Kicker’s career on hold

Text of cutline . . . Kicker Dave Stannard is the second-leading scorer for top-ranked James Madison. Dave Stannard could have completed his degree at James Madison earlier this year and entered the business world.

Instead, the former Clover Hill High soccer standout stuck around for one more season as JMU's kicker, and the Dukes were more than happy to have him.

"I had another year of eligibility," Stannard said. "That was the biggest thing. The job market wasn't very good either, especially for a finance major."

By spending another semester in Harrisonburg, everything seems to be falling into place for Stannard, who has a job lined up with Genworth Financial Corp. in Richmond in February.

The senior from Midlothian also is the second-leading scorer for the Dukes (11-1), who play Villanova (10-2) tomorrow in Harrisonburg in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

"If I hadn't gotten that job, I'd probably be waiting on tables somewhere for a year, who knows," Stannard said.

Stannard realized he wouldn't be continuing his kicking career past college, so he's made the most of his final season. The 5-9, 185-pounder has converted 9 of 13 field goals and is 60 of 62 on PATs for 87 points, second only to quarterback Rodney Landers (90).

"My summer internship [at Genworth] was a really good experience and I liked it a lot," he said. "But it made me appreciate this last semester I've had here. I also knew that by playing football again that I would be playing on a great team."

Stannard hasn't been quite as successful as last season, his first as JMU's place-kicker, when he was 12 of 14 on field goals and 49 of 51 on PATs for 91 points as the Dukes went 8-4 and lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

"I had a week or two this year where I struggled, but I've gotten over that and I'm kicking well again," said Stannard, who hit the uprights with a short field-goal try and a PAT against Delaware on Nov. 1.

"Right now, I'd say he's kicking as good as he has in two years," said assistant coach Clayton Matthews. "That's in practice and in games. He's really hitting the ball good right now. For a while there, he had trouble with his consistency . . . something different every kick."

In JMU's 38-35 victory over Wofford last week, Stannard nailed a 24-yard field goal that broke a 28-all standoff in the fourth quarter and ultimately proved to be the difference.

"Every kick, every extra point, every field goal matters now," Stannard said. "The games are a lot tighter. I don't see us winning by 40 points in any of these games.

"I feel that I do a pretty good job of staying calm out there. I have a pretty relaxed personality, so I think that helps me out. I don't get too jittery. That one against Wofford, I didn't feel any pressure. Just a little longer than an extra point. It was from the [left] hash, which makes it a little more difficult."

In the playoff loss at Appalachian State last year, Stannard scored on a seven-yard run off a fake field goal.

"That was awesome," he said. "I had never scored a touchdown in my life. I didn't play football when I was growing up. Just a little bit my senior year in high school. I don't see that happening again, but if it does, I think I could handle the excitement a little better, having done it before."

The only excitement Stannard craves now is more successful field goals and PATs.
Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or .