Whether a football game is being played in Guelph, Ontario, or Yuma, Ariz., the kicker always needs to account for the wind.
Strong gusts cost the Montreal Alouettes a win during the CFL playoffs last month, and they thoroughly embarrassed Arizona Western College punter Joel Maddock in a junior college bowl game over the weekend.
Lining up to punt in his own end zone, Maddock, an Australian freshman who also plays defensive tackle for the Matadors, booted a wobbly kick that got caught in the wind and shot straight up in the air. The punt landed on the Matadors’ own 5-yard line, and the combination of breeze and backspin caused it to roll straight through the back of the end zone for a safety.
Ultimately, the two points did not make a difference, as Arizona Western’s opponent, the New Mexico Military Institute, cruised to a 32-16 win in the Fisher Automotive El Toro Bowl. But this can’t have been the way Maddock wanted to close out his first season of college ball.
Check out the punt gone wrong in the video below, with a helmet sticker to Deadspin.
