Duke kicker Todd Pelino has seen better days in the office than Saturday’s loss to the SMU Mustangs.
The third-year kicker missed an extra point in the third quarter and a 42-yard field goal attempt in the fourth before his 30-yard effort got blocked on the final play of regulation. The game-saving deflection from SMU defensive end Jahfari Harvey sent the game to overtime, and the Blue Devils eventually lost after a 2-point conversion attempt fell incomplete during the first overtime possession.
While it’s easy to draw a line between six potential points missed and an overtime loss, Duke head coach Manny Diaz emphasized how confident he remains in his kicker after the game.
“The only assessment I will make is that I trust Todd Pelino,” Diaz said. “I believe in Todd Pelino…I would feel very comfortable putting him in that situation. I believe he would knock it right through the pipes.”
Pelino made seven of his first eight field-goal attempts to start the season, including a 53-yarder against Connecticut in Week 3, but he’s missed four of his seven tries over the last four games. The break in that streak, however, came when he went three-for-three in a six-point victory over the Florida State Seminoles last week.
“It’s unfair to Todd because he has had a great career here,” Diaz continued. “He’s going to finish and he’s going to come back from this, just like everyone else on our team will. I would back him to make that kick 100 times out of 100.”