Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin
Football's Top-10 Most Impactful Blocked Kicks
9/24/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football
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Two games from the 2017 season make the list.
NEW YORK—This is the seventh feature in a #CUFootball150 series on Top-10 Historical Lists for Columbia Football. Below is a list of Columbia Football's all-time Top-10 Most Impactful Blocked Kicks in school history.
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12. Wells Childress | Sept. 15, 2012 (Columbia 10, Marist 9)
Childress blocks an extra point with 6:30 left in the game to secure a 10-9 Columbia lead and eventual victory.
11. Marcellus Wiley | Oct. 26, 1996 (Columbia 13, Yale 10)
Wiley sets the tone for the game as he blocks a 41-yard field goal attempt by Yale which was recovered by Vergilion Bolder on Yale's first possession of the game. Columbia builds a 10-0 first half lead, then holds off Yale in the second half as Matt Linit kicks a game-winning field goal with 2:13 to play in the game. It was Wiley's third blocked kick of the season. Columbia's defense limits Yale to 156 total yards and eight first downs as Wiley (4.0 TFL) and Rory Wilfork (5.0 TFL) lead the effort. The victory improves Columbia to 6-0 on the season.
10. Tony Day | Nov. 11, 1961 (Columbia 35, Dartmouth 14)
Early in the game, Columbia sets the tone when Day blocks a quick kick attempt by Dartmouth in which Dick Hassan fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and 7-0 lead. On Dartmouth's next possession, the Lions recover a fumble and quarterback Tom Vassel hits Hassan for a 15-yard touchdown pass and 14-0 lead. Columbia wins a 35-14 rout against Dartmouth before 25,106 fans, the largest crowd at Baker Field since 1952. The victory puts Columbia in first place in the Ivy League standings en route to the 1961 Ivy League title.
9. Carson Powell, Connor Heeb | Sept. 16, 2017 (Columbia 17, Wagner 14)
In its 2017 season opener, Columbia blocks two field goals and defeats Wagner 17-14 on a 29-yard field goal by Oren Milstein as time expires. Powell gets his hand on a 44-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter to secure a 14-0 halftime lead. With the score tied 14-14 and Wagner driving with 1:38 left to play, Heeb blocks a 42-yard field goal attempt. The Lions get the ball back, quarterback Anders Hill engineers a nine-play, 56-yard drive to setup the game-winning field goal by Milstein.
8. Werner "Moose" Hasselman | Oct. 12, 1946 (Columbia 28, Yale 20)
No. 11 ranked Columbia comes from behind to defeat No. 15 ranked Yale 28-20 before 65,000 fans at the Yale Bowl. Columbia trails 20-13 when the fourth quarter began but the Lions score a touchdown to pull within 20-19. On the next possession, Hasselman blocks a Yale punt which set up a go-ahead field goal by Ventan Yablonski and a 22-20 Columbia lead. Adam Rakowski intercepts a Yale pass and falls into the end zone for the final score. The Lions go on to finish 6-3 in 1946.
7. Ray Makofske | Nov. 9, 1940 (Columbia 7, Wisconsin 6)
Trailing 6-0, Makofske blocks a Wisconsin punt that sets up Columbia's lone touchdown in a 7-6 victory. The punt went off Makofske's chest and bounces back toward the Badger end zone where Joe Siegel scoops up the ball and races 20 yards across the goal line to tie the score at 6-6. Len Will converts the extra point and Columbia wins in front of 20,000 Baker Field fans.
6. Max McKenzie | Oct. 23, 1971 (Columbia 17, Rutgers 16)
McKenzie blocks the point after attempt in the fourth quarter and gives Columbia a 17-16 win at Rutgers. With under four minutes to play, Rutgers pulls to within 17-16 on a four-yard touchdown run, but McKenzie gets his hand on the ensuing point after attempt to secure the Lion lead. Don Jackson throws touchdown passes of three yards to Jesse Parks and 27 yards to Michael Jones, and Paul Kaliades kicks a 33-yard field goal to fuel the Lions. Ted Gregory also contributed an interception after the blocked kick.
5. Dick Hassen | Nov. 18, 1961 (Columbia 37, Penn 6)
Columbia takes a 10-0 lead when Dick Hassen blocks a Penn punt and Lee Black picks the ball up in mid-air and returns it for a 10-yard touchdown. The Lions add another touchdown when Russ Warren scores on a 3-yard run Columbia's offense gains 388 yards on the day. With the win, Columbia clinches the Ivy League championship with a 6-1 conference record.
4. Tyler Holmes, Connor Heeb, Alexander Holme | Nov. 18, 2017 (Columbia 24, Brown 6)
Columbia blocks a school-record three kicks in a 24-6 win over Brown in the 2017 season finale. In the second quarter, Holmes blocks a punt and first-year Justin Woodley recovers the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and 14-0 Columbia lead. Later in the second quarter, Heeb blocks a 47-yard Cornell field goal attempt. In the third quarter, Holme gets his hand on a point after attempt to keep the score 17-6 Columbia. Columbia finishes its season in second place in the Ivy League with a 5-2 record and 8-2 record overall.
3. Marcellus Wiley | Sept. 21, 1996 (Columbia 20, Harvard 13, OT)
Columbia scores 20 unanswered points, Marcellus Wiley blocks a late field goal to send the game into overtime and a 12-yard pass from quarterback Bobby Thomason to David Ramirez in overtime gives Columbia a 20-13 victory in the 1996 season opener at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Columbia trails 13-0 in the second quarter and overcomes a 13-7 deficit in the third quarter. The second of two Matt Linit field goals (48-yarder) ties the game at 13-13 with seven minutes to play. Harvard drives deep into Columbia territory and the Lions defense forces a 23-yard field goal, which was swatted down by Wiley with 1:02 left in regulation. Columbia wins it in overtime on a 12-yard pass from Thomason to Ramirez. The victory begins a six-game win streak for the Lions, who finish the year 8-2 overall and in second place in the Ivy League with a 5-2 record.
2. Quent Unsworth | Nov. 6, 1999 (Columbia 21, Dartmouth 14)
Unsworth blocks a school-record two punts and both lead to touchdowns as Columbia builds a 21-0 lead en route to a 21-14 win over Dartmouth at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. His first block gives Columbia field position on the Dartmouth 4-yard line where quarterback Michael Glynn completes a pass to Armand Dawkins for a 3-yard touchdown to give Columbia a 14-0 second quarter lead. His second block comes in the third quarter and gives the Lions the ball at the Dartmouth 5-yard line, where after penalties, Johnathan Reese eventually scores on a 14-yard touchdown run.
1. Brett Bryant | Oct. 12, 1996 (Columbia 20, Penn 19, OT)
Columbia defeats Penn 20-19 in overtime at Franklin Field after a blocked point after attempt by Brett Bryant and a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Paris Childress to Dennis Lee. Matt Linit converts the extra point to break the 19-19 tie and give Columbia the victory. With the first possession in overtime, Penn scores on a 1-yard touchdown to take a 19-13 lead, but Bryant gets a hand on the point after attempt. Jason Bivens keyed Columbia with 94 rushing yards and Childress threw for 197. Current Columbia Head Coach Al Bagnoli was on the sideline as Penn's head coach, while current Lions Offensive Coordinator Mark Fabish racked up 180 all-purpose yards and caught seven passes for 75 yards for Penn. The win gives Columbia a perfect 4-0 start to the season en route to an 8-2 overall record and second place finish in the Ivy League.
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12. Wells Childress | Sept. 15, 2012 (Columbia 10, Marist 9)
Childress blocks an extra point with 6:30 left in the game to secure a 10-9 Columbia lead and eventual victory.
11. Marcellus Wiley | Oct. 26, 1996 (Columbia 13, Yale 10)Wiley sets the tone for the game as he blocks a 41-yard field goal attempt by Yale which was recovered by Vergilion Bolder on Yale's first possession of the game. Columbia builds a 10-0 first half lead, then holds off Yale in the second half as Matt Linit kicks a game-winning field goal with 2:13 to play in the game. It was Wiley's third blocked kick of the season. Columbia's defense limits Yale to 156 total yards and eight first downs as Wiley (4.0 TFL) and Rory Wilfork (5.0 TFL) lead the effort. The victory improves Columbia to 6-0 on the season.
10. Tony Day | Nov. 11, 1961 (Columbia 35, Dartmouth 14)
Early in the game, Columbia sets the tone when Day blocks a quick kick attempt by Dartmouth in which Dick Hassan fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and 7-0 lead. On Dartmouth's next possession, the Lions recover a fumble and quarterback Tom Vassel hits Hassan for a 15-yard touchdown pass and 14-0 lead. Columbia wins a 35-14 rout against Dartmouth before 25,106 fans, the largest crowd at Baker Field since 1952. The victory puts Columbia in first place in the Ivy League standings en route to the 1961 Ivy League title.
9. Carson Powell, Connor Heeb | Sept. 16, 2017 (Columbia 17, Wagner 14)
In its 2017 season opener, Columbia blocks two field goals and defeats Wagner 17-14 on a 29-yard field goal by Oren Milstein as time expires. Powell gets his hand on a 44-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter to secure a 14-0 halftime lead. With the score tied 14-14 and Wagner driving with 1:38 left to play, Heeb blocks a 42-yard field goal attempt. The Lions get the ball back, quarterback Anders Hill engineers a nine-play, 56-yard drive to setup the game-winning field goal by Milstein.
8. Werner "Moose" Hasselman | Oct. 12, 1946 (Columbia 28, Yale 20)
No. 11 ranked Columbia comes from behind to defeat No. 15 ranked Yale 28-20 before 65,000 fans at the Yale Bowl. Columbia trails 20-13 when the fourth quarter began but the Lions score a touchdown to pull within 20-19. On the next possession, Hasselman blocks a Yale punt which set up a go-ahead field goal by Ventan Yablonski and a 22-20 Columbia lead. Adam Rakowski intercepts a Yale pass and falls into the end zone for the final score. The Lions go on to finish 6-3 in 1946.
7. Ray Makofske | Nov. 9, 1940 (Columbia 7, Wisconsin 6)
Trailing 6-0, Makofske blocks a Wisconsin punt that sets up Columbia's lone touchdown in a 7-6 victory. The punt went off Makofske's chest and bounces back toward the Badger end zone where Joe Siegel scoops up the ball and races 20 yards across the goal line to tie the score at 6-6. Len Will converts the extra point and Columbia wins in front of 20,000 Baker Field fans.
6. Max McKenzie | Oct. 23, 1971 (Columbia 17, Rutgers 16)
McKenzie blocks the point after attempt in the fourth quarter and gives Columbia a 17-16 win at Rutgers. With under four minutes to play, Rutgers pulls to within 17-16 on a four-yard touchdown run, but McKenzie gets his hand on the ensuing point after attempt to secure the Lion lead. Don Jackson throws touchdown passes of three yards to Jesse Parks and 27 yards to Michael Jones, and Paul Kaliades kicks a 33-yard field goal to fuel the Lions. Ted Gregory also contributed an interception after the blocked kick.
5. Dick Hassen | Nov. 18, 1961 (Columbia 37, Penn 6)
Columbia takes a 10-0 lead when Dick Hassen blocks a Penn punt and Lee Black picks the ball up in mid-air and returns it for a 10-yard touchdown. The Lions add another touchdown when Russ Warren scores on a 3-yard run Columbia's offense gains 388 yards on the day. With the win, Columbia clinches the Ivy League championship with a 6-1 conference record.
4. Tyler Holmes, Connor Heeb, Alexander Holme | Nov. 18, 2017 (Columbia 24, Brown 6)
Columbia blocks a school-record three kicks in a 24-6 win over Brown in the 2017 season finale. In the second quarter, Holmes blocks a punt and first-year Justin Woodley recovers the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and 14-0 Columbia lead. Later in the second quarter, Heeb blocks a 47-yard Cornell field goal attempt. In the third quarter, Holme gets his hand on a point after attempt to keep the score 17-6 Columbia. Columbia finishes its season in second place in the Ivy League with a 5-2 record and 8-2 record overall.
3. Marcellus Wiley | Sept. 21, 1996 (Columbia 20, Harvard 13, OT)
Columbia scores 20 unanswered points, Marcellus Wiley blocks a late field goal to send the game into overtime and a 12-yard pass from quarterback Bobby Thomason to David Ramirez in overtime gives Columbia a 20-13 victory in the 1996 season opener at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Columbia trails 13-0 in the second quarter and overcomes a 13-7 deficit in the third quarter. The second of two Matt Linit field goals (48-yarder) ties the game at 13-13 with seven minutes to play. Harvard drives deep into Columbia territory and the Lions defense forces a 23-yard field goal, which was swatted down by Wiley with 1:02 left in regulation. Columbia wins it in overtime on a 12-yard pass from Thomason to Ramirez. The victory begins a six-game win streak for the Lions, who finish the year 8-2 overall and in second place in the Ivy League with a 5-2 record.
2. Quent Unsworth | Nov. 6, 1999 (Columbia 21, Dartmouth 14)
Unsworth blocks a school-record two punts and both lead to touchdowns as Columbia builds a 21-0 lead en route to a 21-14 win over Dartmouth at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. His first block gives Columbia field position on the Dartmouth 4-yard line where quarterback Michael Glynn completes a pass to Armand Dawkins for a 3-yard touchdown to give Columbia a 14-0 second quarter lead. His second block comes in the third quarter and gives the Lions the ball at the Dartmouth 5-yard line, where after penalties, Johnathan Reese eventually scores on a 14-yard touchdown run.
1. Brett Bryant | Oct. 12, 1996 (Columbia 20, Penn 19, OT)
Columbia defeats Penn 20-19 in overtime at Franklin Field after a blocked point after attempt by Brett Bryant and a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Paris Childress to Dennis Lee. Matt Linit converts the extra point to break the 19-19 tie and give Columbia the victory. With the first possession in overtime, Penn scores on a 1-yard touchdown to take a 19-13 lead, but Bryant gets a hand on the point after attempt. Jason Bivens keyed Columbia with 94 rushing yards and Childress threw for 197. Current Columbia Head Coach Al Bagnoli was on the sideline as Penn's head coach, while current Lions Offensive Coordinator Mark Fabish racked up 180 all-purpose yards and caught seven passes for 75 yards for Penn. The win gives Columbia a perfect 4-0 start to the season en route to an 8-2 overall record and second place finish in the Ivy League.
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