COLLEGE FOOTBALL / POSTSEASON BOWL GAMES : FREEDOM BOWL / SCOTT MILLER : Performance in Practice Earns Maxey a Starting Job at H-Back

Larry Maxey will keep his job as San Diego State’s H-back in the Freedom Bowl, Aztec Coach Al Luginbill said Thursday.

Maxey, a junior who has been SDSU’s starting H-back all season, nearly lost his starting spot when Luginbill became dissatisfied with the production the Aztecs were receiving from the position. Earlier this week, Luginbill said he was thinking of starting redshirt sophomore Will Tate, but Tate developed a viral infection and missed practice Saturday and Sunday.

“Larry deserves to be the starter because he has played better in practice,” Luginbill said. “But they will both play a lot.”

Maxey caught 22 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns this season. Tate caught only six for 56 yards.

“Larry is an excellent blocker,” said Dave Lay, SDSU’s offensive coordinator. “He’s a tough guy who makes the hard catches, but he also drops some easy ones, and that drives you nuts. Will is faster, a little quicker, but he probably doesn’t understand the offense as well.”

The word according to Luginbill: “All of our redshirt sophomores aren’t redshirt sophomores anymore--they’ve played a whole year. And all of our redshirt freshmen aren’t redshirt freshmen anymore--they’ve played a whole year.”

Is that some kind of new math? It’s still the same year. Right?

One of Luginbill’s biggest concerns is the SDSU’s kicking game, specifically the Aztecs’ ability to kick medium-range field goals.

“We have not been consistent, and in practice it’s raising its ugly head again,” Luginbill said. “I think this game could come down to one team’s ability to kick a field goal.”

Andy Trakas, SDSU’s junior kicker, has had an inconsistent year. He has missed six conversion kicks (out of 46) and has made nine of 14 field goal attempts. Three of his five misses have been from 40 to 49 yards out.

“(Tulsa Coach) David (Rader) saying their kid kicked one in the snow to win a game (against Southern Mississippi) is a concern,” Luginbill said. “Our guy has never kicked one to win a game in the three years he’s been kicking.”

Tulsa kicker Eric Lange, a junior from Fullerton College, has made 12 consecutive field goal attempts and is ranked eighth nationally among field goal kickers.

Former Aztec receiver Dennis Arey, who finished his eligibility last season, watched SDSU’s practice at UC Irvine Thursday.

Arey, who was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals during fall camp, is living in San Diego, working out and waiting for the World Football League to start this spring. He has already signed a contract with the league, he said, and is awaiting the draft.

“I’m kind of jealous,” Arey said of SDSU’s bowl week. “But I had fun last year in the individual bowls (the Blue-Gray and East-West Shrine games). But it’s different when you’re with different people instead of going to a bowl game with your teammates.”

Tracey Mao, booted off the SDSU team after being arrested for his part in a fight last winter, is still represented on the practice field. Freshman Roger Blake, who normally wears No. 59, has been issued a jersey with Mao’s name and number (58). . . . Luginbill was wearing a T-shirt at practice Thursday with the words “Win A Bowl” printed on the front. . . . After morning practices today, each team will attend the Rotary Kick-Off Luncheon at noon at the Anaheim Marriott.