subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Mar 10 2010 

Published: October 29, 2009 11:20 pm    print this story  

HS FOOTBALL: Benoit booted GI into semis

By Nate Beutel
Niagara Gazette

Nate Benoit admits he was nervous.

But the way the Grand Island junior calmly booted the game-winning 42-yard field goal last week against Williamsville South — in the rain, on a chewed up game field, with seven seconds left, on the road, in the playoffs — you could never tell.

“Sometimes more pressure is better I guess,” Benoit said with a smile at practice this week.

One person that was smiling from ear to ear was GI coach Dean Santorio.

“That kick was no fluke,” Santorio said. “He’s worked very hard, so to see him come through like that was great.”

To even see him on the gridiron would have been an afterthought just a couple years ago. Like most youngsters on the Island, Benoit was first drawn to soccer. He would continue to play the sport until his freshman season when good friend, and football player, Ed Gauthier got in his ear.

“He kept telling me I’d be good at it and I would really like football,” Benoit recalled.

Admitting to himself that he was probably just an average soccer player, Benoit made the switch for his sophomore season. He kicked well for the JV squad and by year end, Benoit began to feel like he made the right choice.

“It took a little while, but I got a lot more consistent,” he said.

Santorio added, “He wasn’t a natural by no means, but he kept working at it, fell in love with it and made it his passion.”

This past offseason he enrolled in some camps and came back even more confident in the fall upon moving up to the varsity. Add in daily work with special teams coach Mike Stauffer, holder Joel Klock and long snapper Joe Connors and there was no way Benoit was missing that kick last week.

"We spend at least 15 minutes two or three times a week just kicking the ball from different spots and we always end with a 35, 40 or 45 yarder to win it,” Santorio said. “And he’s pretty consistent with those. So I think last week, he just did what he does in practice.”

And he’s been doing it all year. He’s been money on his extra points and has given a the Vikings a very valuable weapon once they get inside the opponent’s 30-yard line, according to Santorio.

In fact, Benoit has become such a weapon as a junior that his name is beginning to pop up in recruiting circles. Remember, Denver Broncos punter Brett Kern is a GI grad and his high school teammate Mike Feathers turned down Division I kicking offers to do track and field at Clemson.

“I’d put him right up there with where those guys were as juniors,” Santorio said. “The biggest similarity is consistency.”

Benoit said he is good friends with Kern’s father, Niagara Power president Cal Kern, and that the elder Kern has offered to help him in the recruiting process.

For now, though, he’s focused on helping sixth-seeded GI spring a second consecutive upset, this time against No. 2 Hamburg in the Class A semifinals at 7 p.m. today.

“We feel like we’ve been a much better team lately and hopefully we’ll continue that trend this week,” he said, while admitting that he hopes this game doesn’t come down to a field goal in the waning seconds.

If it does, though, “I’ll be ready,” he said with a chuckle.

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

print this story  

Photos


091028 Nate Benoit /sports DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Grand Island - Grand Island kicker Nate Benoit kicked a 42-yard winning Field goal against Will South last week. DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH/ (Click for larger image)


091028 Nate Benoit2 /sports DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Grand Island - Grand Island kicker Nate Benoit kicked a 42-yard winning Field goal against Will South last week. DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

CLERICAL
Clerical, permanent p/t, people skills a must, income tax & computer skills a plus, send resumes to: Assessors Office, C...>MORE

FOREMAN
Lawn Cutting Co. hiring foreman w/exp. & good work ethic, 863-3113
...>MORE

Haairstylist
HAIRSTYLISTS
Supercuts is now hiring managers and hairstylists. $750 hire on bonus. Paid vacation and holidays, pr
...>MORE

RN Manager
RN
RN Management position available. Seeking a dynamic, self starter wtih excellent "People skills" to work in a Re
...>MORE

Salespeople
SALESPEOPLE
Great pay, huge bonuses, benefits & more. Apply in person only: Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex, 2380 Mi
...>MORE

MST Therapist
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
   
...>MORE

Cleaner
CLEANER Needed, downtown Buffalo area. 4pm-8:30pm. Must have own transp. 833-4462...>MORE

Dental Receptionist
DENTAL
RECEPTIONIST
Busy progressive group practice seeks PT dental receptionist. Dental exp. and computer kn
...>MORE

HUMAN RESOURCE ASSOCIATE
Human Resources Associate: Entry HR Associate to hire field reps via email & phone contact. Requires organization, sel...>MORE

ACS OPEN HOUSE
ACS
Affiliated Computer Services (A Xerox Company) Is Hiring Customer Service Representatives
Offering compet
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Chevy 2001 Cavalier LS
CHEVY 2001 Cavalier LS, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, 84K mi, 1 owner, no rust, like new, $3950, 525-7796...>MORE

2001 Dodge Neon
DODGE 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white, 860-2854...>MORE

Olds 1998 Cutlass Supreme
OLDS 1998 Cutlass Supreme, 4 dr, V6, loaded, leather, 69K mi, 1 owner, no rust, like new, $3950 525-7796 ...>MORE

Pontiac 1995 Grand Prix
Pontiac 1995 Grand Prix, clean in/out, runs exc. many new parts, must see, $1500. 990-9337...>MORE

Chevy 2001 Silverado
CHEVY 2001 Silverado pickup, ext cab, 2wd, 75k miles, exc. cond. $7000 or best offer. 799-7754...>MORE

Saturn 1995 Wagon
SATURN 1995 wagon white 122k, auto trans. no rust, $1800. 4pm-9pm daily, 283-1218...>MORE

Ford 1998 F-150
Ford ‘98 F-150 supercab XLT 4x4, 113k, 1 owner, excellent condition, Zbart, Line-X bedliner, $5800, 297-9213....>MORE

Neon 2003 SXT
NEON 2003 SXT, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, loaded, 11,000 mi, 1 owner, no rust, like new, $6950, 525-7796...>MORE

1999 Pontiac Sunfire
PONTIAC 1999 Sunfire, 4 cylinder, auto, 2 door, exc cond in & out, real clean, no rust, $2750. 523-7102....>MORE

2000 Chevy Blazer LT
CHEVY 2000 Blazer LT, black, 141k miles, loaded, $2800 or best offer. 716-946-6985....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index