Photo by: Nathan Nybakke (Photography 805)
Mechanics Bank Student-Athlete of the Week: Xavier Oliphant
11/23/2021 9:33:00 AM | Football
Instead, the redshirt freshman defensive back and return specialist turned a missed Northern Arizona field goal attempt into a 100-yard return for a Cal Poly touchdown.
The final play of the first half of last Saturday's football game earned for Oliphant the Mechanics Bank Cal Poly Student-Athlete of the Week award.
Standing in the back of the end zone just in case Luis Aguilar couldn't connect on a 53-yard field goal try, Oliphant leaped into the air to catch the short and wide-right attempt and landed on the ground an inch or two shy of the end line.
Then he took off to his right, cut to his left at the goal line, raced up the left sideline in front of the Mustangs' bench and, once he crossed the Northern Arizona 40-yard line, had a clear path into the other end zone for a Cal Poly touchdown.
The play marked the first time that Cal Poly had returned a missed field goal attempt for a touchdown. NCAA rules state that, if a player begins his return in the end zone, the return is measured from the goal line, thus giving Oliphant a 100-yard return instead of 109 yards.
A starter at cornerback, Oliphant also made one tackle and broke up a pass in the season finale, won by the Lumberjacks 45-21.
A graduate of Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif., Oliphant played in all three Cal Poly games last spring, returning an interception 53 yards against Eastern Washington and recording nine tackles for the season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oliphant notched 23 tackles in nine games this fall, including 17 solo stops, broke up five passes and recovered a fumble in the Portland State game.
Despite playing on defense and special teams, Oliphant is not new to scoring. Twice in his prep career at Monte Vista, he returned an interception, kickoff and punt for touchdowns in a single season.
As a junior, Oliphant returned an interception 42 yards, a kickoff 90 yards and a punt 90 yards for touchdowns. The following season, he returned an interception 100 yards, a kickoff 85 yards and a punt 74 yards for scores.
Cal Poly earned wins against San Diego and Idaho State this season and played seven games against teams that were ranked in the FBS or FCS polls.
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