Southern's Duran can deal with ups and downs

• By PERRYN KEYS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 19, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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As Southern rests up this week before the Bayou Classic hype begins, the Jaguars have a moment to stop and thank their kicker, Josh Duran.

Ah, yes. The kicker.

You know the drill: If he hits a field goal in crunch time, he’s the greatest guy in the universe. If he misses, he’s the top story on next week’s episode of “America’s Most Wanted.”

“That’s the way it is,” said Duran, a sophomore from Eunice.

“You have to know you’re going to make it. You put it in your head that you’re going to do it, whether it’s a regular kick or a game-winner. You don’t need that extra pressure.”

At Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., on a frigid Saturday night when the Southern offense faltered, Duran bailed the Jaguars out when the pressure was on.

As senior running back Kendrick Smith put it: “He saved us (Saturday) night.”

Duran had field goals of 25, 29 and 46 yards — the latter a career long — as Southern posted a 15-0 shutout of Alabama State in the Gulf Coast Classic.

As the team’s punter, he also pinned the Hornets back to the ASU 2-yard line in the third quarter. Six plays later, SU linebacker Johnathan Malveaux returned an interception 15 yards for the game’s only touchdown.

On a night that lacked offense, Duran was voted offensive MVP. It was the first time he’d ever gotten a trophy for playing football.

“I thought Josh did an outstanding job (Saturday),” coach Pete Richardson said. “If we can give him the time, he can kick the field goal.”

Lately, he has kicked a lot of them.

With 59 points, he ranks third in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring, behind Prairie View running back Donald Babers (72) and Southern wideout Juamorris Stewart (66).