Moorhead, Minn.-- Horan's take on the kicking game: "Brian Halverson is an all-conference kicker and made some clutch kicks last season. It is nice to know that with the game on the line, we have one of the top kickers in the country on our team."

Gone are the days when every extra point was a nailbiting experience and the only field goal opportunities came when the offense was too tired to make an attempt on fourth down from inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Brian Halverson returns for his senior season after being a late-game assassin in 2004 and the league's only first team all-conference kicker. He calmly drilled the game-winning field goal against St. John's and set the school record for extra points converted in a single season (44) and tied the record for most field goals made during a year (11). Halverson led the conference in scoring by a kicker (53 pts. in eight conference games), field goals (7), field goal percentage (70.0) and extra point percentage (97.0).

He is poised to overtake Horan as the school's all-time leader in scoring. Entering 2005, Halverson has 179 career points and needs just 22 to eclipse Horan's mark of 200.

The one unknown aspect of the kicking game in 2005 will be the kickoff duty. Last year's kickoff specialist, Luke Draxten, was lost to graduation, and the team will have to find a replacement who can knock the ball deep and allow the kick coverage unit a chance to make a play within the first 10-15 yards. Halverson, used mainly as the field goal/extra point specialist will have a chance to find the field in kickoff situations as well in 2005. Joining Halverson will be senior Jeff Jungers who is the consummate team player. Having attempted only one extra point in his first three years, Junger's positive attitude and patience may pay off as he finds himself as the frontrunner in the race for the kickoff job.