Porters assistant coach wins annual kicking contest in Greenport
During the Super Bowl you’re sure to hear the names Steven Hauschka and Stephen Gostkowski a whole bunch of times.
Here’s the name of one more kicker whose name is unlikely to roll off the tongue of announcer Al Michaels tonight: Chris Doucett.
He was the winner of the 12th Annual Super Bowl Sunday Field Goal Kick Contest at Front Street Station in Greenport. The Greenport resident, and assistant coach on the Porters varsity football team, won the contest by kicking a 35-yard field goal in the parking lot behind the restaurant.
“That’s probably the best I’ve ever done,” he joked afterwards. “I think my previous best was from 30 yards.”
The way the contest works is all the kickers get three chances to successfully kick a field goal from 15 yards out. Those who make it try again from five yards farther out until male and female winners are determined.
Keeping it in the family, Mr. Doucett’s wife, Erin, was the female co-winner, tying with Jen Delaney of Greenport. The two kickers each struck from 15 yards out before failing from 20 and calling for a truce.
“It hurts my foot,” they could both be heard shouting. They weren’t kidding. With temperatures in the mid-30s and snow and ice surrounding the cleared out kicking area it was nothing like what the two NFL teams will experience in Arizona tonight.
Placing second for the men was Noah Thomas of Greenport, who failed to nail the 35-yarder despite striking from longer distances during practice. Nate Payne of Crooked Ladder Brewing Company, which poured its Gypsy Red and Reilly’s American Brown ales from its customized fire truck in the parking lot, said the runner up was there bright and early practicing. A recent transplant from Massachusetts, Mr. Thomas hopes his beloved Patriots have better luck tonight.
Mr. Doucett, a Giants fan, says he’ll also be pulling for the Pats.
“They’ve given us a couple, we can let them have another one,” he said.
