Bakersfield Kicker Jon Baker Sets af2 Record

May 14, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bakersfield Blitz News Release


(Bakersfield, CA) – With 11:21 remaining in the second quarter of Saturday nights game against the Hawaiian Islanders at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, 2nd year kicker Jon Baker set an arenafootball2 league season high record by kicking a 54-yard field goal. The field goal marked the 2nd longest kick in the history of arenafootball2. Hawaiian Islanders kicker Kimo Naehu previously held the record at 49 yards set on April 26, 2003. The Blitz fell short in the contest losing 48-50

"I felt really good in warm-ups," said Baker. "I had connected on a couple 55 yard field goals during pre-game and I think that helped boost my confidence. When I got out on the field to kick the 62-yarder I wasn't nervous at all. From the moment I kicked the ball, I knew it was going to split the uprights."

Baker played at Foothill High School and Bakersfield College before transferring to Arizona State University for the 1993-94 seasons, where he preceded Robert Nycz. At ASU, Baker was a three-time Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week, named Second-Team All Pac-10 and played in the Hula Bowl All-Star game in 1994. He also lettered in soccer, track and basketball.

After college, Baker spent some time in the NFL as well as NFL Europe and the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1995 as an undrafted free agent and appeared in three games. He also had stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.

Baker also played for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe before moving to the Canadian Football League where he played in eight games with the Edmonton Eskimos and five games with the B.C. Lions in 1999 and 2000, respectively.

The most odd thing about the Baker's style of kicking is that he is the only kicker in the league to kick without a shoe. Baker does all his kicking barefoot without his right shoe.

Said Baker; "I feel like I have more control of the ball without my shoe. Granted after every game I have a nice little bump on my foot, I have always kicked this way and I will continue to kick this way."

Baker is currently 4 of 19 on field goals and also has two solo tackles to go along with his other accolades this season.

"He is a really excellent kicker," said head coach James Fuller. "We all know what he is capable of and I think he proved it Saturday night against the Islanders. He is a very big compliment to our team and we are all proud of him."

The next home game for the Blitz is May 17th, when the Arkansas Twisters come to town to square off at the Garden. Saturday's game will mark the first contest between these two franchises. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, the Centennial Garden box office, or by calling 634-9132.



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