Punter finds his stride

• By GEORGE MORRIS
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Sep 25, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 8:15 a.m.

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When LSU punter Brady Dalfrey took the field Saturday wearing No. 30 instead of No. 38, it was an apparent attempt by coach Les Miles to disguise whether Dalfrey or Josh Harper was in the game.

It’s unclear whether the ploy fooled Auburn, but it worked pretty well in Carencro, where his mother quit watching the game. Although the jerseys had the correct names on the back, what eventually gave it away was noticing that No. 30 was punting with his left foot.

“My dad told me they didn’t realize it until the second half on the TV,” Dalfrey said.

By that time, the 87,451 in Jordan-Hare Stadium and the ESPN television audience were aware that LSU’s early-season punting problems had done a disappearing act, too.

Dalfrey had entered the Auburn game with a punting average (29.0) less than either jersey number. But, in LSU’s 26-21 victory, he punted six times for a 48.3-yard average. Better yet, Auburn was unable to return any of the punts, four of which stopped inside the 20-yard line.

These numbers were obscured by quarterback Jarrett Lee’s breakout performance in the second half, and by running back Charles Scott’s 132-yard rushing effort. But they weren’t lost on Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville.

“You look at their side, they averaged 48 yards a punt,” Tuberville said after the game. “Special teams was a major factor and field position, especially on a couple of crucial drives.”

With starter Clinton Dunst sidelined by sickness, Auburn backup punter Ryan Shoemaker averaged 35.4 yards on seven punts, including a 7-yard shank from the LSU 34 when Tuberville wanted to pin LSU deep in its territory early in the third quarter. That meant LSU gained an average of almost 13 yards every time the teams exchanged punts.

As a result, LSU owned the field position in the first quarter, starting drives at its 37-, 34- and 44-yard lines, the last possession ending in Colt David’s 44-yard field goal to open the scoring. Dalfrey’s punts forced Auburn to begin its first two drives at its 1- and 14-yard lines. It wasn’t until Auburn began its fourth drive at its 31-yard line that it launched a scoring drive.

Dalfrey’s effectiveness continued in the second half, backing Auburn to its 13 on his first punt, a 42-yarder, and its 24 following a 43-yard kick. For the game, LSU’s average drive following an Auburn punt began at its 27. Auburn’s drives following an LSU punt began just outside its 15.

That’s quite a difference from the previous two games. In two games, Dalfrey’s longest punt was a 46-yarder against North Texas. He had three punts more than 50 yards against Auburn.

“They kept emphasizing it was a big game and it was time to come through,” Dalfrey said. “I just went out there doing what I usually do. It’s finally starting to come through, getting more used to and comfortable with game situations.”

Not all of the punts were boomers. Dalfrey’s first punt came out low and short, but was directed far enough toward the sideline that the Auburn deep back had to let it bounce, then watch it roll until Brandon LaFell downed it at the 1. A similar kick had a similar result on his 50-yarder in the second quarter.