Another loss, 20-7 at Portland State University, and morekicking problems has head football coach Steve Mooshagian lookingto the baseball diamond for a possible answer.
Last year's starting kicker Bret LeVier, who decided inthe offseason to focus solely on baseball, will be brought intopractice this week to battle for Mitch Lively's startingjob.
Were not just going to give Bret the starting job,"Mooshagian said of LeVier. "He will have to come in and winit."
Along with a miss at Portland State, Lively has made 3 of 6 ofhis other field goals and 20 of 25 extra points.
The Hornets drove the football seven times into Portland Stateterritory Saturday and could muster only one meager touchdown in aroad loss at PGE Park.
Hornet quarterback Blake Mori, who was thrust into the startingjob after quarterback Ryan Leadingham went down with a fracturedwrist, had his worst performance of the season completing 15 of 34passes with two interceptions.
Both of Mori's picks came in the red zone. The first wasintercepted late in the first half by strong safety Nick Chenaultat the Portland State 13-yard line. The second was picked by freesafety Steve Shinen at the opponent's 4-yard line at thebeginning of the fourth quarter.
"When things go bad (the team) is devastated,"Mooshagian said. "They looked like somebody died when theycame off the field. They have to learn to overcome that."
The Vikings, who never trailed in the game, scored on two oftheir first three drives to open up a 14-0 lead.
Portland State running back Ryan Fuqua scored the firsttouchdown of the game on a 1-yard run.
On the next Viking possession quarterback Joe Wiser, who was 21of 30 on the night with three interceptions, threw a ball that wastipped at the line of scrimmage but still caught by wide receiverAmad Robinson who took the ball 73 yards for the touchdown.
The Hornet offense scored its only touchdown on the ensuingdrive.
Tyronne Gross finished with 97 rushing yards and capped off thenine play, 77-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown rush.
The Vikings added two field goals in the second quarter.
"After (Robinson's) blooper play the defense settleddown and executed," Mooshagian said. "The biggestchange from this game to the last was the third down package weinstalled."
Wiser threw three consecutive interceptions to three differentHornet defenders in the second half but Sac State's offensecould not capitalize on the turnovers.
Nose guard Seth Tago had a rare interception for a defensivelinemen in the third quarter.
"Two linebackers went on the blitz and I dropped back incoverage," Tago said. "(Miser) didn't see me - Idon't know why when I'm the biggest guy out there. Hethrew it and it just came into my hands."
Hornet safeties Kevin Tennerson and Zeph Payne were next to getin on the pick drill coming up with the next two turnoversrespectively.
Wide receiver Fred Amey, who led the Big Sky with 112.3 yardsper game, was held to only two catches for 51 yards.
"Were still battling with some mental pictures from thepast," Mooshagian said. "I'm using all myarsenal."
