Sept. 25, 2007

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State freshman kicker/punter Paul Potemra (Poolesville, Md.) has been named National Special Teams Player of the Week by d2football.com for his record-setting kicking performance in the Beavers' 47-9 victory over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Collegiate rival University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Potemra set a school record Saturday launching six punts for an average of 51.3 yards. That mark tops the previous BSU single-game record of 49.4 yards per punt set by BSU's career punting leader Danny Kraus Nov. 27, 1984.

After a 35-yard punt to begin the day, the true freshman recorded kicks of 64, 70 an a career-long 75 yards landing two inside the Golden Eagles' 20-yard line before the day was through.

This season Potemra has racked up a league-leading 1,010 yards on 24 punts for an average of 42.1 per attempt, with eight of those pinning opponents within their own 20-yard line

Also handling kicking duties for the Beavers, he has converted 4-of-5 field goal attempts, from as deep as 40 yards, and has hit each of his 15 point after attempts.

He currently leads BSU and the NSIC in scoring with 27 points.

The national award comes just one week after Potemra earned NSIC accolades as the Special Teams Player of the Week for for his place-kicking achievements versus MSU Moorhead.

Potemra is the first Beaver to earn a national Player of the Week laurel since Jonathan Hawks was named Special Teams Player of the Week by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, Oct. 1, 2006. The pair are two of just eight BSU student-athletes to be recognized for a weekly national award since the beginning of the 2003 season.

Potemra and the 3-1 Bemidji State football team look to improve to 3-0 in conference play this weekend when they hosts Northern State University in the school's annual homecoming game. Opening kick is slated for 1 p.m. at Chet Anderson Stadium.

Bemidji State's National Football Players of the Week (Since 2003)
Nov. 3, 2003 - S, Marty Humeniuk - Defensive Honorable Mention - d2football.com
Nov. 3, 2003 - LB, Mitch Feierabend - Defensive Honorable Mention - d2football.com
Aug. 31, 2004 - RB, Tyler Olson - Offense - FullImpactNetwork.com and d2footbal.com (HM)
Sept. 14, 2004 - QB, Nathan Sannes - Offense - d2fotball.com and Football Gazette
Sept. 14, 2004 - WR, Michael Nordyke - Special Teams - Honorable Mention - d2football.com
Sept. 14, 2004 - WR, Adam Noble - Offense - Honorable Mention - d2football.com
Oct. 1, 2006 - WR, Jonathan Hawks - Special Teams - Football Gazette
Sept. 25, 2007 - K/P, Paul Potemra - Special teams - d2football.com

-bsu-