Copperheads kicker lands place on all-af2 team
August 15, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Texas Copperheads News Release
For the entire year, kicker Nick Gatto was a catalyst for the Texas Copperheads offense, contributing points in all 15 games in which the expansion af2 team scored.
The Arena Football veteran finally gained some national attention for that help as he was named the All-AF2 National Conference first team kicker on Tuesday.
The team was chosen by the AF2 coaches and members of the media.
"I'm honored to be chosen," Gatto said. "I've worked hard and stepped up to the plate when called upon. I thank the coaches and media who took their time and voted for me."
Gatto, a resident of Spring, Texas, led the league in field goals made and attempted after hitting 20 of 55 attempts, an average of more than one a game. He was also 42 of 51 (82.4 percent) in extra-point opportunities.
One of the most solid players on the Texas sideline this season, Gatto was victimized by poor field position most of the year. More than half (28) of his attempts, including his first 12 of the season, were from 50 yards or more. He missed only seven (20 of 27) attempts inside 50 yards.
He was second on the team in scoring with 102 points, nearly a quarter of the team's total points. His longest field goal of the season came from 50 yards against Corpus Christi on May 19.
"While the final numbers may look odd, it shows what kind of year we had offensively," Gatto said. "I did my best each time I was out there, and it paid off in the end." Gatto thanked his offensive line, including Robby Walker, and holders Obrey Minor and Kenton Evans for his success.
"Without those guys, the kicks would not have been there for me," Gatto said. Copperheads GM Gary Saunders added, "We are extremely proud of Nick.
He has represented this franchise with great class and professionalism - both on and off the field. He is an inspiration to many and a terrific ambassador for both the Copperheads and the entire Arena Football family."
Gatto, who was named to the AFL All-Rookie Team in 2002 as a member of the Orlando Predators and won the AFL Kicker of the Month award as a member of the Detroit franchise in 2003, came in second behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton kicker David Davis for the AF2 Havoc Kicker of the Year award.
As an af2 expansion team, the Copperheads went 2-14 in their first year in the new Richard E. Berry Center in Cypress. He was the only member of the Copperheads who received an af2 postseason award.
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