“It’s awesome. It really shows how I prepped over the offseason and how we’ve grown as a team,” said Shippensburg University kicker and punter Billy Deane on his second consecutive week of receiving the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Special Teams Player of the Week.
Deane picked up the award through his stellar performance in the Sept. 10 loss to Gannon University, in which he made two field goals to keep SU afloat.
Deane was good from 33 yards out and 43 yards out in the contest. His 43-yard field goal into the wind during the second quarter of the SU home opener is just one yard shy of his career-long.
Deane’s high level of play keeps Shippensburg competitive throughout the season. Deane has attempted field goals from more than 56-yards out and longer in practice.
Maybe with wind behind his back, he could break his personal-best this season. Deane was 5-for-6 on field goal attempts entering SU’s matchup against Clarion. That is three more field goals than any other PSAC kicker has made through the first two games of the season.
Alongside the great start to his 2016 season, Deane went 13-for-20 on field goals last season and also made 53 points after touchdown.
Deane has led the way in the PSAC thus far by receiving this honor for the second week in a row, and has made himself a key component to the success of the Red Raiders.
His excellence in kicking did not happen overnight. The kicking phenom hails from Virginia, where he was a three-sport athlete in high school, participating in soccer, football and basketball.
His impressive kicking ability derives from his background in soccer, which is common among kickers.
The numbers reflect his great work ethic, which is necessary for the Raiders’ quest for the PSAC title.
Deane showed his leg strength on fourth downs, too, by punting three of his six punts inside of the 20-yard line. His two other punts were both fair catches.
One of his six punts trickled out of bounds at the Gannon 1-yard line and put the defense in incredible position to succeed.
His hard work and impressive play helps the entire team and he has become a cornerstone to the Raiders’ organization. Deane looks up to kickers at the next level such as the high-caliber kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, Justin Tucker.
“As a kicker, you can’t be cocky, but you have to be very confident,” said Deane. “I see [Justin Tucker] as a very confident kicker and I aspire to be like him.”
As the Raider’s season cruises on, Deane looks to help his team while improving and getting better every chance he gets.
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