A Look at the 2009 SFA Special Teams
9/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - There are three parts to the game of football - offense, defense and special teams. If a team can win two of those three areas on the field they have put themselves in a very good position to win the game. Having stated that, special teams are an often-overlooked area of the game. The average fan will only notice them when something goes wrong - missed extra point to lose a game or a snap that sails over the punters outstretched arm.
Fortunately for SFA fans, special teams are treated with special care under second-year coordinator Todd Schonhar. After a dismal 2007 campaign, head coach J.C. Harper placed Schonhar in charge of Lumberjack special teams. From that point on, Schonhar set out with the charge of pumping life back into the unit. Schonhar's work, along with the assistance of the rest of the coaching staff, had players from both sides of the ball coming to Schonhar looking for a spot on special teams.
If you need proof just look at the numbers. SFA blocked five kicks last season, freshman punter Drew Nelson earned honorable mention All-SLC honors, SFA averaged 19.8 yards per kickoff return including a touchdown and two players (Vincent Pervis and Cory Long) earned SLC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Special teams should once again be an area of strength for SFA in 2009, but they will have to replace kicker Cory Long. SFA has brought in a couple of highly touted prospects in Evan Engwall and Thomas Henshaw, who have come in and done a solid job during fall camp. Engwall was the Kansas Special Teams Player of the Year, while Kohl's Professional Kicking rated Henshaw as a five-star recruit.
"Evan has been as advertised," said Schonhar. "He has come in here and proven that he has a strong leg. He has received a majority of the reps between the two freshmen just because he has been healthier, but he has been very consistent to this point.
"Thomas didn't get to kick many field goals or extra points early on because he was bothered by an injury, but he also has a very strong leg. From the very beginning we have tried to put these guys in difficult situations in practice, and both have done a tremendous job," added Schohnar.
Nelson returns from a rookie season that saw him earn honorable mention All-Southland Conference honors after averaging 40.6 yards per punt and downing 17 balls inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
"Drew did a phenomenal job for us last season," said Schonhar. "He has come in this season and continues to work hard, and has done a great job during preseason drills. He has been hampered a bit by a little leg injury, but that really hasn't affected his punting. Drew probably has the strongest leg on the team."
Junior Dustin Kempf returns as the team's deep snapper, a position he has held since his rookie season. Kempf's veteran leadership will be key for an otherwise youthful group of kickers.
SFA also has the benefit of bringing back its top four return specialists from a year ago. Seniors Duane Brooks, Contrevious Parks and Aaron Rhea provide SFA with big-play potential on punt and kick returns. The trio averaged 9.6 yards per punt return and 19.5 yards per kick return last season. Add classmate Vincent Pervis to the mix who led the team averaging 23.2 yards per kick return, with a touchdown, and the Lumberjacks will have a very strong, explosive group of returners.
The 'Jacks kick off the 2009 season Saturday, Saturday at SMU. The game against the Mustangs is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
-SFA-
