.”

Special teams coach Dan Ferrigno said, as expected, his unit just flat-out didn’t play well on Saturday night.

“It changes the game,” he said of big plays in the special teams game. “They’re big, game-changing plays.

“We just had some crucial errors in special teams, so no, I’m not happy with my trip to the Rose Bowl.”

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San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
FOOTBALL: Blunders on special teams cripple SDSU