Montclair's former Australian rugby player Oscar Crosbie-Smyth works on his strong punting skills in wet conditions. Cedar Grove's outstanding placekicker Sebastian Kovacs (3) is consistent for one of state's superb Group 1 teams. Seton Hall Prep's Declan Farrell (17) has quite a strong leg for Pirates while Sean Murtagh (5) is a terrific punter for Caldwell's Chiefs. Ibrham Cisse (27) is the standout veteran kicker for Weequahic while a much-improved Quinn Previdi (33) boots an extra point for the Mounties. Combination of Previdi and star punter Crosbie-Smyth (27) gives Montclair quite the strong kicking arsenal. (SC photos and also by Tyler Logan, Jeff Stiefbold, PJ Candido, Mustafa Hooten & CJ Miller)

Talented Kickers A Boost  For Essex County Teams

By Steve Tober for sidelinechatter.com

Kicking has taken on a higher profile in high school football, especially in the last couple of decades as more programs realize the vital role that a key field goal, extra point, long kickoff or well-placed punt can do in establishing a favorable situation and enhance a team’s prospects for victory.

Essex County has its share of talented kickers this fall, including Montclair’s fine junior comb of standout punter Oscar Crosbie-Smyth and placekicker Quinn Previdi. Others of note include Seton Hall Prep’s ascending Declan Farrell, Weequahic’s consistent veteran senior Ibrahim Cisse, Cedar Grove’s Sebastian Kovacs and Caldwell’s brother tandem of senior punter Sean Murtagh and sophomore placekicker Matt Murtagh.

Both Mountie kickers along with Farrell continue to work with Tyler Logan who directs the Logan Kicking Academy and used to work alongside the late, great kicking coach Pat Sempier. The Mountie duo also receive tutelage from former Montclair standout kicker Gage Hammond who is currently a sophomore on the Wesleyan University football team.

“Montclair has a long history of being a great football program,” said Logan, who is also a former standout kicker at West Essex High School. “Having some of the best talent in New Jersey on both sides of the ball, and on special teams, is a big plus each year for the Mounties.

“And, having such history, Quinn and Oscar are only adding to that reign.

“Gage Hammond, the current Wesleyan kicker and punter, and I have really pushed these two to be at their max potential. While they are still young, they have both come a long way.

“The dedication between the two to their craft is unmatched. On top of that, being very close friends very much helps them succeed and support one another.”

There has been a strong lineage of kickers in Mountie football annals including kickoff specialist Will Kline, who also kicked for Duke University, and Hammond, who was always known as an excellent placekicker but then became one of the state’s top punters during his senior season at MHS in 2022.

“Gage and Tyler have been great mentors who have guided us through a ton of different drills to help us improve,” said Crosbie-Smyth, who moved with his family to Montclair from Australia where he began to develop his kicking skills through the sport of rugby. “I wouldn’t be where I am right now without those two guys and LKA Kicking.”

An important aspect of Crosbie-Smyth’s success as a punter is his ability to have great hang time on his punts.

“Hang time is absolutely critical,” said the Mountie standout punter. “You want to give your guys time to get down the field and also put pressure on the return guy.

“Otherwise, without that hang time, your punt might be all for nothing as the opposition might gain most or all of the yardage back on a return.”
Logan has been impressed with continued ascension of Crosbie-Smyth’s punting prowess.

“Oscar came to me with some real talent,” said the director of LKA. “He’s a natural ‘Aussie’ style punter who has adapted very well to American style football.

“With his Aussie background, he has been able to create some really great tools in his punting tool box. By that I mean he can hit rugby punts, spirals and end-over-end punts which wind up inside the 10; and his direction and ball placement is phenomenal!

“With time I can see him being one of the best punters in the state. He will have a dominant season this year for sure!”

Previdi came to the limelight as a Mountie in the North 1, Group 5 playoff semifinals last fall when he was inserted as his team’s extra point and field goal kicker in the second half and his 27-yard field goal with just three seconds remaining proved to be the winning points as the Mounties defeated Watchung Hills, 24-21, in Warren Township.

For his superlative game-winning efforts Previdi was presented with the ‘Moose Hat,’ an honor created by Mounties defensive coordinator Bill Johnson, which is done in good fun indeed, but also as a noteworthy honor as the team’s game MVP.

“Without a doubt that field goal at Watchung Hills is the biggest moment so far in my high school kicking career,” said the ever-improving Mountie placekicker. “I hope there are more big field goals in my leg this season and I believe that I have worked hard on developing more length and consistency on my kickoffs, and improving the range and my ball strike on field goals and extra points.

“I am confident that coach (Jermain Johnson) can definitely trust me to hit field goals from the 40s (yards).”

Unlike Crosbie-Smyth, who already had a strong foundation in his punting skills enhanced from his early rugby days in Australia, Previdi had more room to grow from the start as far as developing into a very competent high school placekicker.

“Quinn came to me a while back as a small, chubby kid who didn’t really have much going for him with football,” said Logan. “His leg strength wasn’t there and he definitely struggled with height on his field goals; but - yet again - I’ve seen this play-out millions of times.

“And what happened? Quinn worked his butt off, didn’t let anything hold him back, and now he a solid kicker. He was able to step up to the plate last year and hit that game-winning field goal to advance Montclair in the playoffs.

“That showed the type of kicker that he is. But, he really worked his tail off to get to that point. His potential is through-the-roof as he could be a top kicker in New Jersey with time in the weight room and as he develops even more consistency.

“I’m very excited to see how his season will go this fall! No doubt in my mind that he will absolutely kill it!”  

As both Mountie kickers continue to work along with veteran holder, senior Martin Quiroz, their progress has been undeniable.

“I see Oscar as an all-state punter one day for sure,” said Quiroz, who is also a two-way performer at tight end and defensive end for MHS. “And Quinn continues to get better which makes them both definite kickers to watch this season.”

Logan also sees that great potential coming to fruition for the Mounties’ junior duo who help lead the kicking game on special teams this season.

“They are probably one of the best duos for any one high school that I have ever worked with,” said the kicking coach. “They always come with a smile no matter what is going on in their lives and I give them so much credit for the spot that they are at right now as they have really worked very hard to get to this point in their respective high school careers with so much room to become even better as time and their great work ethic continue.

“I feel strongly that this season will only show how talented this duo is, and I’m super excited to see it happen!

Farrell, who has a powerful leg, has kicked off the last two seasons for SHP, and he is now also their regular field goal and extra point specialist along with providing the punting, continues to get better each and every season.

He worked last fall behind the since-graduated, record-setting field goal kicker Jack Catchpole (12 of 13 on field goals, 29 of 30 on extra points), but has eased in quite seamlessly this season as the No. 1 kicker in all departments for coach Bill Fitzgerald’s team.

Through the first five games for 2-3 SHP he was 2-for-3 on field goals including one of 39 yards, and 7-of-7 on extra points.

Farrell has immense potential to continue a rich tradition of outstanding SHP kickers, will take on the multi-tasking of past Pirate greats such as current Yale University standout Nick Conforti, a former all-state punter at SHP, who was also a superb placekicker in high school.

“Jack was a great kicker and I learned a lot behind him last year,” said Farrell. “I feel that I’m prepared to step in and try to repeat his success.
“I think we have improved special teams overall with our coverage team looking really good.

“I’ve always admired the great ones like Nick and Jack, and I’ve improved my punting a lot so I continue to be ready to do whatever we need done in the kicking department this season.”  

Logan also enjoys working with the Pirates’ superb and very versatile kicker.

“Declan has really excelled through years of hard work and dedication to kicking and punting,” said the kicking coach. “He has been known as a top tier kicker since he made a game winning field goal in 8th grade, following that with years of kickoffs in the background of the endzone, and smooth extra points and field goals. While kicking came natural to him, punting was a little more of a struggle. After working his tail off, he has now locked in on punting and has figured it out. There is 0 doubt in my mind that he is one of the top kickers in the county and the state as of right now. This season he has already proved to be one of the top guys and will continue to do so throughout the season. He has a visit to Georgetown this weekend which is something he deserves for sure.”

Weequahic’s Cisse has been a force for the Indians converting 3-of-5 field goals, including making one from 46 yards, through five games and 9-for-11 on extra points. Last fall he made all three of his field goal attempts and was 69-of-75 in extra points. 

Cedar Grove’s Kovacs is another young kicker to watch. As a sophomore in 2023 for the 8-2 Panthers he converted 8-of-13 field goals, including a long one of 43 yards, and made 36 of 39 extra points.

In the first five games this fall for the 5-0 Panthers he was 3-for-3 on field goals, including one from 42 yards, and 23 of 25 on extra points plus converting one 2-point conversion for the high-scoring Panthers.

Sean Murtagh had been Caldwell’s placekicker his sophomore and junior years, including converting 36-of-39 extra points last fall in addition to punting duties, but the busy 2-way position player is concentrating on his punting this fall as his promising sophomore brother Matt takes over the placekicking chores.

NOTES- Crosbie-Smyth came to Montclair from Australia as an eighth grader…Two of the kickers he looks up to is former Indianapolis Colt punter Pat McAfee and Baltimore Ravens placekicker Justin Tucker…Oscar’s dad, Jamie Smyth, is the U.S. energy editor for the Financial Times in their New York City bureau. He formerly was the Financial Times correspondent in both Australia and his native Ireland…Previdi had been a soccer player and then signed up for Montclair Cobras junior football as a sixth grader when a Cobras coach asked ‘Who can kick?” and Previdi volunteered for the critical special-teams role while taking a more serious attitude toward kicking in the ninth grade at MHS.  

Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chattermeister

Kicking coach Tyler Logan (right, top photo) is seen with former Morris Catholic kicker Andrew Anastasi and the immortal, late, great kicking coach Pat Sempier. Caldwell's Matt Murtagh, who has a strong leg like his brother, boots extra point for the Chiefs. Montclair's Quinn Previdi works on his skills in his practice session. In bottom photo the Mounties' superb junior punter Oscar Crosbie-Smyth (27) kicks one with nice hang time against Ramapo in a Sept. 28 game at Woodman Field in Montclair.

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