It was a bad weekend for kickers of Pennsylvania football teams.
Pittsburgh Steelers' placekicker Kris Brown went one-for-five on field goal attempts on Sunday, costing his NFL team a victory.
Likewise, Penn sprint football freshman kicker Greg Tidwell missed two field goals in the fourth quarter of a emotionally-draining, 9-6 loss to Navy on Saturday at Franklin Field.
"I didn't see the [Steelers] game, but I heard [Brown] went one for five," a solemn Tidwell said. "The kicking evil spirits were out this weekend."
"I definitely saw [Brown's misses]," freshman wide receiver Greg Bagnoli said. "I was thinking [Brown] pushed them all wide right, and we had one wide right."
There was more to the Penn game than the missed kicks, though.
Navy struck first in the contest when running back Maurice Chapman bowled his way in from one yard out in the first quarter. The run capped an 84-yard drive.
The Midshipmen scored again early in the second period when Charles Nash booted a 31-yard field goal.
Down by nine, the Quakers went on the offensive during the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Jimmer Donapel ran one in from 20 yards out to narrow the game to 9-6. Chris Caputo -- who platoons with Tidwell in the kicking department -- missed the extra point, however.
Then came the fateful fourth quarter. With 8:17 left, Tidwell's 30-yarder sailed wide left.
An interception by senior defensive back Diego Morales gave Tidwell a chance for redemption. Once again, he missed.
"You can't put all the blame on [Tidwell]," Donapel said. "Obviously we missed other opportunities to put the ball into the end zone.
"In a [close game] there are always other chances."
The main crux in Tidwell's misses were the angles of the kicks.
"[Tidwell's] got a real strong leg, [distance] wasn't the problem," Bagnoli said. "The ball was on the left hash which made it harder."
"The kicks were good but the angles weren't right," Tidwell said. "I'm going to work a little more this week from the hashes."
Regardless, Penn now falls to 3-2 on the season, while Navy improves to 5-1, one victory away from a CSFL title.
The only thing the Red and Blue have to look forward to is this Friday's matchup against rival Princeton. The Quakers thumped the Tigers, 56-12, earlier this season.
The Quakers now have the week to prepare the special teams and choose a kicker for the last game.
"I would back whoever the coaches choose [to kick]," Donapel said. "Whether it be Caputo, Tidwell, or one of our other kickers, I'm fine with who the coaches choose."
Bagnoli also has little concern.
"I'm sure we're going to work on kicking a little more than usual" he said. "But as long as [Tidwell's] not real nervous and he's feeling it, he'll be fine."
The players may be confident now, but everything is speculative. What if the Quakers are down by two with one second left?
"I would take it if I had that chance again," Tidwell said. "I owe it to my team."
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.