Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of 10 features that highlight a group or position of the 2010 Mercyhurst College football team.
Special Teams
Placekicker
Robert Giambra and punter
Garrett Stolz return, along with kickoff man
Josh Harold and return specialists
Andrew Bailey and
Paris Bruner.
Missed extra points came back to haunt the Lakers in several games in 2009 as the team hit 20-of-26 attempts. The Lakers’ first missed opportunity came in the season opener against Wayne State, and then followed with one against Slippery Rock before culminating with three against Clarion and one blocked against Gannon.
Giambra leads the placekicking efforts but red-shirt freshman
Adam Krahe and true freshman
Steven Wakefield will push for the role. Giambra also handles the majority of field goal attempts, hitting 5-of-8 a season ago. His longest was a career-best 38 yards against Indiana (Pa.). in the Lakers 20-16 upset of the Crimsown Hawks. He was perfect from under 20 yards while missing just once from inside 30 yards and twice from the 30-39 yard range.
Harold also recorded limited point after attempts but is likely to be counted on again in his primary role handling kickoff duties. He was the only Laker to handle kickoffs a season ago, booting the ball 46 times for 2,569 yards (55.8 yards average).
Bailey and Bruner possess great speed and cutting abilities, giving them a decided advantage in the
return game. Bailey took the majority of kickoff returns while Bruner was utilized as the Lakers’ primary punt return man. Bailey returned 30 kickoffs for 778 yards (25.9 average), including a 93-yard return to paydirt against Clarion to mark the first time since Chris Williams took a kickoff 42 yards in a 45-27 victory over Northern Mich. on Sept. 4, 2004.
Bruner handled 11 punt returns, averaging 6.4 yards per return a season ago.