Ray Puts Best Foot Forward for Toreros

It sounds like a receivers coach’s worst nightmare.

The University of San Diego’s Robert Ray spent a major portion of his summer perfecting his . . . drop.

So what’s the catch?

Ray is a punter.

While Ray, a sophomore who also is the Toreros’ kicker, was home in Bakersfield over the summer, he often worked out with University of Washington punter John Werdel, whom Ray knew when they played for opposing high schools.

“I really keyed on my drop, that’s the most important part of punting,” said Ray. “That and consistency.”

He has shown marked improvement in both.

Ray said his timing on the drop, and each step that follows, feels more natural than it did as a freshman, when he averaged 36.4 yards a punt.

Through five games this year, Ray is averaging 41.4 yards a punt, the third best average in NCAA Division III.

“A lot of it had to do with lack of confidence as a freshman,” said Ray, who will assume his regular duties when USD (3-1-1) travels to Whittier (0-3) today for a 7 p.m. game. “Last year I struggled. This year I’m more mature. Things started to click at the beginning of this year.”

Ray’s longest punt traveled 51 yards in 1991, but he has booted a 70-yarder this season. In 1991, he had 12 of his punts returned for 69 yards, a 5.8-yard average. This year, the return average is down to 5.0 yards.

Last season, 11 of his 38 punts were inside the 20-yard line; he is eight for 20 this year. He also has improved on punts of more than 40 yards and on hang time.

“I know (defensive coordinator) Kevin (McGarry) appreciates the fact that we can punt it and get in good field position,” said special teams coordinator Tim Oder. “It’s certainly nice to have a punter of his caliber.”

That kind of potential might even get Ray a look from the pros.

“If you’re a specialist, you might get a look,” he said. “It helps if you’re an all-around guy. I’m not saying he has a great chance, all I’m saying is he has a lot of talent. . . . I’m real proud of what he’s done. I hope he continues to work. He can be a lot better.”

Only one of Ray’s punt has been blocked, but it came in the waning seconds of last week’s homecoming game, which the Toreros salvaged with a 21-20 victory when Cal Lutheran’s kicker missed a 34-yard field goal.

“Everything has to go right,” said Oder, who took partial blame for not giving Ray better instructions on the blocked punt. “No one on the field can make any mistakes.”

The kicking department, where Ray started from scratch this season, hasn’t been error-free. The graduation of kicker Dave Bergmann left a void that Ray was asked to fill, and it hasn’t always been easy.

In point-after attempts he is 11 for 12 and has made his last nine. In field goals, he is 0 for 5, including a 22-yard miss with three seconds left in a 21-21 tie against La Verne.

“That’s the first time he was in a situation like that, and he took some heat for it,” Oder said. “But he’s improved a lot. He made one from 50 yards out in practice this week. I’d judge him from what he does now on.”

Ray welcomes his first successful field goal, but he’s not waiting breathlessly for the chance.

“It would be nice to get one on the board, but I hope the offense doesn’t put me in that position,” he said. “I’d rather them get six points.”

Torero Notes

After a 34-6 loss to Occidental last weekend, Whittier dropped to 0-3. Against their only common opponent, Whittier lost to La Verne, 21-18, a team USD tied, 21-21, in their second game of the season. The Toreros lead the Whittier-USD series, 11-8. Last year USD won at home, 31-7, and kicker Dave Bergmann set a school record on a 53-yard field goal with one second left in the first half. . . . Last week’s come-from-behind victory over Cal Lutheran marked the first time the Toreros have defeated the Kingsmen and their second consecutive victory.