SAN DIEGO STATE NOTEBOOK : McCartney Gets Good Start as Johnson’s Backup

SAN DIEGO —  John McCartney knows San Diego State’s football team is counting on him to cover for the loss of teammate Chris Johnson.

And Tuesday, in his first full-contact practice as the Aztecs’ strong safety, McCartney covered well.

“I thought he executed well,” said Coach Al Luginbill, who said he hopes McCartney--a redshirt freshman who was Johnson’s backup--can handle the promotion so the coach won’t have to move other players in the secondary. “If he progresses like I think he can, there won’t be an alternative.”

Johnson, a junior and three-year starter who is the sixth leading tackler in the Western Athletic Conference, severed tendons, an artery and possibly some nerves near his left wrist Sunday night. The injury occurred when a glass table Johnson was moving at home shattered. Johnson required emergency surgery and will be out for the season.

Johnson, his arm in a splint, tutored McCartney Tuesday, and gave him good reviews.

“He had a great practice and he’s going to step right in and do the job,” Johnson said of McCartney. “He’s young, but he’s going to fill my shoes real good.”

Said McCartney, a 6-foot, 200-pounder from Lincoln High, “I’m ready to jump in fully and respond. I’m confident. I know all my roles. I know exactly what to do on every play.”

If McCartney is not ready, defensive backs coach Ron Mims said, starters Darrell Lewis (free safety) and Robert Griffith (dime back) will have to change positions. Luginbill said he will make the decision after today’s practice.

“I guess you can say we’ll scrutinize him real close,” Mims said of McCartney, whose game experience consists of one series against New Mexico and two against UCLA.

The most experienced player at Johnson’s position is Larry Maxey--a fifth-year senior who, after once starting at H-back and being named a WAC honorable mention running back, is now primarily a third-down possession receiver. Maxey started 10 games at strong safety in 1989 and was SDSU’s third leading tackler. But Maxey said Tuesday he was not interested in returning to defense.

Luginbill said the strong safety in SDSU’s system is chiefly responsible for covering the tight end. And tight ends figure prominently in offensive scheme of SDSU’s next opponent, Wyoming. Mike Jones and Matt Swenson have 59 receptions and two touchdowns between them.

Aztec Notes

The Aztecs (4-2-1), tied for first in the WAC with Hawaii at 4-1, will face Wyoming (4-5, 2-3) in Laramie, where SDSU is 2-5. The Aztecs haven’t won at War Memorial Stadium since 1984 and saw the Cowboys come from behind to beat them, 52-51, two years ago. In that game, SDSU set the current NCAA record for most points in a game by a losing team. . . . The game will be telecast live regionally by ABC at 12:35 p.m. PST with Steve Zabriskie and Bo Schembechler in the booth. . . . SDSU has won six consecutive WAC road games since a 21-20 loss at Air Force last year.