Teams News - 2016 Season Review - Special Teams

Kick and Punt Returns

Junior Anthony Brown was the primary return man for West Chester. He averaged nine yards per attempt of his 22 punt returns which was good for fifth in the PSAC, but as a team, the Golden Rams were only 13th in the conference. Brown also returned 12 kickoffs for an average of 21.6 yards while Jarel Elder brought back nine kickoffs for an average of 21.8 yards. As a team, West Chester was in the middle of the PSAC in kickoff returns.

Anthony Brown was the primary punt and kick returner (Photo R&R Photography)

Kick Scoring

Brendan Paulison handled almost all of the kick scoring opportunities and led the Golden Rams in scoring with 70 points. He converted 46 of his 51 PAT attempts and earned second team All-PSAC East honors for his efforts. Paulison was perfect on his six field goal attempts under 30 yards, but was only 2 of 9 from beyond that point with a long of 42 yards against Shippensburg. Connor Foley converted his only PAT attempt and Blaise Toroni converted his only PAT attempt and a 25-yard field goal against Cheyney.

Paulison led West Chester with 70 points this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Reserve defensive lineman Shane Griffin handled all of the long snapping duties while Tyler Karpinski was the primary holder.

Griffin served as long snapper (Photo Ron Hockman)

Karpinski's good hands served well as holder (Photo Ron Hockman)

Punts and Coverage

West Chester had the fourth fewest punts in the conference with 43, and Brendan Paulison booted every one of them. While he ranked only ninth in the PSAC with a 37.3 yard average, only ten of those punts were returned for a 9.1 yard average, so the Golden Rams were fourth in the conference with a 35.2 net yards per punt. Paulison forced 12 fair catches and pinned 14 inside the opponents’ 20 yard line. His longest punt of the season was 55 yards and the sophomore was named second team All-PSAC East.

Paulison also handled the punting chores (Photo Ron Hockman)

Kickoffs and Coverage

Kickoff coverage was an improved area for the Golden Rams this season as they finished sixth in the conference in net average. Paulison handled a majority of the kickoffs, and booted 15 of his 56 for touchbacks. Classmate Connor Foley averaged over 59 yards on his 12 kickoffs.

Paulison banged 15 touchbacks (Photo Ron Hockman)

Foley kicked off a dozen times (Photo Ron Hockman)