Here are the Top Massillon Kickers and Punters of All Time
Like with most sports, football is not immune to evolution of the game. Take kicking the ball, for example. Throughout perhaps the first fifty years, kicks were made by first dropping the ball or setting it on a mound of dirt. Then, in the late 1940s tees were introduced for kickoffs, extra points and field goals, with the heights of the tees varying over time. The style of kicking also changed, from the drop kick, to the straight-on kicker with the flat toed shoe, to the present-day soccer-style kicker. Even the lengths of field goals at the high school level have increased remarkably over time.
For many of Massillon’s games, field goals were used as a last resort. And during most years up until the late 1980s, coaches more often than not preferred go for two following a touchdown rather than risk having a kick go wide of uprights. That, owing to the inherent inaccuracy of straight-on kickers. Today, with the very precise soccer-style kickers in use, kicking a PAT is simply an afterthought.
This story attempts to recognize all of the good kickers and punters that Massillon has had throughout its many years. Unfortunately, except for scoring data, limited individual statistics are available prior to the late 1950s. That problem is especially true for punters. It was not until 1958 that Massillon began to officially record game stats. As a final note, the Ohio High School Athletic Association did not award All-Ohio status to kickers and punters until 1989. In essence, it was extremely difficult to select the deserving players from those earlier years.
Please enjoy the final entry in this series.
1920s
Bob Pflug (Kicker, 1922-23) – Pflug played under head coach Dave Stewart. He recorded his first points as a kicker during his junior year when he booted three extra points. As a senior he was the primary kicker, accumulating 26 extra points and three field goals, with the final tally a 17-yard field goal against Canton McKinley in a 9-0 victory. Pflug was also a fine football player overall. He is a member of the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Bill Edwards (Kicker, 1922-1924) – Edwards played three years under head coach Dave Stewart. He was also the starting kicker in two of those years, sandwiched around Bob Pflug. In 1922 Edwards recorded 13 points, all via extra points. In 1924 he converted 32 extra points and two field goals, one of 40 yards vs. Alliance. Later, he played running back for New York University and was named NCAA All-American. Edwards is a member of both the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame and the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Art McConnel (Punter, 1925) – McConnel played under head coach Dave Stewart. Against Warren Harding he set a record with an 81-yard punt.
1930s
Henry Krier (1933-34) – Krier played under head coach Paul Brown. In addition to being an outstanding running back, he was also the starting kicker for two years, in a era when most teams just went for two following a touchdown. In 1933 he recorded 17 points kicking and the following year he upped that to 21. He was also named 1st Team All-Ohio (as a running back).
1940s
Horace Gillom (Punter, 1938-40) – Gillom played three years under head coach Paul Brown, while experiencing three state titles and two national titles. In addition to being an outstanding end, he excelled in the punting game. Twice he was named 1st Team All-Ohio. Later, he played for Nevada and then was the punter for the Cleveland Browns. He holds one record book top ten. He is also a member of both the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame and the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Ray Getz (Kicker, 1938-40) – Getz played three years under head coach Paul Brown. In two of those years he was the designated kicker. In 1939 he recorded 29 points and in 1940 he had 35, all extra points. Following the season, he was named 1st Team All-Ohio as a running back. Getz is also a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
1950s
Jerry Krisher (Kicker, 1948-50) – Krisher experienced three state titles and one national title under head coach Chuck Mather. In 1949 he kicked 36 extra points. The following year he had 45 extra points and one field goal. Following the season Krisher was named 2nd Team All-Ohio as an offensive center.
Tom Boone (Kicker, 1952-53) – Boone was the kicker during both his junior and senior seasons under head coach Chuck Mather. In each year he kicked 44 points after touchdown. And both of his teams finished as state and national champions. Following his senior year, he was named 2nd Team All-Ohio as a defensive lineman.
1960s
Wilbur Paisley (Kicker, 1961) – Paisley enjoyed an 11-0 state and national championship campaign under head coach Leo Strang. He did not become the kicker until five games left in the season, and only after there was a dearth of missed opportunities throughout the first half of the season when attempting to run the ball for 2-point conversions after touchdowns. Paisley ended up with 16 successful PATs, including the difference maker in a 7-6 victory over Canton McKinley.
1970s
Mark Westover (Punter, 1976-77) – Westover played two years of varsity ball as a linebacker under head coach Mike Currence. He was also the starting punter during his senior year, when he kicked 19 times, averaging 37.8 yards per try.
Jeff Fry (Kicker, 1978-79) – Fry played under head coach Mike Currence. During his senior year the team finished the regular season with a 10-0 record and regional championship. Fry was the starting kicker that year and he recorded 35 points, including three field goals.
1980s
Lee Hurst (Kicker, punter 1986-89) – Hurst played four years of varsity football: two under head coach Chuck Shuff and two under head coach Lee Owens. His primary position was quarterback, but he also had kicking duties during each of the four years. In his freshman season he kicked 23 extra points and four field goals. The next year he had 25 PATs and two field goals, including seven extra points against Warren Harding. He also did kickoffs. During his junior year, Hurst recorded 13 PATs. He also kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime to defeat Canton McKinley, 10-7. And he was the kickoff specialist and punter. In his senior year he focused more on his quarterback duties and just did kickoffs. His team also captured the regional championship that year. Following his career, he was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio. He holds three records book top tens. Later, he played for Kent State University.
Ken Hawkins (Punter, 1985-86) – Hawkins played two years under head coach Chuck Shuff. During his junior year he punted 32 times, averaging 38.8 yards per kick. In his senior year he punted 37 times, averaging 36.0 yards per punt. He holds four records book top tens. Later, he played for Syracuse.
1990s
Chris Roth (Punter, 1989-90) – Roth played two years under head coach Lee Owens. The 6’-7”, 240 lb. tight end was also the punter. During his junior year he punted 36 times, averaging 33.7 yards per punt. The following year he punted 41 times, averaging 38.7 yards per punt. He owns six records book top tens.
Luke Shilling (Punter, 1997-98) – Shilling was the starting punter for two years, with one under head coach Jack Rose and then a second under head coach Rick Shepas. During his junior year, he punted 51 times, averaging 39.9 yards per try. As a senior year, on a team that finished the regular season unbeaten, he punted 33 times, averaging 33.2 yards per kick. Following that year, he was named 1st Team All-Ohio as a punter. He holds game records with ten punts vs. Glen Mills, PA, and 373 yards punting vs. Walsh Jesuit, both coming in 1998. He also holds career records with 60 punt attempts and 2,392 punt yards. And he has 12 records book top tens. Later, he played for the University of Akron.
Josh Hose (Kicker, 1995-97) – Hose started at the kicking position for three years under head coach Jack Rose. As a sophomore he connected on 24 PATs. During his junior year he hit 29 extra points. He also had a 23-yard field goal in a 10-9 victory over Austintown Fitch. Hose concluded his career with 28 PATs and four field goals as a senior. He was also the kickoff specialist. Hose is the current head coach of the Massillon basketball team, which recently captured the Division II state title.
2000s
David Abdul (Kicker, 2000-01) – Abdul was the starting kicker for two years under head coach Rick Shepas. He was also Massillon’s first soccer-style kicker. As a junior he was true on 33 extra points and set a season record with 14 converted field goals. In a road game against Lakewood St. Edward he kicked a game-winning field goal of 36 yards as time expired to give the Tigers a 28-27 victory. Against Lima Senior he was good on four of five field goal attempts. He also set distance records of 50 and then 56 yards, the latter coming against Akron Garfield. Following the season, he was named 1st Team All-Ohio. During the next year Abdul converted 61 of 62 PATs and broke his season field goal record with 15. In the Mansfield game he hit a 54-yard field goal in a 17-14 victory. Again, he was named 1st Team All-Ohio. During his career his kicks were true on eight different field goals of 50 or more yards. Abdul holds game records with four field goals made and five field goals attempted. He also holds season records for 15 field goals made and 23 field goals attempted. In addition, he has 26 records book top tens. Meanwhile, his two teams finished with records of 8-3 and 12-2 (regional champions). After Massillon, Abdul played for the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
Max Shafer (Kicker, punter, 2002-03) – Shafer was the kicker and punter for two years under head coach Rick Shepas. During his junior year he converted on 48 of 61 extra points and 4 of 10 field goals. His big kick came in the playoffs against Perry when he connected on a field goal of 35 yards as time expired in a 23-21 victory over Perry. He also punted 40 times, averaging 33.6 yards per attempt, with a long of 62 yards. The team that year finished with a record of 11-3 and a regional championship. As a senior he shared the kicking duties and was true on 9 of 13 PATs and 4 of 7 field goals. He also punted 37 times, averaging 36.0 yards per try, with a long of 50 yards. Shafer holds 12 records book top tens.
Shawn Weisend (Punter, 2003-05) – Weisend was the starting punter in 2004 under head coach Rick Shepas and in 2005 under head coach Tom Stacy. As a junior, he punted 24 times, with an average of 34.7 yards per kick and a long of 50. During his senior year he punted 48 times, while averaging 38.9 yards per attempt and a long of 70 yards. Following the season he was named 1st Team All-Ohio as punter. The team also finished with a record of 13-2 and state Division I runner-up. Weisend holds eight records book top tens.
Steve Schott (Kicker, punter, 2005-07) – Schott was the starting kicker for three years under head coach Tom Stacy. As a sophomore he converted 61 of 63 PATs and 7 of 14 field goal attempts. The team that year finished with a record of 13-2 and as state Division I runner-up. During his junior year he kicked off and was also good on 40 of 41 extra points and 10 of 14 field goal attempts. His highlight came when he kicked a 47-yard field goal against Canton McKinley in the 3rd quarter to break a 7-7 tie and win the game 10-7. Following the season, he was named 2nd Team All-Ohio. As a senior he was good on all 38 PATs and 7 of 13 field goal tries. In the game against McKinley he was good on a 41-yard field goal early in the game in a 23-20 victory. He also kicked off, with 33 touchbacks, and punted, averaging 36.3 yards per kick. After the season, he was named 1st Team All-Ohio. Schott owns the season record with 100% success rate in PATs in 2007. He also has 23 records book top tens. Later, Schott played for Ball State University. He is a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
Jeremy Geier (Kicker, 2008-09) – Geier was the starting kicker for two years under head coach Jason Hall. In 2008 he converted 34 of 36 extra points and 9 of 13 field goals attempts. He also kicked off. In 2009 Massillon recorded a 10-4 record and captured the regional championship. Geier was good on all 45 of his PAT attempts and also connected on 9 of 13 field goals. Against Twinsburg in the playoffs he kicked a 40-yard field goal, his career long, in the fourth quarter to secure a 10-7 victory. The following week, Geier connected on a 21-yard field goal against Canton McKinley for another 10-7 win. He holds the season record for 100% PAT conversion rate, along with 14 records book top tens.
2010s
Andrew David (Kicker, Punter, 2012-14) – David was a 3-year varsity player under head coach Jason Hall, and for all three years he was the starting kicker and punter. In 2012 the Tigers finished with a record of 11-2 and advanced to the regional championship game. David was good on 56 of 61 PAT attempts and 7 of 15 field goals. In his sophomore year he hit 40 of 43 extra point attempts and was 7 of 14 on field goal tries, including a 20-yarder against Canton GlenOak to win the game 23-20 in the third overtime period. Following the season, he was named 3rd Team All-Ohio. As a senior David was 34 of 36 on PATs and 12 of 17 on field goals, including a record long of 58 yards against St. John’s Collegiate, Ontario. As a kickoff specialist, 59 of 63 went into the end zone on the fly. He also averaged 50.0 yards per punt against Warren Harding. After the season, he was awarded 1st Team All-Ohio. David owns career records with 32 field goals made and 55 field goals attempted. He also has 29 entries in the records book top ten. Later, he was the punter for the University of Michigan, Texas Christian University and Northwestern.
Klay Moll (Kicker, 2015, 2017) – Moll kicked two years for the Tigers under head coach Nate Moore. As a sophomore he connected on all 19 PAT attempts and his lone field goal attempt. He returned as a senior to convert 54 of 55 extra point attempts and 6 of 8 field goal tries, including a 21-yard field goal against Canton McKinley in a 16-15 victory. Moll holds the season record with 100% PAT conversion. He also holds career records with 98.6% PAT conversion and 77.5% field goal conversion. And he has seven records book top tens.
Alex Bauer (Kicker, 2018-20) – Bauer was a 3-year starting kicker under head coach Nate Moore. In 2018 he made 78 of 83 PAT attempts and 7 of 8 field goal attempts. Against Sun Valley, PA, he converted all 14 of his PAT tries, along with a 39-yard field goal, setting game records for PAT attempts, PAT conversions and points scored. In 2019 he was good on 81 of 83 extra points and 6 of 8 field goals, including the game-winning points in the playoff game against Akron Hoban, when he pushed through a 31-yard field goal. As a senior, Bauer was 46 of 47 on extra points and 8 of 11 on field goals, with a long of 42 yards. He had a great experience during his career with the Tigers winning 38 of 42 games and advancing to the state finals in each of the three years. Bauer holds season records with 83 PAT kicks attempted (2018), 87.5% field goal conversion (2018), 83 PAT kicks attempted (2019) and 81 PAT kicks made (2019). He also holds career records with 213 PAT kicks attempted; 205 PAT kicks made and 77.8% field goal conversion. And he has 26 records book top tens.
2020s
Magnus Haines (Kicker, Punter, 2017-20) – Haines was a 4-year starter under head coach Nate Moore. His punting averages steadily increased throughout his career, with successive yards per kick stats of 32.7, 34.6, 39.4 and 41.5. He also had the opportunity to kick for some excellent Massillon teams, with two teams recording unbeaten regular seasons and three finishing as state runner-up. Following his junior year he was named 3rd Team All-Ohio. The next year he was named 2nd All-Ohio. Haines holds career records with 119 punt attempts and 4,405 punt yards. Plus, he owns 17 records book top tens. Later, he played for Kent State University, Arkansas State University and Ohio University.
Nolan Hendricks (Kicker, punter, 2021-22) – Hendricks was the starting kicker for two years and the starting punter for one under head coach Nate Moore. In 2021 he converted all 13 PAT attempts, tying a record with 100% success. The following year he was good on 9 of 15 extra points and 3 of 4 field goals. And he punted 37 times, averaging 31.5 yards per kick. He holds six records book top tens.
Mateo Herrera (Kicker, 2023-present) – Herrera is about to start his fourth year as a varsity kicker, while playing under head coach Nate Moore. He has proven to be one of the most accurate kickers that the Tigers have ever had, based on having converted throughout his career a whopping 133 of 137 PAT attempts. He has also made 7 of 11 field goal tries. Playing as a backup as a freshman, he was good on all 22 PAT attempts. He has since been the starter. During his sophomore year he converted 55 of 58 PAT tries and 6 of 8 field goal attempts. He also kicked a 36-yard field goal against Canton McKinley in a 16-7 victory. As a junior, he was true on 56 of 57 PAT attempts and 1 of 3 field goal tries. Herrera holds the season record with a 100% PAT conversion rate (2023).
