Hobbled Aztecs Go Against Oregon : SDSU Is Hit Hardest in Secondary and at Linebacker

The situation doesn’t seem as if it could be worse for the struggling San Diego State defense.

Three-quarters of the Aztecs’ starting secondary and two-thirds of their regular linebackers will not start and may not play at all today against Oregon in a nonconference football game at Eugene, Ore.

Injuries to four starters and the temporary loss of Derek Santifer, a starting inside linebacker, for disciplinary reasons have placed question marks throughout a defense that has allowed an average of 536.3 yards in its first three games.

Santifer will not play, and there likely will be only limited participation, if any, from strong safety Harold Hicks (quadriceps bruise) and outside linebacker Chuck Nixon (quadriceps bruise). The cornerbacks Mario Mitchell (knee sprain) and Clarence Nunn (bruised shoulder nerve) likely will not play.

“You know you’re going to have tough times,” said Tim McConnell, the defensive coordinator. “But this week has been especially bad.”

Even the coaches are having their problems. Ron Mimms, the secondary coach, had flu-like symptoms this week.

“We’ve all got our little problems this week,” Mimms said. “We know we’re being tested.”

McConnell has worked all week to patch the defense, switching linebackers and defensive backs to fill the likely openings.

If Mitchell and Nunn are unable to play, McConnell will use Clark Moses, a sophomore and the nephew of assistant coach Wayne Moses, and Jeryl Williams, a senior who had limited playing time last season as a return specialist. McConnell also may move free safety Lyndon Earley to cornerback and replace Earley at free safety with Casey Copeland, a junior transfer from West Valley Community College in Saratoga, Calif. David Cooper, a sophomore from Honolulu, will back up Hicks at strong safety.

The only starting linebacker expected to open the game against the Ducks is Kevin Conard. The inside linebacker may be flanked by two players making their first starts, Morey Paul and John Wesselman.

“It gets a little more intriguing here,” McConnell said. “Basically, we’ve got three or four healthy linebackers.”

Paul, a freshman from Oceanside High School, has been used primarily on special teams. Wesselman has been a consistent reserve and special teams player, but he is hampered by a compound dislocation of his right index finger sustained two weeks ago against Utah.

“We all wonder when the defense is going to come together,” Wesselman said. “We really haven’t stopped anybody yet.”

The other relatively healthy linebackers include Ken Bernard (slight knee injury), a junior transfer from California and a Patrick Henry High School graduate, and Santos Gil, a junior walk-on from Southwestern College.

Even on the defensive line, where the Aztecs will use most of their regulars, McConnell has made some changes.

Brett Faryniarz at end has been the only constant. Milt Wilson, a sophomore who made his first start last week in a 49-7 loss at Air Force, should start at tackle.

But Rob Graff, an end who has been moved to tackle this week, has the flu. Graff had a temperature of 102 Friday but is expected to play. The other end position could go to either Lee Brannon, a junior who also plays tight end, or Mike Hooper, a senior who has been slowed by several nagging injuries. Hooper also could start at tackle, and Graff could play end.

Complicating McConnell’s decision about whom to play will be the artificial turf of Autzen Stadium. Injuries are sometimes aggravated by playing on artificial surface rather than the grass on which the Aztecs are accustomed to playing. The Oregon game is one of only two the Aztecs will play on artificial turf this season.

“We’re not sure what we’re going to do,” McConnell said. “We’ll just have to see how everyone feels (by game time).”

The injuries come at a time when the defense is trying to regroup after allowing a total of 130 points in the first three games. The Aztecs are ranked 103 of 104 National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I-A teams in three of the four major defensive categories--total yards allowed (536.3 per game), rushing yards allowed (325.7 per game) and points allowed (43.3 per game).

But Stolz has said the Aztecs may have an easier time matching up defensively against the Ducks than their previous three opponents.

“This is a more straight-forward power attack,” Stolz said. “They are a typical Pac-10 team. They are going to come right at you.”

The Ducks have an inexperienced offense that is averaging only 281.5 yards per game.

The Ducks start only three seniors on offense and are led by quarterback Bill Musgrave, a redshirt freshman, who has replaced Chris Miller, a first-round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons. Musgrave has completed 34 of 51 passes (66.7%) for 380 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those numbers are less than what Todd Santos, the SDSU quarterback, had in one game against Utah.

The Ducks have had particular trouble running the ball. They have gained 183 yards in two games, and their best tailback, Derek Loville, missed the Ohio State game with a sprained toe. Loville may return this week. His replacement, Latin Berry, gained 33 yards in 18 carries.

Both teams are looking at the game as a way to build momentum before starting the heart of their conference seasons. Next Saturday, the Ducks open their Pac-10 schedule by playing host to Washington. SDSU will play at Wyoming, which defeated Air Force, 27-13, in its only conference game.

“This is a major game for both teams,” said Rich Brooks, the Oregon coach. “San Diego State did not expect to be 1-2, and they don’t want to be 1-3, just as we don’t want to be 1-2. The team that loses this game is going have a difficult time having a good year.”

Aztec Notes SDSU quarterback Todd Santos needs two yards to pass Robbie Bosco (8,400 yards) of Brigham Young and take sole possession of 10th place on the NCAA all-time passing yardage list. . . . The Ducks won the only previous game between the schools, 49-37, in 1985. Santos came off the bench late in the second quarter to complete 32 of 44 passes for 398 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was intercepted three times. . . . Dave DesRochers (lower leg contusion) will start at right offensive tackle for the Aztecs. Oregon Coach Rich Brooks on the Aztecs’ 49-7 loss at Air Force: “I heard it coming back from Ohio State, and I was convinced they had the score backward. One, I couldn’t believe San Diego State scored only seven points and that Air Force scored 49 on them.” . . . The Aztecs, whose flight was late, were limited to half of their planned hour workout Friday afternoon at Autzen Stadium. A high school football game prevented them from practicing past 5 p.m.