Teams News - 2012 Season Review - Special Teams

Kickoffs and Coverage

Sophomore Will Huff handled the kickoff duties for West Chester this season. The team averaged 58.7 yards per kick which was good for sixth in the PSAC. Somewhat disturbing was opponents returned two kickoffs for touchdowns to start the second half in back-to-back weeks. Even with those two blemishes, the Golden Rams finished ninth in the conference in net yards on kick coverage.

Will Huff handled the kickoff duties this season (Photo Ray Doyle)

Punts and Coverage

Rich Bruno was only called on to punt 34 times this season, which was second fewest in the PSAC (East Stroudsburg - 31). Bruno averaged 36.6 yards per punt, 35.9 net yards per punt, and forced 12 fair catches which garnered him second team All-PSAC East honors.

Punter Rich Bruno earned All-PSAC East honors (Photo Ray Doyle)

Kick Scoring

Place kicker Shawn Leo had an incredible season but unfortunately received no accolades from the conference. Leo missed a total of three kicks on the season: one extra point at California; a 45-yard field goal at California (which hit the right upright); and a what would have been PSAC record 57-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half at Clarion. Other than that, the junior converted 48 PAT's and 13 field goals, including 5 of 6 from 40-49 yards. In doing so, Leo tied his own team record of field goals in a game (4 at Clarion), broke his own team record for PAT percentage in a season (98.0%), broke his own team record for kicking points in a season (87), and set the West Chester career mark for field goals made (37).

With so many PAT's in his career, Alex Walsh's record for PAT's made appears to be safe. But no kicker in West Chester history has been more accurate than Leo as he's on pace to set the career PAT percentage, field goal percentage and kicking points records.

Shawn Leo had five field goals of 40+ yards this year (Photo Ray Doyle)

Nate Pagan held on kicks, returned punts and kickoffs as well as play defensive back (Photo Ray Doyle)

Kick Returns

Kick returns wasn't the best part of special teams, as fumbles, bobbles and indecision cost the Golden Rams valuable field position. With touchbacks on free kicks now being placed at the 25 yard line, bringing the ball out of the end zone has to be reconsidered as the best option.

Punt Returns

Punt returns, on the other hand, performed well and were very entertaining. As a team, West Chester averaged 9.5 yards per return, good for fourth in the PSAC. And much of that was thanks to redshirt freshman Brandon Monk who spent a lot of time making opposing tacklers miss and generally look silly when faced in a one-on-one situation. His 12.1 yard average per return was good for sixth in the league. Senior Nate Pagan logged 11 punt returns for 79 yards. Monk also ripped off kick returns of 56 and 75 yards this season.

Brandon Monk had several electrifying returns this year (Photo Ray Doyle)