We have previously chronicaled how Oregon State blew games against Fresno State and Sam Houston State due to epic special team failures. Last Saturday, Utah State suffered the same fate at UNLV.
Regulation ended at 23 all. Utah State’s place kicker, Tanner Dinker, had to feel terrible. He missed a game winning 42 yarder that would have won the game in regulation. It was his 2nd missed Field Goal of the game in addition to a missed extra point. Dinker had yet another chance for salvation with a game winning 41-yarder in overtime. Dinked again as the squads went to double overtime. The Rebels eventually scored a winning TD to win 29-26. DInker’s failures were perplexing as he was 10 for 10 on Field Goals leading into their UNLV tilt.
The impact of special teams keeps getting undervalued even with yet another graphic example of its import.