It’s like having snow one minute and it being 80 degrees the next. That sums up the fortunes of ETSU field goal kicker Con Chellis on Saturday night.
Chellis first had to endure the heartache of missing an extra point that would have tied their contest with Furman, only to get redemption by kicking the game winning field goal in the Bucs 23-21 upset over the Paladins.
It’s rare you see a player go from goat to hero in the same game, but that’s exactly what happened. After a Todd Wells touchdown run cut Furman’s lead to 21-20, many of the Buccaneer faithful probably didn’t have a second thought about Chellis missing that extra point, but sometimes it’s not always the kicker’s fault.
The snap by Adam Howell was not perfect, but Chellis takes full blame for the missed kick.
“Things didn’t go exactly like I wanted them to as a kicker,” Chellis said. “But it’s my job to get it through. We practiced it enough to where I should have got it through. There wasn’t any excuse to miss it.”
That kick was with 7:43 to go in the game and Chellis was hoping this result would not hold up.
“I was praying I would get another chance,” Chellis said.
His teammates did all they could to provide that.
After two defensive stops, Keyandre Fenn returned a 51-yard punt back to the Furman 13-yard line. Judging from the health of Fenn at the time, he must have been desperate to turn Chellis’ fortunes around.
“It’s ironic that I walked through here and saw Keyandre Fenn with his knee all wrapped up with ice all over it,” ETSU head coach Paul Hamilton said. “I figured he was gone and the next thing you know one of those guys with the heart of a lion is in there winning the football game for us.”
Fenn definitely gave it his best shot. He knew if he made a big play, it would all be in the hands of Chellis.
“I knew if I could get it down there pretty close, Con would make something happen,” Fenn said.
After three plays, the Bucs set up a 26-yard field goal attempt for Chellis. The Summerville, S.C., native was definitely thinking about it pretty hard.
“I was thinking about how bad this interview was going to stink if I didn’t get it through,” Chellis said. “I was just relieved to get another chance. I had a lot of confidence going back in.
His coach had a lot of confidence too.
“I knew Con would make it,” Hamilton said. “There was no doubt in my mind. We had to get him another shot.”
The man that helped to set up his kick was also proud of Chellis.
“For Con to make a kick like that speaks a lot for him,” Fenn said.
Chellis enjoyed being the hero Saturday night, but he definitely knows what it’s like to be on the other side. He’s just glad it didn’t happen this time.
“I’ve been the goat before,” Chellis said. “It’s not any fun. If I had dwelled on it I probably would have missed that last kick.”
But Chellis didn’t dwell on it and he made it. Not only did his perseverance help ETSU to beat the No. 6 team in Division 1-AA; it also set him up for a more enjoyable interview.

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