Lesniak leads CIFL in kickoff returns

Published 5:07 pm Saturday, March 15, 2008

By Staff
KALAMAZOO – Second-year kicker Brad Selent has been named the CIFL's Special Teams Player of the Week after going 3-for-3 on extra points and hitting a 41-yard field goal in the Xplosion's 46-39 overtime win against the Chicago Slaughter.
Selent is the reigning CIFL Special Teams Player of the Year for his performance during the 2007 season, and has proven through his accolades he is surely one of the best kickers in the league.
The Western Michigan University and Paw Paw High School graduate hit a 41-yard field goal late in the third quarter against Chicago on March 7, in a game that was won and lost by special teams.
After an L.J. Parker touchdown reception with one minute left in the game brought the Xplosion within two points, Selent was called upon to attempt an onside kick.
He hit the ball perfectly and got a great hop, but none of his teammates were able to catch the ball. And when the Xplosion eventually tied the game at 39-39 with 11 seconds left, Selent was forced to kickoff to the always dangerous Robert Height.
The Paw Paw native kicked a squib kick that bounced right in front of Height, which didn't allow him to catch the ball on the run and get a good return.
Height returned the ball to his own 20-yard line, which forced Slaughter kicker Eric Heitzman to attempt a long field goal to win the game, which he missed.
Former Dowagiac standout and current Niles Community Schools employee Brent Lesniak is currently the league's kickoff return leader with an average of 29.5 yards per game.
The Xplosion were back in action Friday night in their home opener against the Rock River Raptors.