Kicking the habit

Perhaps the defining moment in the 2005 season came in Penn-Princeton Homecoming game.

With just over 10 minutes to go in the first half, Penn scored a momentum-changing touchdown to come within one possession of the lead.

But on the ensuing extra point, then-sophomore kicker Derek Zoch's attempt was blocked and returned 98 yards for two points by Jay McCareins.

What could have been a 14-7 deficit had just become a 16-6 one, and the Quakers never looked the same after that play.

The play was symbolic not only of the Quakers' fortunes in that game, but of their entire season on special teams. While then-sophomore punter Anthony Melillo was an All-Ivy selection, the kicking game was a true liability for the team.

In his first full year, Zoch made only 11 out of 17 field goals, and missed four extra points and had several kicks blocked.

In a critical two-game stretch against Brown and Princeton, during which the Quakers lost their grip on they Ivy League title, he was 0-4 with two misses from within 30 yards.

"Obviously I want to go out there and make all the kicks," Zoch said. "[But I'm] just trying my best. I've always tried my best."

Coach Al Bagnoli can only hope that a year of experience will bring more consistent results from his special teams players.

"I think we're holding them to a lot higher standard," he said. "I think our expectations - and their expectations - are a whole lot different."

Zoch "has been in the game. He's been under duress. He knows the operation . the stress, the variables that are present."

Experience gives "a lot more confidence," Zoch said. "I feel a lot more comfortable going through it," he added.

It may not seem like a conventional strategy, but the junior, for his part, has made a change to his routine by taking fewer kicks. "[I'm] trying to take more quality, instead of quantity."

Bagnoli indicated that Zoch, despite his inconsistency, had no real competition for the job. Junior Braden Lepisto, who kicked a PAT last year, could help out if called upon.

But the coach wants his kicker to be able to focus only on kicking, and his starting wide receiver on catching passes.

"We may tinker using [Lepisto] a little bit, doing some PAT stuff, maybe an occasional kickoff, [but] the more you can isolate a particular skill, the better off you are," Bagnoli said.

Lepisto will see a significant increase in playing time at wide receiver, according to Bagnoli, and will "play a couple of different positions, inside and outside, so there's a little bit of a learning curve. We'll try not to overload him there."

As for the protection team, Bagnoli said that there would be few changes.

"It's your offensive line, and your tight ends, and you pick out some wings . big guys, because they have to withhold some stress coming from inside. Overall, they've done a nice job," he said.

Penn will introduce a couple of new long snappers. Junior Ted Rosenbaum will start at the position, with freshman linebacker Jake Lewko potentially backing him up.

Captain Scotty Williams will once again be the holder, according to Bagnoli.

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