Nolan Bieck comes from a long line of outstanding kickers at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Photo by Stuart Browning
As usual, special teams get lost among all the touchdown makers and big-hitters on defense. But unquestionably, more than the offense and defense, Aquinas won this battle.
Kicker
Nolan Bieck was absolutely nails, drilling field goals of 40, 23 and 20 yards but more importantly, driving seven straight kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
Casullo had gushed about De La Salle's special teams before the game, especially on kickoff returns, but Bieck completely negated that area by making the Spartans start at the 20 each series.
Without a breakaway threat this season, De La Salle had to be flawless for at least 8 to 10 plays to score – not normally a problem. But on this night, it couldn't sustain and eventually turned the ball over.
With a shorter field, the Spartans may have been able to put a touchdown or two up on the board. Bieck never made that an option.
"(Bieck) is great," Lescano said. "That's absolutely nothing new. He does that every game. I'm hoping he joins me at Princeton."
Bieck would be the 12th straight Aquinas kicker to play at a Division I school.
De La Salle's special linebacker (continue reading)
