Stronger kicker shows a lot of leg

By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DAYTON -- More confident and stronger after a year's experience and a heavy off-season of weightlifting training, fifth-year senior placekicker Jason Resch of the University of Dayton football team from Poland High continues to gain national recognition.
Resch, in his second season as Dayton's starting placekicker and a pre-season All-American, tied the school record two Saturdays ago by kicking four field goals in the Flyers' 40-0 defeat of Austin Peay.
Resch, who connected on field goals covering 38, 25, 33 and 23 yards, was named the NCAA Division I-AA mid-major special teams player of the week by Football Gazette for the second time in four weeks.
He also was selected as the Pioneer Football League special teams player of the week.
Resch also missed a 42-yard field goal attempt and was 4-for-4 on extra point kicks.
During the game, he became the 38th Dayton player to reach 100 career points, and had 106 entering Saturday's game against Davidson.
Much improved
"I definitely have had a big change in strength and accuracy," said Resch, who was 6-for-10 on field goals and 15-for-15 on extra points this season to lead the team in scoring with 33 points.
He also had the PFL lead in scoring (8.25 points a game) and field goals (1.50 per game).
For his Dayton career, he is 16-for-28 on field goals and 58-for-62 on extra points.
Last year, Resch led the team in scoring with 73 points by going 10-for-18 on field goals and 43-for-48 on extra point kicks, after redshirting the 2002 season. He was named second team All-PFL.
"I worked the hardest I have ever worked [in the off-season] and came [to camp] in the best condition of my life. And I [don't] have to kick hard at all to get the same distances that required more of an effort the year before," said Resch, who acknowledged the contributions of holder/quarterback Brandon Staley and long-snapper Ross Mroczek.
Resch credited weight training and experience for his continued improvement.
"I do the leg lifts. I definitely used heavy weights. I have always been a heavy lifter," said Resch.
Builds self-confidence
He said his strong leg has contributed to his growing self-confidence.
"It has enabled me to feel comfortable any place on the field, because I know that from any [distance] I'm going to make it, so I don't have to change anything," said Resch. "I have the same swing [with my foot] unless I would be kicking into the wind."
His longest field goal this year was 48 yards in the first game, while his longest last year was 46 yards.
"I have kicked over 65 yards with the wind but in normal [wind] situations I have kicked a 60-yard field goal," said Resch, noting those longer distances came during practice.
"[Our coaches] have seen me hit 55 yards without any trouble with a holder and a snap."
Eyes master's degree
The son of Jeff and Linda Resch is majoring in accounting and finance and needs to complete two more graduate courses before receiving his master's degree next July.
He has been a first-team Academic All-PFL pick and a member of the PFL Academic Honor Roll.
He plans to do an internship at Ernst and Young in January.
While at Poland High, Resch did all of the kicking his senior year to help the Bulldogs to the 1999 Division III state championship with a 15-0 record and he made the All-Metro-Athletic Conference first team.
Also with Dayton is Brad Beck, a freshman tailback from Boardman High.