Plum grad getting his kicks at SRU
With one swing of his mighty left foot, Jake Chapla became the all-time leading scorer in Slippery Rock University football history. His 37-yard field goal in the first quarter against Mercyhurst on Oct. 10 marked his 319th career point, his 232nd conversion (extra points and field goals) and his entrance into Slippery Rock lore.
It was both memorable — and liberating
“When I saw the ball go through the uprights, I said, ‘The chase is finally over,” said Chapla, a senior who finished the day with nine points in a 45-14 home win. He is 29 points shy of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record for kickers and 13 field goals shy of the all-time PSAC mark. “I got that burden off of me. I thought, ‘I can play ball now. People won’t remind me about it anymore.’ It was a relief, honestly.”
The old record at Slippery Rock was 318 points set in 2000 by running back Stan Kennedy.
Chapla arrived on campus four years ago from Plum High (alma mater of former NFL punter Pat McAfee) with a sparkling resume. He set a WPIAL record with four field goals in a game, and broke McAfee’s school mark with a 51yard field goal as a junior. McAfee, who once worked with Chapla, keeps in contact with the Slippery Rock kicker, who had opportunities to walk-on at FBS schools and passed on an offer to play at FCS member Albany.
“When Jake Chapla got here, I immediately became a smarter coach,” said
Shawn Lutz, who has his Division II program off to a 6-0 start and a No. 9 national ranking. “When you have a guy who’s automatic like him, it makes things a whole lot easier.”
Chapla is a four-time AllPSAC West selection, twice each as a kicker and punter. He was a first-team selection as a kicker in 2018.
Here’s a look at his career totals:
• Freshman — 11 of 17 field goals (long of 51); 39 of 48 PATs.
• Sophomore — 11 of 16 (45); 53 of 56; 38.4 yards per punt.
• Junior — 17 of 26 (51); 66 of 67; 38.4.
• Senior — 6 of 8 (48); 40 of 42; 34.8.
He ranks second among active players at all NCAA levels with 198 PATs and is third in scoring at 333. He leads Division II in both categories.
Chapla’s most memorable kick occurred his sophomore season against rival California (Pa.). That’s when his 36-yard field goal (moments after Cal called a timeout to “ice” him) gave The Rock a 45-42 overtime victory. He also booted a punt 75 yards against IUP two seasons ago. Fourteen of his punts have traveled at least 50 yards.
“He has tremendous confidence,” Lutz said. “He’s got that football player’s mentality. He has a passion for the game. You get spoiled having a kicker like him. He has my complete trust, no matter the situation.”
The NFL has taken notice. Fifteen scouts have spoken to Chapla — and all 32 teams have inquired, according to Lutz.
“They’ve been coming since the beginning of camp,” Lutz said.
The NFL is known more for left-footed punters than kickers. At the conclusion of the 2017 season, 10 of 32 punters were left-footed, while only one kicker was left-footed. Bill Belichick has used left-footed punters almost exclusively while in New England.
A value to employing a left-footed punter is that his kicks spin in the opposite direction of a rightfooter’s kicks, potentially creating a challenge for returners.
As for kickers, the limited number of lefties can be attributed to the fact that roughly 11% of the population is left-handed. There is also the issue of a holder learning to line up opposite the usual side.
To his credit, Chapla refuses to get caught up in NFL talk. At least, for now.
“It’s in God’s hands,” he said. “I’m enjoying the ride we’re on this season. You never know when this great game will be taken away from you. I have half of a season left and my goal is to help us win all of our games.”
Like many kickers, Chapla is a bit unconventional. He is a natural right-hander who kicks with his left foot. He also wears the compression shorts that he wore as an eighth grader.
“They’ve seen better days,” he said.
His shoe laces must be tied perfectly on game days or he gets a “weird feeling that I might miss the ball.” He also wants to jump out of an airplane with his girlfriend (“once football’s over”).
“I guess kickers are a little different,” he said, laughing.
An accounting major and PSAC Scholar Athlete, Chapla helped Slippery Rock to the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs in 2018. His mission is to lead The Rock even further this season. Coming off a 45-42 win against perennial power IUP Saturday, Slippery Rock ranks second in the NCAA at 51.7 points per game. It won its first five games by an aggregate score of 265-84.
“I believe this team can win a national championship this year,” Chapla said. “It would be a great way to finish my career.”