University of North Carolina Athletics
CAR-O-LINES: Kicking Game Has Been a Surprise
September 10, 2000 | Football
Sept. 10, 2000
y Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
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The kicking game, a major concern for North Carolina in pre-season practice, has suddenly turned into a team strength after the Tar Heels' first two games of the year.
In fact, it was the kicking game, and some sensational defensive play, which really proved to be the difference for Carolina Saturday night in its 35-14 victory at Wake Forest.
Jeff Reed kicked 44 and 37-yard field goals to help the Tar Heels grab a 20-14 lead over the stubborn Deacons after three quarters. Then early in the final period, Bosley Allen had an electrifying 78-yard punt return for a touchdown to give Carolina some breathing room. Allen later sealed the win with 6:31 to play when he grabbed a 60-yard touchdown pass from Ronald Curry.
Wake Forest, which led 14-10 at halftime, only crossed midfield once in the entire second half. Carolina kept the Deacs pinned deep in their own territory most of the last two quarters with an aggressive defense and the punting of freshman Blake Ferguson and sophomore John Lafferty.
Concerns about the kicking game were expected. Brian Schmitz, the second-leading punter in the nation last fall, and place-kicker Josh McGee both graduated. McGee ended his career with a school-record 52 field goals and also scored 271 points, second-highest total in Carolina history.
Carolina had averaged just 3.1 yards per punt return in 1999 and 20.0 yards on kickoff returns.
"We were coming into the season with a new set of kickers and had no idea what to expect," says Torbush. "I knew we had to do a better job of returning kicks. We set a pre-season goal of averaging 10 yards per punt return. I felt that was possible with the return people we had here."
The Tar Heels are off to a great start in reaching that goal. Allen, Sam Aiken and Kory Bailey combined for 85 yards on six returns in the season opener against Tulsa. Allen had seven returns for 153 yards at Wake Forest. That gives Carolina 238 yards on 13 returns this fall. The Tar Heels had only 85 total yards on punt returns all of last year.
Allen's 78-yard touchdown return against the Deacons was a brilliant piece of running. He got a great initial block from reserve defensive back David Scott which freed him to turn the right corner and get on the sideline. He found a lane, set up by more good blocking and some over-pursuit by coverage team members who had been in good position until Scott's initial block.
Allen got another big block on the Deacon 25-yard line, was hit by two defenders at the same time and managed to spin away to break still another tackle before sprinting into the end zone.
"He's an exciting player, says Torbush. "We missed him last year and you can see why."
Allen, a sophomore from Bradenton, Fla., spent all of last year rehabilitating a serious knee injury suffered late in the 1998 season. In fact, some wondered whether he would even play football again because his knee was so badly damaged.
"I was determined to come back," says Allen. "The doctors, trainers and our strength coaches did a great job working with me. You don't know how much you love the game until you're away from it like I was."
Allen showed in pre-season practice he was healthy again, but Torbush was still unsure of his kickers. The play of Reed has been a major surprise. With McGee handling the place-kicking for the last four years, Reed has never been close to the field at Chapel Hill. He last kicked in a game at East Mecklenburg High School in 1996. Now he has hit four of his first five field goals in his senior year at Carolina.
The punting situation for the Tar Heels was even more of a question mark. Ferguson, a true freshman from Broken Arrow, Okla., had been expected to be the punter, but Lafferty, a sophomore from Valdese, N.C., won the job the week before the season opener.
However, both have played and done a good job. Ferguson has a stronger leg and had been used when Carolina is punting from its side of the 50. Lafferty is the pooch-punter, trying to drop short kicks deep into opponents' territory.
Carolina's kicking game will get its sternest test of the season this week, however, when the Tar Heels face second-ranked Florida State in Tallahassee. Florida State traditionally has a tremendous set of return specialists. Plus, the Seminoles have made a habit of regularly blocking kicks.
In fact, in three games from 1995 to 1997, FSU blocked five Carolina punts, one field goal and one extra point.
"Our special teams have played well in the first two games, but they will need to be even better this week," says Torbush. "We know that and have to find a way to prevent what has been a positive for us so from quickly turning into a negative."
At least, Carolina doesn't have to worry about place-kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who's now in the National Football League. But, the Seminoles still have tremendous speed in their return specialists and are as good as ever at blocking opponents' kicks. It shapes up as a major part of what will have to be a huge week of preparations for the Tar Heels as they face perhaps the best team in college football.
Players Mentioned
