Gamble on kicker pays off for Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000 | 9:58 a.m.

Five months ago, Dillon Pieffer was a high school senior at Coronado High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., hoping to find a Division I football program that would give him the chance to just walk on as a placekicker.

He got one offer -- from UNLV.

"I sent a lot of videos out," Pieffer said. "But UNLV was the only one to let me know they'd let me walk on."

Last Saturday, Pieffer attempted his first college field goal. It came on the road at traditional SEC power Ole Miss. In overtime.

The 5-11, 169-pounder was perfect on his 33-yarder that gave UNLV a 40-37 lead. Ole Miss would eventually rally for a 43-40 victory, but it did nothing to take away from the clutch kicking of Pieffer.

"It was pretty exciting," said Pieffer, who is also a perfect 9-for-9 on PATs since taking over for struggling senior Ray Cheetany two games ago. "My heart was beating a little faster when they told me to go over and get as many practice kicks into the net as a I could."

Pieffer said he was even more nervous after he kicked the ball, which easily sailed through the uprights.

"I kept my head down on my follow-through," he said. "Then I looked up and the sun was in my eyes and I couldn't see the ball. I wondered if it went in. But then the crowd was quiet and our linemen started jumping up and down. Then I knew (it was good)."

"It was a pretty clutch deal for me," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "The interesting thing about it, this kid and the way he kicks, it never really occurred to me that it was a pressure play on his part. He's been so accurate. He just runs out there and -- boop -- it goes through.

"He's a real find for us. And we have him for three more years after this."

"Hopefully I can earn a scholarship here," Pieffer said. "That would be a big help."

Pieffer took over the PAT and short field goal duties from Cheetany after the All-American punter converted on just 13 of 18 PATs and had a potential game-tying PAT try blocked with 34 seconds to go in UNLV's tough 20-19 loss at Colorado State.

Pieffer was on the sidelines at Fort Collins that night but never dreamed he would be kicking the following week against Wyoming when he converted all six of his PATs.

"It's a funny story," Pieffer said. "My whole goal for the season was to make the travel squad for Colorado State so I could go home and see my friends and family. I had about 25 people there. But after that game, Ray said he wanted to concentrate on just punting and kickoffs. It all happened so fast. The next thing I know Coach (Steve) Johns was contacting me about kicking in games."

"He's got a real compact stroke," Johns said. "He's kind of like a golfer with a compact swing. He gets it off quick and high."

Pieffer is looking forward to Saturday's game at Utah because his parents, Mark and Bridget Pieffer, as well as some friends are going to make the long drive from Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City for the game.

"Hopefully they'll get to see me kick a lot of PATs that day," he said.