by Phil Parker
Daily Lobo
In the last game of the season, in the bitter cold weather of Laramie, Wyo., Wes Zunker booted a field goal that sailed somewhere other than between the uprights.
He'd missed.
"I really didn't know how to handle it," Zunker said. "I was kind of shell-shocked and I didn't know how to react."
That was his last attempt of the season, but it brings to mind his very first this year, a 49-yard miss at Texas Tech. Zunker was surprised by the missed field goal in Wyoming because he hadn't bricked a kick since that errant boot in Lubbock.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
His first and last field goal attempts of the successful Lobo football season were his only two misses. In between, he managed to nail 15 straight 3-pointers over a nine-game span.
It's been a sweet comeback for a player who lost his job to injury last year and was forced to watch the last half of the season exclusively from the sidelines.
After straining his quad, then his groin, Zunker had to give up on 2002, relinquishing his spot to backup kicker Kenny Byrd.
"Last year was a depressing, low time in my life," he said. "It hurt to sit on the sidelines and not be able to do anything."
This year he's happy to have come through the whole way. Zunker limited himself in camp, making sure not to take too many kicks and was overly cautious with stretching and ice packs.
The results have been terrific for him and his team. Because UNM's red-zone offense was so successful, thanks in large part to one of the nation's top scorers in tailback DonTrell Moore, Zunker hasn't kicked as many field goals as others in the conference. He has, however, come through when called upon.
In a season full of Lobo highlights, no moment stands out more than Zunker's field goal to beat CSU at home in a must-win game, against an opponent the team had not beaten in years.
A miraculous fumble put the Lobos in position to win with just seconds remaining, and the man whose teammates refer to only as "kicker" came through in the highest of high-pressure situations.
"That's my biggest kick ever," Zunker said. "It's every kicker's dream to go out and win a game like that."
This season hasn't been perfect for Zunker, even excluding the two missed kicks. In an early-season loss to BYU, the Lobos faced a fourth quarter, fourth-down play on BYU's 28-yard-line. The team was down just three points, but rather than sending out Zunker, head coach Rocky Long opted to try for the first down. The offense fell short and the game was effectively over.
"I was ready and I thought I was going to get a big opportunity," Zunker said. "But we had been inconsistent last year and I hadn't proved myself at the time. They were a little unsure of the field goal unit."
Long and his staff can be sure now. With the Las Vegas Bowl looming, it will be essential for all the teams' squads to be confident and prepared.
Given his remarkable accuracy this year, Zunker will be ready if he's called upon.
