Conventional football wisdom will tell you that generally a team’s punter is going to be used fairly often, more so than the team’s kicker. That is unless you play for the Lindenwood football team.
Meet Nick Somes and Halley Ferrell, the team’s punter and kicker, respectively. One has seen the field routinely, the other can almost count on two hands all the times he has touched the football this season. Despite not receiving the same notoriety as their teammates at the skilled positions, both are important to Lindenwood’s success.
When you are the kicker on a team that averages a nation-best 55 points per game, you are going to be busy. Ferrell is second in the NAIA in scoring with 114 points. On the season he has converted 90 extra-points. In eight different games he has made seven or more, including three games of nine or more. Simply put, Ferrell has been busy.
Halley Ferrell has been busy this year, kicking 90 PATs.
“It’s good, it’s an awesome feeling, no other kicker would have it any other way,” says Ferrell, a third-team all-conference selection. “It gets tough to keep your focus when attempting your tenth PAT of the game, but it’s an awesome feeling.”
In instances where the Lindenwood offense has stalled on third down and the Lions are forced to settle for a field goal, Ferrell has been outstanding. He is eight-of-11 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 44 yards.
In contrast, Somes has been asked to punt just 29 times this season, nine fewer attempts than last year. His average of 39.6 ranks in the Top 20 in the nation and in two years as a Lion, he has never had a punt blocked. Arguably the team’s most underused player, Somes is fine with that.
“It works out both ways, because when the team is always scoring, I am happy,” says the second-team all-conference selection and Azusa, Calif. native. “I want to get a better average, but when we win games and if we win a national championship, it’s always worthwhile.”
The average punter in the HAAC attempted 57 punts this season, nearly twice as many as Somes, yet only one finished with a better average. Twelve of his punts were inside the 20 and three have gone for more than 50 yards.
In the Lions’ semifinal win over Carroll, their roles became even greater. Facing windy conditions and snow, Ferrell was a perfect six-of-six on extra points and Somes converted two critical punts in the fourth quarter, something both will admit was not easy.
“It was hard mainly because I was worried about my footing,” claims Ferrell, a Deland, Fla. native. “It felt like concrete out there that I was stepping on and I was focusing a lot on the snap and the hold and wondering if Damian (James) was going to get his hands warm enough to get it down on a good surface.”
Somes shared the same thoughts. “It was pretty nerve-racking, I am not going to lie. Just with the snaps and the snow in the face and the wind, absolutely I was worried.”
With the game tied at 35 and field position becoming increasingly more valuable, the Lions punter was at his best. Twice he pinned the Saints inside their own 20-yard line. More impressive, he was punting
Nick Somes was a second-team all-HAAC selection this year.
into a stiff wind. On both possessions, Carroll was forced to a three-and-out, the second of those two setting up the game winning drive.
“I had a jacket on and two pairs of sweatpants, just trying to stay warm and mentally focused,” remarked Somes and that he was.
In order to be successful in football, you have to be good in all three phases of the game. With the offense more than holding up its end of the bargain and the defense doing the same, Somes and Ferrell have answered the bell every time.
Although they will be the first to admit that they want to have the ball in their hands, they understand the bigger picture.
“We’re at the point where we need touchdowns instead of kicking field goals and not the other way around,” said Ferrell. “Winning is more important.”
With one more win, these two would be part of Lindenwood’s first ever national championship in football and both are more than ready for the opportunity.