NEWS
By Camille Powell | October 8, 2009
Hitting what turns out to be a game-winning field goal is a big deal for a place-kicker on most football teams. At Navy, it can bring special treatment. After Geoff Blumenfeld made a 30-yard field goal with four seconds left to give Navy a 24-21 win over Air Force in 2004, he was served breakfast in bed by a midshipman in full dress uniform. When Joey Bullen did something similar a year later - converting a 46-yard field goal in the last second of a 27-24 win over the Falcons - he received a signed picture from the secretary of the Navy.
NEWS
By Edward Lee | September 11, 2009
Steve Hauschka is willing to wait. The newly minted full-time kicker for the Ravens knows that the organization's many fans embraced and admired Matt Stover. Hauschka is also aware that for the present and immediate future, every one of his kicks will be dissected and reviewed by Stover's loyalists. Hauschka knows what's in store for him as he succeeds Stover, and he will bide his time until fans welcome Hauschka the way they saluted Stover. "I think it's going to take a few years for people to forget Matt Stover around here just because of what he has done, and I completely understand that," Hauschka said.
NEWS
By Rich Scherr | September 5, 2009
Coming off a lopsided loss in last year's Class 2A state final, Eastern Tech was intent on beginning this football season on a strong note. Facing Milford Mill on Friday night, however, the No. 7 Mavericks needed until the final minutes of a seesaw game to truly hit a fever pitch. After nearly blowing a two-touchdown lead, Eastern Tech scored 20 straight points in the final 4:21 to put away the Millers, 33-12, at CCBC-Essex. The Mavericks (1-0) now have won 27 of their past 29 games. "There's always going to be people that doubt us and spectators who aren't on our side, so it's a good thing that we come out and play strong," sophomore tailback Marquiese Bannister said.
NEWS
By Jamison Hensley | September 4, 2009
ATLANTA -- Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't declare Steve Hauschka the winner of the kicking battle Thursday night, but the second-year player did his best to make the decision easier. Hauschka converted both of his field goals in the Ravens' preseason finale, including an impressive 46-yarder late in the fourth quarter. "I knew my job was probably riding on it," Hauschka said of the 46-yard field goal. "So I felt some pressure on that one." After coming under scrutiny for missing a 27-yard field goal Saturday, Hauschka bounced back to finish six of seven on field goals for the preseason (85.7 percent)
NEWS
By Jamison Hensley | August 26, 2009
Judging by looks alone, the Ravens' kicking competition might have been decided in the second quarter of Monday's 24-23 preseason victory over the New York Jets. That's when Graham Gano's 46-yard field-goal attempt sliced wide right, leading coach John Harbaugh to glare in disgust at the field while shaking his head. Halfway through the preseason, there are indications Steve Hauschka is close to winning the job over Gano. Hauschka has outplayed Gano, making all three of his field-goal tries.
NEWS
By Kevin Cowherd | August 6, 2009
Part of the fun of having a media credential and going to Ravens camp is you get to ask the coaches annoying questions. Here's one that really gets on their nerves: Who's going to replace the great Matt Stover as the team's kicker, Steve Hauschka or Graham Gano? It gets on their nerves because John Harbaugh and his staff have been asked this for weeks, dating to the team's first minicamps. And the answer the coaches keep giving is: We won't know until the preseason games start. Look, they say, you can watch a guy kick all you want in practice on the nice green grass at McDaniel College.
NEWS
By Mike Preston | June 6, 2009
Matt Stover has come to grips with his life after football. If his phone rings in late July or August, he is prepared to continue his career as one of the NFL's best kickers. And if not ... "Then my last kick for the Baltimore Ravens against Tennessee, wow, what a way to go out," Stover said. It was another classic Stover moment. With the outcome of the game in doubt, Stover trotted out on the field before a boisterous crowd of 69,143 at LP Field to kick the game-winning 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining as the Ravens edged the Titans, 13-10, in the AFC semifinals last season.
NEWS
By GLENN GRAHAM | February 26, 2009
Defense is what Lake Clifton coach Herman Harried continually reinforces to his group, and he got plenty of it Tuesday. The Lakers held Digital Harbor to one field goal and just five points in the decisive second half. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/varsityletters)
NEWS
By Jamison Hensley | January 11, 2009
NASHVILLE, TENN. - Conjuring up memories and magic of their last Super Bowl run, the wild-card Ravens once again knocked off the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in an AFC divisional playoff game yesterday. Matt Stover's 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the game lifted the Ravens to an improbable 13-10 victory over the Titans and stunned another sellout crowd at LP Field. Inspired by a timely offense, a stubborn defense and a rare break by the officials, the Ravens (13-5) became just the second sixth seed in NFL playoff history to upset a top seed.
NEWS
By JAMISON HENSLEY | January 11, 2009
JOE COOL: On the Ravens' final drive, Joe Flacco completed two of his three passes, connecting on a 23-yard pass to Todd Heap to convert a third down and hitting Mark Clayton for 8 yards to set up the winning kick. STOVER DELIVERS: Matt Stover converted the first playoff game-winner of his 19-year career, hitting a 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining. The kick was more impressive when you consider he was limited all week in practice because of a sore right ankle. STUBBORN DEFENSE: After giving up a touchdown in the first quarter, the Ravens allowed the Titans to get inside their 40-yard line six more times but surrendered only one field goal.