Kicks aside, Jaguars’ special teams add another dimension

One of the remaining images from the Southern Jaguars victory over Alabama A&M was Southern players’ dog piling on top of kicker Matthew Hill.
They were celebrating Hills’ first career game-winning field goal for a 20-17 victory after a lengthy rain delay postponed the game.
A year ago, Hill missed a potential game-tying field goal in overtime against A&M.
He redeemed himself against A&M (2-5, 2-3) last Saturday after booting the game-tying field goal in the final seconds, and the game-winner in the second overtime, both from 37-yards.
“It feels pretty good to come back and win it in overtime for the team,” Hill told reporters after the game.
The win moved the Jaguars into first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, taking advantage of Prairie Views’ (4-3, 3-2) latest road loss against Alabama State (5-2, 5-1).
Though the remarkable team effort against A&M kept the Jaguars title hopes alive, its specials team units’ add another dimension for the team.
For instance, SU’s kick return unit ranks first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, averaging 22.7 yards a return. Willie Quinn, whose 28.8 yards per return leads the SWAC, had a 39-yard return in the fourth quarter that led to Hills’ game-tying kick.
Jaguar fans also remember Quinn’s 98-yard return against Northwestern State in week two, his first return touchdown of the season.
Southern head coach Dawson Odums said that backup players should be ready when the first unit is sidelined.
“If you’re a backup be ready when your name is called,” said Odums, who’s Jaguars (3-3, 3-1) host Arkansas Pine-Bluff (0-6, 0-4) this Saturday. “Backups got to play and you have to believe in them just like you do the starter.”
Hill made both of his extra point attempts and made 2 of 3 field goal tries against A&M. A&M blocked his second attempt, the potential go-ahead score in the first overtime. Hill backs up place-kicker Greg Pittman, who was ruled out with a hip injury.
Pittman is 13 of 15 on his extra points attempts and is 1 of 2 on field goal tries this season.
Freshman Paul Randall Soden is the punter, averaging 34.2 yards per kick. His longest punt went 53-yards.
“I think the job would have got done regardless of who was in,” Hill said. “I truly believe if Greg was in there he would’ve done the same.”