Post by 50yardfan on Apr 30, 2011 12:27:59 GMT -5
www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2011/04/29/sports/local_sports/sports2902.txt
Hononegah grad perfect on six FG tries for Knights
Julie Harshbarger is on the same indoor football team.
Well, sort of.
She’s doing the same job she’s always done her whole career.
Kicking a football through the uprights.
But now she’s doing it better than ever.
“It’s completely different this season,” said Harshbarger, who graduated from Hononegah, while playing football and soccer. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m definitely liking how this season is going.”
She should.
Harshbarger never was able to find consistency last season playing for the Chicago Cardinals of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL).
She made only 1-of-16 field goals and just 4-of-11 extra-point attempts as the Cardinals struggled on and off the field, finishing with an 0-10 record that coincided with poor management.
Harshbarger said she felt like her kicks were being blocked all the time. She also had a different holder every week, which damaged any chemistry and cohesion she could have developed.
She knew she was a better kicker and she wanted another chance to prove it.
That’s when the Cardinals folded and turned into the Chicago Knights.
Harshbarger was getting a second chance on a team that she was familiar with in a sport that helped pave her path. She had to try out again, beating out three other kickers.
“It’s mostly the same team,” Harshbarger said. “I know my stats said one thing last year, but I think I did better than that. It was definitely a big learning experience.”
Harshbarger has been a different kicker this season, connecting on 16-of-18 extra points, while making all six of her field-goal attempts, while leading the team in points (34).
She had the best game of her indoor career in the Knights’ 52-6 victory over the Indy Enforcers, hitting three field goals. She also knocked down a career-long 26-yard indoor attempt in Chicago’s 45-29 win over the Port Huron Predators.
“I’ve practiced a lot more,” said Harshbarger, who kicks for the semi-professional Roscoe Rush during the summer. “I’ve practiced a lot since last year, just going on my own and kicking. I got in the gym more, tried to get in better shape.”
After her dismal 2010 season, Harshbarger wasn’t sure she would even be invited back.
“The first thing was I didn’t know if there was going to be a team, so that was up in the air for a while,” said Harshbarger, who also played two seasons of football for Rockford College (2004-05), earning All-Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference honors. “I didn’t kick the greatest the year before, but I was definitely excited when I got that phone call. I love the indoor game, but it was nice to finally have a team.”
Harshbarger has already earned praise from her head coach John Burns, who noted on the team’s Web site that Harshbarger was an “MVP candidate.”
“I thought that was awesome,” said Harshbarger, who lives in Chicago’s western suburbs. “I read that and got really excited.”
There’s also been an added benefit to Harshbarger’s turnaround.
While the team practices in Libertyville, the games were moved to the Victory Sports Complex in Loves Park.
“It’s pretty neat because my family can come out to the games and watch me,” Harshbarger said.
There’s still five games remaining for the 3-2 Knights with possible playoff games a distinct possibility.
A lot of that could depend on Harshbarger’s right leg.
“This whole experience has been great,” she said.
Hononegah grad perfect on six FG tries for Knights
Julie Harshbarger is on the same indoor football team.
Well, sort of.
She’s doing the same job she’s always done her whole career.
Kicking a football through the uprights.
But now she’s doing it better than ever.
“It’s completely different this season,” said Harshbarger, who graduated from Hononegah, while playing football and soccer. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m definitely liking how this season is going.”
She should.
Harshbarger never was able to find consistency last season playing for the Chicago Cardinals of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL).
She made only 1-of-16 field goals and just 4-of-11 extra-point attempts as the Cardinals struggled on and off the field, finishing with an 0-10 record that coincided with poor management.
Harshbarger said she felt like her kicks were being blocked all the time. She also had a different holder every week, which damaged any chemistry and cohesion she could have developed.
She knew she was a better kicker and she wanted another chance to prove it.
That’s when the Cardinals folded and turned into the Chicago Knights.
Harshbarger was getting a second chance on a team that she was familiar with in a sport that helped pave her path. She had to try out again, beating out three other kickers.
“It’s mostly the same team,” Harshbarger said. “I know my stats said one thing last year, but I think I did better than that. It was definitely a big learning experience.”
Harshbarger has been a different kicker this season, connecting on 16-of-18 extra points, while making all six of her field-goal attempts, while leading the team in points (34).
She had the best game of her indoor career in the Knights’ 52-6 victory over the Indy Enforcers, hitting three field goals. She also knocked down a career-long 26-yard indoor attempt in Chicago’s 45-29 win over the Port Huron Predators.
“I’ve practiced a lot more,” said Harshbarger, who kicks for the semi-professional Roscoe Rush during the summer. “I’ve practiced a lot since last year, just going on my own and kicking. I got in the gym more, tried to get in better shape.”
After her dismal 2010 season, Harshbarger wasn’t sure she would even be invited back.
“The first thing was I didn’t know if there was going to be a team, so that was up in the air for a while,” said Harshbarger, who also played two seasons of football for Rockford College (2004-05), earning All-Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference honors. “I didn’t kick the greatest the year before, but I was definitely excited when I got that phone call. I love the indoor game, but it was nice to finally have a team.”
Harshbarger has already earned praise from her head coach John Burns, who noted on the team’s Web site that Harshbarger was an “MVP candidate.”
“I thought that was awesome,” said Harshbarger, who lives in Chicago’s western suburbs. “I read that and got really excited.”
There’s also been an added benefit to Harshbarger’s turnaround.
While the team practices in Libertyville, the games were moved to the Victory Sports Complex in Loves Park.
“It’s pretty neat because my family can come out to the games and watch me,” Harshbarger said.
There’s still five games remaining for the 3-2 Knights with possible playoff games a distinct possibility.
A lot of that could depend on Harshbarger’s right leg.
“This whole experience has been great,” she said.