WARRIORS NOTEBOOK
Ayat hopes minor corrections pay off in kicking consistency
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
For University of Hawai'i placekicker Justin Ayat, pressure can be found at dress rehearsal.
In the last practice before every game, Ayat is asked to make a parting shot. If he fails to convert the field-goal attempt, every football player but Ayat must run laps.
"If I miss, I have to take the heat from my teammates, which is worse than anything a fan could yell," Ayat said.
Ayat has struggled recently, missing four of his last seven point-after kicks. He failed on two field-goal attempts against San Jose State Nov. 1.
"I'm going through a slightly difficult time right now," said Ayat, a fourth-year junior from Kamehameha Schools. Last weekend's bye "was good for me, to settle my mind down and work on my technique."
Ayat said he has detected the glitch. Before his woes, he took three short jab steps — left, right, left — before kicking. After studying videotapes, he noticed he was inadvertently lengthening his last step — his plant step — by a few inches.
"It seemed like I was lunging, like my body was off-balance and I was out of control," he said. "I figured that was the reason I was kicking balls left, right, low, whatever. The last couple of practices, I tried to shorten my steps, be in control of my body. It's been working. It's been a minor change, but, you know, in kicking, any little thing, any little imbalance in your body, can make all of the difference."
Back in line: Claiming his left ankle has healed, third-year sophomore Brandon Eaton has reclaimed the starting job at right tackle.
Eaton aggravated a sprained left ankle in the Oct. 11 game against Fresno State. Because he plants his left foot on blocks, Eaton was inconsistent while trying to play through the injury.
"I feel I'm ready to play now," Eaton said. "My ankle is much better."
Line coach Mike Cavanaugh said Eaton's return is a boost to an offensive line seeking "consistency in a hurry." With Eaton at right tackle, freshman Jeremy Inferrera returns to left tackle, his comfort side. Second-year freshman Tala Esera, who moved from the defensive line during training camp, is the top backup to both tackles.
Health report: Cornerback Gary Wright suffered a sprained right ankle during a seven-on-seven drill yesterday. He left the field on crutches.
"It feels real bad, but I'm going to try and come back by (tomorrow)," he said. "I'll rest it until then."
Wright, one of eight fifth-year seniors, is a top special teams player.
Starting wideouts Jeremiah Cockheran and Britton Komine practiced yesterday and declared themselves fit for Saturday's road game against Nevada.
Cockheran has been bothered by a sprained right ankle. Komine, who has a partially torn muscle or tendon in his left calf, wore a protective boot last week.
"Everything is fine," Cockheran said. "There's no pain. I'm finally able to do a lot of things out there, like make cuts and get off the line better. (The ankle) feels really good."
Offensive guard Samson Satele, who suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament against San Jose State, also competed in contact drills.
But defensive left end Houston Ala was limping noticeably during workouts. Ala wore a brace to stabilize his sprained left knee.
Talofa: Cavanaugh, who recently returned from a five-day recruiting trip to American Samoa, said there are eight prospects there attractive to the Warriors.
"There are some guys who can definitely help us," Cavanaugh said.
Assistant coach Rich Miano is the point recruiter in American Samoa, but UH coach June Jones decided to send Cavanaugh last week because of the number of offensive line prospects. The family of defensive end Melila Purcell served as Cavanaugh's host.
"It was beautiful," Cavanaugh said. "It reminded me of the North Shore. It was gorgeous out there."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
