Special day for CSM's special teams

Kelly’s most recent boomer, an end-over-end bull’s-eye through the north goalposts with a light wind at his back, tied the CSM program record. He matches Gabe Plascencia’s record of 51 yards set in 2021. Plascencia, now at San Diego State, hit a 50-yarder in the season opener Aug. 31, in the Aztecs’ 45-14 win over Texas A&M-Commerce.

“I saw the snap, I saw the hold, perfect as we always do it,” Kelly said of the record-tying kick. “I have full confidence in my snapper, he’s a great snapper. Great holder. We get along very well. And as soon as it came off my foot, I knew it was good. I had no doubt.”

CSM long snapper Luke Williams and holder Tashi Dorje have been working together since last year. Kelly arrived on campus this year after a standout prep career at Orange Lutheran, where he played soccer his first two years before deciding to focus on football. He had never been a football kicker until joining the high school team.

“My dad saw that I kicked the ball far in soccer, and just said: ‘Why not sign him up?’” Kelly said. “The rest is history.”

At 5-10, 225 pounds, Kelly certainly looks the part of a football player. He said he was intent on signing with a four-year college upon graduating Orange Lutheran in 2023. Being diagnosed with two stress fractures of the tibia after his senior season, however, forced him off the field for the rest of the calendar year.

“It was unfortunate that I didn’t go to four-year because I had an injury,” Kelly said. “But now I’m at San Mateo, and I’m very happy to be here. I wouldn’t have it anywhere else.”

The injury was something of an odyssey. Kelly said this stress vertical and horizontal stress fractures were originally misdiagnosed prior to his senior season of 2022. He played through the pain, converting 8 of 13 field goals, including a long of 47 yards.

“At first the doctors said it was shin splints,” Kelly said. “They didn’t see anything. They misdiagnosed me. Come back after my year and it was there, so I had to take a year off.”

Kelly’s leg wasn’t the only one to impress Saturday at CSM. Dorje, also the Bulldogs’ punter, exacted two punts that were downed inside the 5-yard line, including a 66-yarder downed at American River’s 4-yard line with five minutes to play in the first half. Late in the third quarter, he finessed a 43-yard punt that was downed at the 2.

The Bulldogs might have graded an “A+” on special teams, seeing as kick returner Hassan Mahasin opened the game with a 100-yard return for a touchdown. Two turnovers on special teams — one on a mishandled reception on a punt return, and one when the kickoff return team seemed to think it was a punt return and backed off a pooch kick to allow American River to “down it,” only to watch the kicking team pounce for the recovery — cost CSM a pristine day for an otherwise impressive showing on special teams.

Dorje said he was not surprised when Kelly connected for the 51-yard field goal, one that broke a 14-14 tie and ultimately proved the game-winner.

“As soon as I put the ball down, I saw him hit contact, I just knew it was going through,” Dorje said.

Kelly has been putting on shows on a daily basis at College Heights Stadium. His longest in practice has been in the 60-yard range, Dorje said.

“Since he got here in the summer, he’s just been booming it,” Williams said.

Kelly said his approach doesn’t change for short-range and long-range kicks.

“Not at all,” Kelly said. “It’s just the same kick, same technique. Everything is just a PAT. Just doing my job.”

The Bulldogs (3-1) conclude their non-conference schedule Saturday at home. CSM hosts undefeated Fresno (4-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.