Pressed into punting, Serna impresses.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - When the Oregon State offense comes off the field on fourth down Thursday night, there won't be any doubt for Alexis Serna: he's going on.

Punt or field-goal attempt, it's his time.

The place kicking isn't anything new, nor much in question. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior already holds the OSU record with 62 field goals in his career - and he's made 106 consecutive extra points.

The punting is the new assignment, brought about when returning punter Kyle Loomis turned in his jersey on the eve of the first practice earlier this month. The first OSU punt in the opener against Utah will be the first punt of Serna's college career.

`He's been very consistent. That's what I've liked the most,' OSU coach Mike Riley said Monday during a session with the media. `He hits the ball with as much consistency as anybody I've ever had.'

So well has Serna done that Riley had simple instructions for special teams coordinator Dave Ungerer: hands off Serna.

`Don't coach him too much,' Riley advised. `We just want him to go out and punt.'

Serna has taken that to heart.

`I got the hang of it and I'm excited to do it,' he said. `I've been around it for long enough ... a lot of it is just feel. You've got to have a feel for it.'

OSU hasn't had one player do both its punting and place kicking since the 1984 season, when Jim Nielsen took over both jobs due to an injury and ineffectiveness. Nielsen made all six of his field-goal attempts and averaged 33.6 yards as a punter. By the '85 season, he was only kicking.

Serna said he hasn't done as much kicking during practices as he might if he wasn't also the punter, but added `I've pretty much got down (his kicking assignment). It's something I've worked on for years and I worked hard in the summer (before practices began).'

There also has been a change for Serna in kicking, however, with sophomore Taylor Kavanaugh taking on the job of holding on place kicks. That makes three holders in four seasons for Serna.

`It's a big difference,' Serna said of changing holders. `There's a lot of little things people don't understand, and holding is a big thing for kickers.'

Serna's initial evaluation of Kavanaugh is all positive.

`I worked with him two or three times a week (during summer workouts), and he eased into it pretty well,' Serna said. `He has fast hands and gets the ball down fast.'

Like Serna, Utah's Louis Sakoda handles both punting and kicking. Sakoda, a junior who was MVP of the Armed Forces Bowl, converted 16-of-20 field-goal attempts last season and didn't miss a point after touchdown in 43 attempts. He also averaged 44.0 yards on punts.

Stroughter update

Though receiver/punt returner Sammie Stroughter is back with the team for workouts, Riley said `I wouldn't read too much into it yet as far as playing. I'm not.'

In fact, Riley said `I'm not anticipating him playing in games this year, but I've been surprised already.'

Could that surprise extend to Stroughter playing in the opening game? No, Riley answered.

`It won't happen for sure for Utah,' Riley added.

Until returning Saturday, Stroughter missed more than two weeks of practices, citing his grief over the deaths of two relatives and a former assistant coach as the reasons for his absence. Riley said Stroughter's `participation, his enrollment in school, his practicing, it's kind of on his time. That's the way we've agreed to leave it.'

Checking on the Utes

OSU's primary defensive challenge Thursday will be Utah quarterback Brian Johnson.

`He can become like a 12th man on offense, a running back or a quarterback,' Riley said. `It stretches your defense.'

Johnson didn't play last fall after suffering a severe knee injury late in the 2005 season. Before being injured, he was fourth in the nation in total offense, averaging 337 yards. He was second in the pass-happy Mountain West Conference in passing, and was Utah's second-leading rusher.

Asked whether Johnson was more like ex-Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback or Oregon senior Dennis Dixon, both noted for their ability to run or throw, Riley said `probably both of them are good comparisons. Athletically, they scare you ... often times, the passing play that turns into a run is the most dangerous thing going.'

Three Utah runners

The Utes say they'll split their running back duties among senior Darryl Poston and juniors Matt Asiata and Ray Stowers.

`Plus, freshman Eddie Wide is going to see some time there,' Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said of a 5-10, 170-pound speedster.

Poston, who played at USC as a true freshman in 2001, is in his seventh season of college football. Because he missed all or parts of the 2001, '02, '03 and '04 seasons due to injuries, the NCAA has allowed him to spread his four seasons of eligibility out two years longer than is normally allowed.

Stowers has also battled to overcome injuries, missing both the 2004 and '05 seasons due to a shoulder injury. Asiata is a 6-foot, 235-pound transfer who averaged 6.3 yards per carry in gaining 1,365 yards for Snow College last season.

UTAH AT OREGON STATE 7 p.m. Thursday, Reser Stadium. TV: FSN. Radio: KKNX-AM (840). More OSU football coverage at

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