Aztecs Have to Dig Deep to Run Against the Miners : SDSU: Leomiti missing from offensive line, Pittman to start at running back.

Really, when you cut through the technical stuff, it’s not too difficult.

A coach expects his offensive line to open holes. But what does a coach do when a hole is opened in his offensive line?

A 360-pound hole?

His name is Carlson Leomiti, and he should be preparing to line up at strong--OK, extremely strong--guard for the Aztecs when they take on Texas El Paso in a Western Athletic Conference game at the Sun Bowl at 6:05 tonight.

But Leomiti sustained a sprained right ankle last week against New Mexico and was left in San Diego.

That adds a load to the SDSU offense on a crucial night. Two bowls have confirmed an interest in the Aztecs (4-2, 2-1) who, having already lost a WAC game at Air Force, are in a fight for their football lives each Saturday. No team has won a WAC title with two losses, which means the Aztecs can dream all they want--provided they don’t slip up in the next five weeks.

A scout from the Copper Bowl will be in attendance tonight, and representatives from the Freedom Bowl--which scouted the Aztecs Sept. 26 against UCLA--plan to watch SDSU on Oct. 26 against Utah and Nov. 2 against Wyoming.

Merle Miller, executive director of the Copper Bowl, said Friday his bowl also will check out the Aztec-Utah game Oct. 26.

“We have an interest in San Diego State,” Miller said. “We’re still interested in 15 or 20 teams and it is hard to evaluate right now. If we select a WAC team, we’d only select one, and (the Aztecs) are one of three or four still in the running.”

Don Andersen, executive director of the Freedom Bowl, also confirmed interest in SDSU Friday even though the Aztecs were blown out by UCLA, 37-12, in a game scouted by that bowl.

“Our outlook as far as the WAC is concerned is that we had a very successful experience with Colorado State last year,” said Andersen, whose bowl matched CSU against Oregon last December in a game won by CSU, 32-31.

“The Freedom Bowl is still in the position of wanting to have teams in the game who look at our game as a prime step forward for their program,” Andersen continued. “As long as San Diego State is in the hunt to win seven or eight games, we’ll stay with them.”

Tonight is the first of back-to-back, similar Saturdays for SDSU--on the road against an improved WAC team. The Miners (3-3-1, 1-2-1) already have matched their victory total for all of 1990. And, they came within an end-of-the-game blocked field goal last week of beating Brigham Young in Provo.

They have blitzed often, and the UTEP defense against SDSU’s offensive line will be a key matchup.

The Aztec offensive front was one of the few areas that had been injury-free. SDSU receivers have been hit hard by injuries this season. SDSU running backs have had their share. And don’t forget about the Aztec defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs.

And now, Leomiti.

The Aztecs will move Jim Jennings, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound senior from San Marcos High, from strong tackle to strong guard tonight, and Louie Zumstein, a 6-4, 275-pound redshirt freshman from Chula Vista, will move into Jennings’ vacated slot.

And if that doesn’t work, Mark Koenig, a 6-5, 255-pound sophomore, will be placed at weak guard and Joe Heinz, a 6-3, 290-pound junior, will slide over to Leomiti’s strong guard spot.

“I think we’ve got some capable people who will be able to step in,” said Bret Ingalls, SDSU offensive line coach. “Obviously, it won’t be the same as having Carlson. There is going to be somewhat of a drop-off. But to use the old cliche, we’ve got to rally around who we have.”

Of all weeks for Leomiti to be taken away, Aztec coaches would have picked almost any week but this one.

- Star running back Marshall Faulk, who can help make any offensive line look good, spent most of the week in a San Diego hospital with a fractured rib, a cracked rib and a punctured lung. He was released Friday.

- Second-team running back T.C. Wright, who has a bruised thigh and a sprained ankle, practiced only one day this week and, unless he makes a stunning recovery, will only get limited time tonight.

Freshman Wayne Pittman, who has 56 yards on 17 carries this season, will make his first start, and the focus of the offensive line will change.

“We’re going to have to concentrate on getting more first downs,” SDSU center Kevin Macon said. “Not to knock any of the other guys, but they just don’t have Marshall’s speed. He’s a threat to go all the way any time he touches the ball.

“Now, we’ve got to concentrate on getting first downs instead of looking for big plays. We’ve got to move the chains.”

Macon said that mainly, it involves a different way of thinking.

“We have to work on staying on our blocks just a little bit longer,” he said. “And hopefully break a couple of good ones with the guys we’ve got.”

SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said earlier this week that the offensive line has been the most consistent aspect of the team this season. The Aztecs have allowed only eight sacks so far. The SDSU defense, by comparison, has 22.

But tonight, without two key offensive players, the offensive line might face its biggest challenge. Ingalls acknowledged that Faulk’s big-play absence adds pressure.

“We have to make sure we stay consistent and are happy with four- and five-yard gains,” Ingalls said. “We have to build on four- and five-yard gains and not let down. I know we’ve got to control the ball a little bit better.

“It’s a different situation for us without Marshall.”

Aztec Notes

A crowd of about 35,000 is expected at UTEP tonight. . . . SDSU needs to stay away from penalties--in the past two games, the Aztecs have been penalized 24 times for 269 yards. . . . Aztec cornerback Gary Taylor (groin) is doubtful. Freshman Eric Sutton will start in his place. . . . SDSU leads the series, 13-3. . . . UTEP hasn’t defeated the Aztecs since 1988, when the Miners won in El Paso, 58-7. . . . If Notre Dame defeats Air Force as expected today, it is likely that ABC-TV will televise SDSU at Utah next Saturday.