Ace kicker Geisler sees history

By Mike Safford Jr. (posted Oct. 11)

Last season, Cal Lutheran placekicker Ryan Geisler led the NCAA Division III in placekicking – this Saturday, he watched history. Geisler watched Menlo College quarterback Zamir Amin throw for 731 yards against his Kingsmen, breaking the NCAA-all division record for passing yards in a game. The record was held by former Cincinnati Bengals and University of Houston quarterback David Klinger, who threw for 716 yards against Arizona State in 1990. For Cal Lu's sake, Giovanni Tocagino was tackled on the 5-yard line as time expired, giving the Kingsmen a 37-32 victory.

"It was really something watching the receivers for Menlo," said the four-time First Team All-America selection. "Each one of them stood between 6-2 and 6-4. They would be in a crowd and just take the ball away from our defensive backs. Luckily, we came away with a win."

Win is something that the senior social science major learned in high school, as he led Camarillo High to the CIF championship game by breaking the Ventura County record for most points in a season. Funny thing, however – it was his first year of competitive football.

"My only pressure kicks prior to coming to Cal Lutheran was in the CIF championship game," Geisler said. "In college, every kick – whether it be a PAT, field goal, or kickoff – is a pressure kick. Without a football background, it was difficult at first, but I adjusted."

After working all summer long making the tedious adjustment from high school kicking (off the kicking block) to college kicking (off the ground), Geisler was handed the starting kicking duties from CLU head coach Scott Squires. He paid dividends from the outset.

Just before halftime in Pacific Lutheran's eventual 45-23 victory over the Kingsmen, Squires asked the "thunderfoot" what his range was. Geisler responded with "57 yards," because he had kicked a field goal that distance in practice. With three seconds left, out trotted Geisler for a 57-yard field goal.

"I didn't even know how long it was," he said. "I hit the ball solid and it went true."

The field goal set a CLU school record, and propelled him to a nine- field goal season. Geisler had help in 1997 from All-American punter Jeff Shea. "I would have been lost out there without Jeff. He is such an easy-going guy and we worked hard every day. Jeff has opened the door for the success that I have had here at Cal Lutheran."

The success did not come easy. In the 1998 opener, Geisler hit rock-bottom, missing six field goals in a double-overtime loss to Pacific Lutheran. "It really played with my psyche. Each time I went out there, I was thinking about the last kick. It was really devastating."

Geisler was really touchy about the subject throughout that season and it showed on the field, making only 3 of 12 field goals. "I didn't work hard during the summer and it showed on the field," he said.

During the summer of 1999, the former Camarillo Scorpion rededicated himself to kicking, and resurrected his career. Geisler made his first seven attempts of the season, including a pair more than 50 yards out. His 14-for-18 season (77.8%) and 1.56 field goals per game led Division III, and earned All-SCIAC honors for the second time. But more was yet to come.

"I had no idea that I was going to get any awards," Geisler said about being named to the D3football.com Team of the Year along with the Hewlett-Packard, Burger King/AFCA, Lutheran Brotherhood All-Lutheran College, and Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-America teams. "It is a great feeling knowing that all of the hard work has paid off."

This year, Geisler has set the CLU school record for career field goals with 29, and has hit 4-of-6 attempts, with the only missed kicks coming from 50-yards or more. He hit a 44-yarder in a key moment of the Menlo game on Saturday, and his seven total points proved to be the difference, despite Amin's heroics.

"I know I would like the opportunity to play next year, whether it be in the NFL or the Arena League," Geisler said of professional football. "But that is in the future. We have a big game Saturday with Azusa Pacific, that is what's important now."

But back to the 731 passing yards ... 
Zamir Amin finished the game 39-for-66 with four touchdown passes and three interceptions. Cal Lutheran (0-1, 2-2) opened up with a 21-0 lead before the Oaks (2-3)responded by scoring the next 26 points. Chris Czernek of CLU had a great game of his own, throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Kingsmen head coach Scott Squires told the Los Angeles Times, "We need to be more careful after getting a big lead, but let me tell you, correcting that flaw is much easier after a win."

Haberberger out for the season
Northwest Conference-leading and No. 11-ranked Linfield (4-0, 1-0) will have to finish the season without running back Carl Haberberger, who tore ligaments in his knee in the Wildcats 43-7 non-conference victory against Whittier (0-4, 0-0 SCIAC) on Saturday. The senior from Leavenworth, Wash., was averaging 7.5 yards per carry and led the NWC with 120 yards a game. Haberberger, a two-time All-NWC selection, injured the knee on a routine run up the middle. 

Sophomore Marty Williams will try to pick up the slack. Williams rushed for a career-high 92 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Curt Musser was 15-for-20 in the first half as the Wildcats rolled to a 24-0 lead.

Around the region
Occidental (3-1, 2-0 SCIAC) jumped out to a 10-0 and never trailed, defeating Claremont (2-3, 0-2), 24-3. The victory launches the Tigers into first-place in the SCIAC, a half-game ahead of Redlands. Oxy quarterback Jesus Zuniga was a double-edged sword, throwing for 207 yards and rushing for 70 more. Tigers running back Kamron Jones had 18 carries for 107 yards. … Redlands' Clay Groefsma's first collegiate start was spectacular, leading the Bulldogs (3-2, 1-0) to a 41-17 victory against Chapman (1-4). Groefsma threw for 366 yards and five touchdowns, jumpstarting the Redlands offense. … Dwight White's 5-yard touchdown run with 5:40 remaining let host Kalamazoo defeat Colorado College (2-3) 23-19. The Tigers were led by Chris Witt's 82 yards rushing. … Craig Knapp was 18-of-34 for 191 yards and two touchdowns, as Puget Sound (3-1, 2-0) remained atop the Northwest Conference standings with a 42-35 win against Lewis and Clark (1-3, 0-1). Trent Thompson was 20-for-29 for 185 yards and three touchdowns for the Pioneers, but was intercepted twice. … Pomona-Pitzer (4-0) took advantage of three mishandled punts, defeating LaVerne (1-3, 1-1) 22-2. It was the first victory in 18 meetings for the Sagehens. … Jesse Ward hit a 47-yard field goal in the third overtime period, giving Willamette (2-3, 0-1) a 27-24 victory over Southern Oregon. This marked the longest game in the 102-year history of Bearcats football. … No. 9 Pacific Lutheran (4-1, 1-1) rebounded from last week's loss to Linfield with a convincing 61-36 victory against Eastern Oregon (2-3). Chad Johnson was 18-for-28 for 305 yards and five touchdowns for the Lutes, who remained unbeaten in nine tries against the Mountaineers.

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