In kicking game, BC hopes for strength in numbers

They are 1 and 1A. Boston College's kickers - long, short, and, sometimes (more often than they would like) wide left or wide right.

When BC opens its season Saturday against Kent State in Cleveland, the Eagles will handle their kicking chores by committee. Steve Aponavicius, the walk-on who turned into a legend by winning games and hearts with his foot and his personality two years ago, will handle the field goal attempts from 42 yards and in, as well as the extra points.

Billy Bennett, recruited a year ago because of the strength of his leg, will handle the kickoffs and, if necessary, the game-winning long-range field goal attempts.

Freshman Ryan Quigley, recruited because of his ability as a placekicker and a punter, will handle the punting duties, while sophomore Billy Flutie will handle situation punts and, said coach Jeff Jagodzinski in only a half-kidding tone, "drop kicks."

The instant analysis: Jagodzinski is just not sure what he will get on any given day.

"They are getting more consistent," said Jagodzinski with a laugh and shrug. "Billy's been booming the kickoffs into the end zone. And Steve will handle all the short-range kicks."

Such uncertainty is tough on anyone with a confidence problem. With kickers, who can be thrown off by bad karma as much as bad snaps, it can create even more angst.

Aponavicius and Bennett say they are aware of the pressure to improve on last year. Aponavicius made 12 of 18 field goal attempts, but only two kicks were longer than 40 yards and none longer than 50. Bennett, plagued by a bulging disk in his back, had too many kickoffs either sail out of bounds or land short enough to be returned.

"We've got the most pressure of any kickers in the country," said Aponavicius. "Each kick we take in practice has the pressure of a game situation on it because we don't know what [Jagodzinski] is going to do. At practice, we've been told to be ready to come in and kick at any time, just to get into the game type of mentality."

At a recent practice, Jagodzinski called in Bennett to attempt a field goal, with the penalty of a miss being laps for the entire squad. When Bennett missed, Aponavicius begged for double or nothing.

Jagodzinski agreed, but Aponavicius missed.

"Last year was tough," said Aponavicius, who put on 15 pounds in the offseason as he worked on weight training to increase his leg strength. "The first year was storybook because nothing could go wrong. Last year kind of brought me down to earth. I wasn't the kid who had never kicked before anymore. I heard about it from people [after misses]."

Bennett feels the difference between this year and last year is not only strength but attitude.

"I'm completely healthy now," said Bennett. "I have a huge chip on my shoulder from last year. I want to kick touchbacks. I want to make a statement."

Both kickers have the all-for-one attitude; if one of them misses, he will get encouragement and advice from the other. Each knows his role, and each has had to deal with the frustration of not performing up to expectations.

If you include the punters, long snappers, and holders, it is a group of eight who have formed a support circle.

"We call ourselves the 'K Union,' " said Bennett. "There were eight of us, but Quigley said he wanted no part of us. He's from South Carolina, so we said he seceded from the union."

With an offense that has yet to prove itself and a defense that figures to create turnovers and provide scoring opportunities, the K Union will make its first appearance of the season Saturday night.

"It's been a long grind," said Aponavicius, who like Bennett spent most of his summer at BC taking classes and working out. "We're ready to go."

Bennett said he is more than ready to show what he can do.

"Each of us has our roles," he said. "Now we have to go out and do it."

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com