Nov 29, 2023 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

The majority of kickers on football teams normally have one job: Put the ball through the uprights.

For Peters Township senior Carter Shanafelt, nothing could be further from the truth.

Shanafelt, who kicked four field goals and three extra points in the Indians’ 33-14 victory over Cathedral Prep in the Class 5A state quarterfinals last Friday at Hagerty Family Events Center on the campus of Erie Cathedral Prep, plays multiple positions for Peters Township.

Shanafelt punts, plays wide receiver and occasionally jumps on the defensive side of the ball for the undefeated Indians (14-0), who play District 3 champion Cocalico (12-1) this Friday in the state semifinals at Altoona’s Mansion Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“I was a soccer player for my whole life until the eighth grade, when I went out for the middle school football team,” Shanafelt said. “They were looking for a kicker and I could do it with my background in soccer, and the rest is history.”

Shanafelt knew he had to make a decision about what sport to choose when he got to high school, and he decided to go with football. Despite being a strong kicker, Shanafelt had to wait his turn until this season to start at kicker.

“Carter kicked his freshman and sophomore years, but the consistency wasn’t there for him,” Peters Township coach TJ Plack said. “We had a couple of soccer players on the team those first few years that kicked, but Carter was able to beat out two soccer players this year and land the job. His consistency has improved the past four years.

“When you look at our season, the game is never too big for him. He made some pressure kicks in our game against Cathedral Prep, and with him being one of our top skill players, he is a threat for the opposing team’s defense as an option to fake a punt or kick.”

Shanafelt doesn’t admit to nerves when he lines up for a big kick or punt. He is more worried about catching his breath because he is usually on the field when the offense reaches the end zone or lines up for a field goal.

“We have some long drives on offense, and sometimes if I make a big catch and score, I am a little bit out of breath, so I tell my holder, Chris Cibrone, to give me a second before he calls for the ball to be snapped.”

Shanafelt leads Peters Township in receiving with 40 receptions. He has 453 yards receiving and has scored 11 touchdowns, 63 extra points and eight field goals for 153 points.

Shanafelt’s ability as a skill player keeps opposing defenses on their toes, and he used that in the Indians’ 43-17 victory over Pine-Richland in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game on Nov. 18.

“We tell Carter, ‘If X and Y happens, you have the green light,’ and that worked for us on a fake in the WPIAL championship game,” Plack said. “Sometimes, we have him go with the rugby-style punt, and that gives us more options as a staff because teams don’t know if he is going to take off running or kick it.”

Despite the joy that comes from pinning a team deep in its own territory on a punt or kicking a field goal, or four, Shanafelt says nothing beats scoring a touchdown.

“I am glad to be able to kick a field goal, especially when it gives us the lead, but there is nothing like scoring a touchdown,” Shanafelt said. “The band starts to play, and everything is up yelling and screaming. There isn’t anything that beats it. Also, I don’t want to kick field goals. I want to attempt extra points because that means we have scored a touchdown.”