2008 Woodie Awards
Commentary: Striefsky for MVP
by Matt Gallo
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
While scrolling down the 2007 Delaware football roster, many names jump out as impact players who deserve the Most Valuable Player award for their 8-2 record and 5-2 Colonial Athletic Association success. Many argue senior running back Omar Cuff, who has found the endzone 33 times and rushed for 1,312 yards on 273 attempts, is this year's MVP. Others praise senior quarterback Joe Flacco for his resilience in the pocket, throwing for 3,040 yards and 16 touchdowns, recording a 70.3 completion percentage.
However, these two possible NFL-bound players were expected to carry the load and perform to the standards the Hens' nation has placed them. The one person on the roster die-hard fans overlook, especially after hitting the left goal post on a potential game-winning field goal in the third overtime Saturday against Richmond, is sophomore kicker Jon Striefsky.
Striefsky leads all kickers in the CAA with 95 points scored, going 15-for-16 on field-goals and 50-for-50 on extra points. The sophomore phenomenon averages 9.5 points per game, putting him third in the CAA behind only Cuff and Richmond running back Tim Hightower. Delaware has outscored opponents 45-12 on field goals, as Striefsky has been almost automatic this season.
In the last four games, Striefsky converted at least one field goal of 30 yards or more, as the Hens have gone 3-1 in that stretch, defeating opponents by an average of 6.6 points. In Week 9, when the Hens out-battled James Madison 37-34, Striefsky was successful from 24, 31 and 37 yards, propelling the Hens to a victory.
As Delaware is a year removed from a 5-6, 3-5 CAA record, the Hens could not have expected much from the kicking department. Former kicker Zach Hobby left the team following the 2006 season, after only converting 8-of-14 field goals, and going 5-for-10 from 30-plus yards. After going 3-for-3 in last year's opener against West Chester and splitting the uprights in his only attempts against Albany and Rhode Island, Hobby slipped down the stretch by going 1-for-5 in the final five games.
However, these two possible NFL-bound players were expected to carry the load and perform to the standards the Hens' nation has placed them. The one person on the roster die-hard fans overlook, especially after hitting the left goal post on a potential game-winning field goal in the third overtime Saturday against Richmond, is sophomore kicker Jon Striefsky.
Striefsky leads all kickers in the CAA with 95 points scored, going 15-for-16 on field-goals and 50-for-50 on extra points. The sophomore phenomenon averages 9.5 points per game, putting him third in the CAA behind only Cuff and Richmond running back Tim Hightower. Delaware has outscored opponents 45-12 on field goals, as Striefsky has been almost automatic this season.
In the last four games, Striefsky converted at least one field goal of 30 yards or more, as the Hens have gone 3-1 in that stretch, defeating opponents by an average of 6.6 points. In Week 9, when the Hens out-battled James Madison 37-34, Striefsky was successful from 24, 31 and 37 yards, propelling the Hens to a victory.
As Delaware is a year removed from a 5-6, 3-5 CAA record, the Hens could not have expected much from the kicking department. Former kicker Zach Hobby left the team following the 2006 season, after only converting 8-of-14 field goals, and going 5-for-10 from 30-plus yards. After going 3-for-3 in last year's opener against West Chester and splitting the uprights in his only attempts against Albany and Rhode Island, Hobby slipped down the stretch by going 1-for-5 in the final five games.
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