Through the first two weeks of fall camp, San Diego State's place-kicking has been sketchy at best and woeful at worst.

Kicks from point-blank range have ranged from dead-solid perfect to perfectly dreadful, a few of the miscues better tracked by satellite.

Enter Lane Yoshida. Mercifully.

Yoshida, a redshirt junior who became the odd-man-out when the squad peaked at the maximum 105 players shortly before the start of camp, has arrived like the cavalry in the midst of looming chaos.

A junior college All-American at Reedley College, 30 miles southeast of Fresno, Yoshida didn't make his practice debut until Thursday, 10 days after the opening of camp. Since then, he has hit virtually every field goal he's attempted, going 4-for-5 at yesterday's Family Day scrimmage after a 7-for-7 performance during Friday's workout.

Said Yoshida, whose efforts yesterday included a 46-yarder: “You've gotta stay ready.”

And a bit hungry. After arriving at SDSU in August of last year, Yoshida was told by special teams coordinator Toby Neinas to wait until January, when he would be able to join the team as a walk-on. With Garrett Palmer, a four-year starter, handling the kicking duties, Yoshida waited patiently, working out on his own while waiting for Palmer's time to pass.

He joined the team for spring drills in April, only to find a lengthy line for auditions. Bryan Shields, a junior transfer from Utah State, and David Brown, a freshman from Nordoff High in Ojai, also were making their case for the job.

Yoshida refused to yield, never missing a voluntary workout during the summer. Two days before the start of camp, however, he learned that unless a roster spot opened up, his solitary workouts would continue.

“It was real disappointing,” Yoshida said. “You work so hard, because all you want is a chance to be with the team.”

When the Aztecs practiced, Yoshida watched from afar. When the final whistle blew and the team's day was done, he would take the field on his own, refusing to let even darkness dim his dream.

“I'm an Aztec and I'll be an Aztec forever,” he said. “The thought of going somewhere else never entered my mind. I want to stay here. I knew that whether I came back on the first day of school or in the middle of camp, I had to stay prepared.”

So should the competition. If nothing else, his arrival appears to have upped the ante. Shields, who has been bothered by a hip flexor, was 5-for-5 yesterday. Brown was 3-for-5 but, like Shields and Yoshida, also had a long of 46 yards.

Blast from the past

Junior tailback Atiyyah Henderson flashed the form that made him the team's leading rusher two years ago, scoring on runs of 36 and 29 yards during yesterday's scrimmage. Henderson finished with 79 yards on five carries.

“He looks really fast right now,” coach Chuck Long said. “He's a different kid. He had a really good summer, and it's paying off for him. Working hard in the offseason can make all the difference in the world.”

Leader in clubhouse

Redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley did nothing to alter his status as the team's presumptive starter, completing 11-of-13 passes for 124 yards. Lindley's performance included a 38-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Mekell Wesley.

“I don't want to (say anything) too soon, but he definitely played well today,” Long said. “He's shown some separation (from the competition) all the way through camp.”

Junior Drew Westling was 2-for-7 for 22 yards with an interception, a miscue that was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Andrew Preston. Sophomore Kelsey Sokoloski was 2-for-5 for 14 yards.

Extra points

Redshirt freshman Mike Matamua, the projected starter at left tackle, will undergo an MRI after injuring his left foot Friday. “It doesn't look good,” Long said. Junior Peter Nelson, a converted defensive tackle, has taken Matamua's spot. . . . Six seniors were named captains for the 2008 season yesterday: linebacker Russell Allen, safety Corey Boudreaux, running back Tyler Campbell, defensive lineman Siaosi Fifita, receiver Darren Mougey and guard Mike Schmidt.

---

Mick McGrane: (619) 293-1850; mick.mcgrane@uniontrib.com