KEEPING TABS

Ed Bunn, a Texas El Paso senior who played at Valley College, is the leading punter in the nation with an average of 52.1 yards, and he is being watched closely by NFL scouts in addition to drawing widespread media attention.

As to how he has improved his average by almost 10 yards from a season ago, Bunn points to a change in mechanics.

“Last year I was a three-step punter and held the ball with two hands. Now I’m a two-step punter and hold the ball with one hand. With a shorter stride, most people usually think your distance will be shorter, but for some reason I’ve really increased my distance by doing that.”

While Bunn has enjoyed success this year, his teammates have not. The Miners are winless.

“It is really tough to be on a team that is 0-5 and play my best,” Bunn said. “On the sideline, I can’t get into the game. I have to set myself aside from it. I know I can’t get into the team spirit because we are jumping on each other and fighting each other.”

Such an attitude is an easy one to take for Bunn, who describes himself as “very much of an individualist, recluse and hermit.”

That personality long has suited Bunn, who has lived on his own since he was 16.

Bunn, now 25, moved to Southern California from Virginia when he was 19, packing his belongings in a car one day and heading west in search of the California dream. He found it punting for Valley College.

Running wild: Leonice Brown, an All-City Section selection while at San Fernando High, is the leading ground gainer on a Colorado State team that is eighth in the nation in rushing.

Brown has 589 yards in six games, including a personal-best 176 during Saturday’s 42-24 victory over Texas El Paso.

“All I needed was my first big run, and everything’s still going,” said Brown, a sophomore and half-brother of 1979 Heisman Trophy winner Charles White.

Brown’s big run was a school record-tying jaunt of 80 yards against LSU on Sept. 26. Brown also has runs of 60 or more yards in the past two games.

Against the Miners, Brown had just 22 yards in the first half and 42 after three quarters. He exploded in the fourth quarter for 134.

Honors: Chad Zeigler, a former Canyon High and Pierce College standout, was named the Northern California Athletic Conference’s offensive player of the week after leading San Francisco State to a 14-7 victory over Menlo College on Saturday.

Zeigler, a senior wide receiver, had six catches for 96 yards and returned three punts for 66 yards, including one of 39 yards.

Precocious: Freddie Edwards, a standout running back and defensive back last season at Antelope Valley High, is one of three true freshmen playing for San Diego State. He has moved onto the depth chart as the second-team left cornerback in addition to his duties on special teams.

Catching on: Curtis Richardson, a former Oxnard High and Ventura College wide receiver playing for Idaho, already has doubled his production of a season ago.

Richardson, a senior wide receiver, has 12 catches for 148 yards and one touchdown. Last season, Richardson had six catches for 96 yards.

Richardson had a big performance in Idaho’s 30-7 victory over Cal State Northridge on Oct. 3, with a team-high five receptions for 73 yards, including one of 24 yards.