[!--quoteo--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--quotec--]On an afternoon when Aaron Pettrey and Ryan Pretorius needed to be nearly perfect, only Pettrey was.
The No. 1 kicking job likely was on the line in the Ohio State kick scrimmage yesterday. Pettrey made 9 of 9 field–goal attempts, including the winner from 47 yards. By Pretorius’ calculations, he was about 12 of 17.
In the world of kickers, Pettrey was the one who left Ohio Stadium feeling good about his effort.
"I think I have improved my status, if anything," Pettrey said.
He thought he entered camp behind Pretorius in the race to replace last year’s starter, Josh Huston, who is now with the Chicago Bears. But Pretorius, a 27-year-old rugby player turned kicker, had a feeling things changed. The tears that rolled down his cheeks on the walk back told the story.
"I felt like crying, yeah. I’m man enough to admit it," said Pretorius, a sophomore from South Africa. "Not on the field, but when I was walking by myself. It was my big day to shine. I’d had two amazing kick scrimmages or three before this, and I was like, ‘Why today?’ when I had worked harder than I ever have."
With the season opener against Northern Illinois nine days away, he and Pettrey think a decision by the coaches could come at any time.
"They still might have Ryan in that (starting) spot, but hopefully I’m standing out there with him," said Pettrey, 20, a redshirt freshman from Raceland, Ky. He added later, "I’m happy being where I’m at right now. … I’m not sure who has a leg up or anything."
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Link <--And who is the next great kicker???
I'm a little surprised it's this close although it looks like Pretorius hasn't put it away like could have. I thought he almost had it locked coming in to spring.
