Fiesta kickers have progressed to majors

Associated Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

Two years ago, Tyler Durbin was kicking around a soccer ball at James Madison University. Greg Huegel was a freshman watching Clemson football games from the stands.

Now one of them could face a nerve-wracking shot at deciding whether No. 2 Ohio State (11-1, CFP No. 3) or Clemson (12-1, CFP No. 2) wins Saturday’s Fiesta Bowl and advances to the College Football Playoff championship game.

“Every kicker I think always dreams of kicking that game-winning field goal,” Durbin said. “It puts a lot of pressure on you, but that’s why you’re in the business.”

Durbin is still a non-scholarship player, taking over as the Buckeyes kicker when Sean Nuernberger injured his groin in fall practice this year.

“He’s seized the opportunity and had a phenomenal year. We love him to death,” special teams coach Kerry Coombs said. “The first football game of his life was our opener this year.”

At Clemson, Huegel practiced three or four times a week, made regular contact with special teams coach Danny Pearman and entered a kicking competition before the 2015 season.

“I knew that I wanted to walk-on just because I didn’t have anything to lose,” Huegel said.

After a standout first season, Huegel has a scholarship now.

Durbin knows a whole lot about pressure.

Through 11 games this season, he was 16-for-17 on field goals, with his only miss being a block against Penn State .

Then came the regular-season finale against Michigan.

In an intense, close game, Durbin missed twice, once from 37 yards, later a 21-yard chip shot. Combs approached his downcast kicker.

“I walked down there and saw him after he missed the second one,” Coombs said. “I don’t usually talk to him during the game but I gave him my wristband.” It reads E + R [equals] O, Event plus Response equals Outcome, a program motto that coach Urban Meyer picked up from motivational speakers.

Coombs said he told his young kicker, “You’re going to make the kick to win the game.”

Not quite, but it was a season-saver.

Moments later, Durbin jogged onto the field and nailed a 23-yarder with a second left to send the game into overtime. Ohio State eventually won 30-27 in two overtimes.

“I was just thankful that the defense was able to get a stop after that miss and put me in a position to tie the game towards the end there,” Durbin said. “It never feels good missing a kick, especially a short one like that in a big game like that. But I was relieved to get another opportunity to put it through.”