Kowalski’s big leg benefits Ewing

WEST WINDSOR — Ewing punter Brandon Kowalski pulled off an interesting and impressive feat Tuesday. The sophomore was named the 12th Man Touchdown Club’s Special Teams Player of the Week without being the full-time starter on his own team.

Kowalski earned the honor by averaging 34 yards per punt in the Blue Devils’ 20-0 loss to Lawrence. Ewing also has a junior kicking specialist in Mike Ficci, so coach Drew Besler has the two compete every day in practice to see who will handle punting duties that week.

“We go with whoever has the hotter foot,” Besler said at the weekly ceremony at Mercer County Marina.

While Ficci has solid grip on kickoffs and field goals for the Blue Devils, Kowalski has been the team’s punter in three of their four games this season. Besler said he nominated Kowalski — who started as a punter on the Ewing freshman team last season — because of how he has embraced the open competition.

“It’s a situation where some kids could sulk and say, ‘ aw, I can’t believe I have to do this every practice,’” Besler said. “That’s not Brandon. He comes with a positive attitude every day.”

Kowalski, who is also a backup linebacker for the Blue Devils, certainly didn’t have any qualms with the situation Tuesday night.

“Competition is good because it pushes you to your best,” Kowalski said. “It makes you try your hardest.”

As just a sophomore, he also has plenty of time to grow into the role. While punting thus far has been a way for him to get on the field and help the team win when there are older, stronger players ahead of him at linebacker, Kowalski is optimistic about his future as a punter.

“I hope to stick with it,” he said. “We’ll see what unfolds along the way.”

Against Lawrence, Kowalski’s job was made more difficult by an injury to their first-team long snapper. Another sophomore, Cameron Potts, stepped in and the Blue Devils didn’t appear to miss a beat despite seeing some different special teams schemes from the Cardinals.

“You have a sophomore long snapper snapping to a sophomore punter, it could be a circus,” Besler said. “Cameron Potts did a great job and Brandon did a great job against a very formidable opponent in Lawrence.”

Kowalski was quick to give Potts credit.

“He practices every day, warms up and gets out there early. He’s really improved. I’ve known him for a long time.”

Though the Blue Devils have dropped three-straight contests since their opening day win against Cinnaminson, Besler said that the mood around the team remains upbeat.

“We’re in a situation where we feel very confident,” he said. “Yeah, we got beat 20-0, but that game (against Lawrence) was 0-0 midway through the third quarter. We have Bordentown coming in and coach Perry does a great job with that program, but we’re confident in our ability.”

His punter — for last week, at least — agrees.

“Even though we’re not really winning that much, we’re improving and doing the best we can.”