A HEALTHY AGUAYO WILL BE A REAL KICK
Something not-so-funny happened to Sergio Aguayo (6-1, 200, SR-3L/San Jacinto, CA/San Jacinto HS) on his way to breaking every UNLV scoring record. The Groza Award Watch List member decided to get in on a kickoff return tackle in the season opener and ended up tearing the ACL/MCL in his kicking leg. Remarkably, he eschewed surgery, instead rehabbing for a couple weeks and returning to kick for his team while wearing a brace. The gutsy move put a dent in Aguayo's stats but after undergoing surgery in the off-season he is expected to be back to 100 percent for his final go-round.
Last year's unexpected fill-in, Ben Jaekle (6-1, 165, SO-1L/Las Vegas/Bonanza HS), will compete for the kickoff duties with former Texas Southern transfer Kyle Watson (5-9, 200, SO-TR/Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Alta Loma HS).
With first team all-conference punter Kip Facer having exited, the job will be filled by former junior-college All-American Brian Pacheco (5-9, 190, SR-SQ/Peoria, AZ/St. Mary's HS) who will try to make the most of his one remaining season.
Fullback Kamu Kapanui (6-0, 230, SO-1L/Honolulu, HI/Kamehameha HS) is the favorite to replace long-snapper Ryan Heise, who departed after four near-perfect seasons. Casey Flair (6-1, 190, JR-2L/Anchorage, AK/East HS) and Pacheco will vie for the holder job.
With potential game-breaker Eric Wright off to the pro ranks, the kickoff return duties will include some combination of vet Mil'Von James (6-0, 210, SR-1L, 11 returns for 198 yards/Los Angeles/Fremont HS) and speedy newcomer Lorenzo Bursey Jr. (5-8, 175, SO-TR/Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) On punts, Flair returns after proving a dependable and elusive option a year ago with a 12.8-yard average.
SANFORD SAYS: "We expect Sergio to be healthy and to be our field goal kicker and I expect great things out of him. He won't, however, be kicking off for us anymore because he is too valuable on field goals and extra points."
TOP HONORS CANDIDATE: Even with last year's setback, Aguayo figures to be right in the mix for the Lou Groza Collegeiate Place-Kicker Award.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR: Flair as a return man, as the rock-solid receiver has quietly become one of the best in the MWC on punts.
NUMBER TO KNOW: 52 -- as in Aguayo's career-long field goal distance. He's already nailed it from there three times and with his head coach's full confidence, figures to top that length as a senior.
