Eastern Washington hopes for another spark on special teams

This is the last of an eight-part series on spring football at Eastern Washington. Today: special teams.

Nothing sparks a football team like a second-half kickoff return for a touchdown.

It’s like lightning in a bottle, the kind Eastern Washington and Antoine Custer Jr. uncorked twice last year.

Trailing at halftime against Northern Iowa and UC Davis, the Eagles made the most of both returns. Eastern won both games and Custer, only a true freshman, became a two-time Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.

“That felt great. It was a real momentum-changer and it brought a lot of energy to the team,” said Custer, who hopes to take a few more to the house this year.

He’ll get the chance under new assistant Kevin Maurice, his running backs coach and also the man who’ll oversee the Eagles’ kickoff return unit.

“I think we have the firepower to take some back this year,” said Maurice, who will give shots to Custer, wide receivers Nsimba Webster and Zach Eagle, running backs Sam McPherson and Dennis Merritt and defensive back Calin Criner on kickoff returns.

Last year, Eastern finished 25th in the nation and fourth in the Big Sky with a 21.6-yard return average.

Here’s how the rest of the Eagle special teams units are shaping up as spring ball winds down:

Punt returns: Better known for breaking every EWU receiving records, Cooper Kupp also excelled at punt returns last season: His 20.3 average ranked third in FCS and tops in the conference. The leading candidates to replace Kupp are McPherson, Criner and receiver Stu Stiles.

Sure hands are the key, said assistant coach Josh Fetter, who oversees the punt return unit. “Number one, you have to catch it, then make the right decision,” Fetter said.

Kickoff coverage: The Eagles fielded a solid unit last year, giving up 18.4 yards per return to rank 32nd in FCS. Roldan Alcobendas and Brandyn Bangsund are sharing kickoff duty this spring. However, last fall the duties were split between Alcobendas and Dascalo.

The key to success, Fetter believes, is “believing in the schemes and taking your drill work into the game. The kids have done a really good job so far.”

Punt coverage: This was the weakest special teams unit last year, giving up 8.5 yards per return to rank ninth in the Big Sky. Maurice will oversee a group that’s also missing punter Jordan Dascalo, whose net average of 36.9 yards ranked 32nd in FCS last year. Dascalo is sidelined this spring with a sports hernia injury, leaving Alcobendas to pick of punting duties.

Placement kicks: Once again, Bangsund and Alcobendas will vie for field-goal and extra-point chores. Alcobendas was 9-for-15 on field goals last year, including 2-for-3 from 40-plus yards. The Eagles made 75 of 78 extra-point attempts. Junior Curtis Billen will handle snaps for placement kicks and punts.