The Zane Trace Pioneers have had plenty of an advantage in several match-ups this season; however, the one advantage they have just about every week that does not get nearly enough credit is in the kicking game provided by junior place-kicker Nick Ganus.
This weapon influences the game on both sides of the ball. The obvious influence comes offensively where Ganus has provided 29 extra points and four field goals for a total of 41 points (a great total considering ZT was shutout in Week 2, and Ganus did not kick at SE in Week 9), but it does not stop there. Ganus has also consistently kicked the ball off deep into his opponents’ territory giving the Zane Trace defense a great advantage. In high school football, a ball can’t be brought out of the end zone on a kickoff return. Every team–good or bad–is going to have a great athlete that they hope to utilize in the return game. You always see big runs from those players or you see teams trying to squib kick and giving their opponents great field position. Ganus eliminates all of this. He simply kicks the ball deep and kills the play or at least forces the return guys to field it inside the ten yard line.
I believe Ganus has produced several key plays in several key games. In the Piketon win Ganus was 2-for-2 in PATs–the second of which proving to be the game-winning point in a 14-13 win. In the Westfall game he scored seven points (two field goals and an extra point), which again proved to be the winning total at 29-22. In that same game, Westfall’s kicking game (which was so important in the last couple of years with Cameron Puckett) scored zero points. Finally, in Week 10 against Paint Valley, Ganus recorded eight points.
Ganus’s contributions are key for more reasons than the points. His ability completely can change the complexion of the game. You see so many high school football teams turn it over on downs in the red zone because they have no other option but to go for it on fourth down. These empty possessions can really cost teams throughout the season.
Take Week 10 for example. Zane Trace entered with all the pressure on them. Paint Valley takes the opening kickoff and runs it right down their throat capping off the drive with a Ben Krech touchdown to give PV a 7-0 advantage. Zane Trace takes the ball and has a drive in which they were facing a very tough down and distance on a fourth down at the Paint Valley 20-yard line. Again, where most teams are forced to go for it, ZT calls on Ganus and he delivers a 37-yard field goal. On the ensuing possession, PV drives deep into ZT territory again, but this time is facing a tough fourth and goal from the 11 yard line. Instead of kicking a FG to go up 10-3 and put added pressure on a team trying to win a gold ball, the Bearcats are forced to go for it. They turn it over on downs, Kirk Maxwell goes 89 yards for a score, and the rest is history.
Also deserving a lot of credit is snapper Josh Flint and holder Chase Shanton. This group really gives ZT more options in managing the game. I know there are many people who say just go for two every time…all you have to do is be 50-percent. That math equation looks great on paper, but the inability to kick has you chasing points all night. It gives you no chance to get something out of a good drive, and it can end up putting you behind multiple possessions instead of just one.
I don’t know if Zane Trace can go toe-to-toe with teams like Heath, Ironton, and Amanda or not, but I do know if a close game is something ZT is in Saturday night, I like their chances if it comes down to the toe of Ganus.
-Westfall head coach Scott Keller
-Coach Peters when asked about Nick's impact on the ZT offense.
"Defensively, when the opponents' offense must go 80 yards to answer a score we just made; or , at the start of a half the long field helps us to win the field position battle and increase our chances of scoring on a short field after a change of possession, it is very daunting to the opposition."
-Coach Peters when asked about Nick's impact on the ZT defense.
"In a game where the teams are fairly even on O and D, the 17% of the plays in a game that are kicking teams' plays may very well be the difference in the outcome of the game. We spend considerable time on this phase of the game in organized practice sessions. The students spend that much time or more on their own getting better because they know the importance of their contribution to our success."
-Coach Peters when asked about the overall importance of the kicking game.