Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: LeFevre settles into role as punter
10/29/2018 2:39:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Notebook ahead of Saturday's Marshall-Southern Miss game
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Robert LeFevre is in his first season as Marshall's starting punter, but this has been like two seasons in itself. LeFevre's performance in non-conference play is in stark contrast to what he has meant to the Thundering Herd lately.
"The first couple games I was nervous," LeFevre said. "I wanted to be perfect. It didn't really work out that well."
LeFevre, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound redshirt sophomore from Hilliard, Ohio, has stepped into the massive cleats of Kaare Vedvik, who averaged 44.02 yards per punt last season and was named to the Conference USA all-conference first team at his position. That is a heavy burden for a successor to carry, and it weighed on LeFevre as he tried to be what Vedvik had become. Then, he talked to his old friend about his struggles.
"After the first couple of games (Vedvik) was like, 'Calm down, do you, you'll be fine," LeFevre said. "After that, I've gotten more comfortable Just being relaxed. He's a relaxed guy – cool."
Now, LeFevre is punting at an all-conference level. In fact, since C-USA play started, LeFevre has the second-highest punting average in league games only – 43.92 yards per punt. That is a shade off of Vedvik's season output from 2017.
In three non-conference games, LeFevre landed two punts inside the 20 and did not have a punt of 50 yards. Now, he is on a four-game streak of 50-plus yard punts – seven total – and has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 11 times in four C-USA games. Five of those came in the win against Florida Atlantic, and three more in a victory at Old Dominion. In the past three games, LeFevre is averaging 45.2 yards per punt.
LeFevre and Marshall (5-2 overall, 3-1 C-USA) travel to play Southern Mississippi (3-4, 2-2) this Saturday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
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Marshall is returning to action after an off week following a 31-7 win against defending league champion FAU on Oct. 20. Doc Holliday's Herd has had an impressive run against defending C-USA champions.
Since 2012, Marshall has played the defending C-USA title-holders six times – the exception, 2015, was the year after the Herd won it all. MU is 5-1 in those games, beating Southern Miss in 2012 (59-24), Tulsa in 2013 (45-34), Rice in 2014 (41-14), WKU last season (30-23) and FAU this season.
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The Marshall defense has not allowed a first quarter touchdown in the last 10 games, the second-longest streak among Football Bowl Subdivision programs. LSU, first on the list at 12 consecutive games, also had last weekend off.
Clemson extended its streak to eight games, and ranks third behind the Tigers and Herd. Auburn, also off last weekend, remained fourth at five games. Three teams – Georgia, FAU and Fresno State – have four-game streaks. Eight teams are tied with three straight games of no touchdowns allowed in the opening quarter.
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More on the Herd defense: MU is second in Conference USA in rushing defense, allowing 105.71 yards per game. The Herd defense is first in yards per rush attempt allowed (3.05).
The MU defense has allowed two rushes of 20-plus yards this season, which is tied for the fewest among FBS teams. Fresno State, Iowa and San Diego State sit atop that list with Marshall. The Herd has yet to allow a 30-yard rush this season, one of four teams: Missouri, North Carolina State and San Jose State are the others.
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a six-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
