No. 15 – Ben Hansen
THIS YEAR: One of the finer kickers in Azusa Pacific history, senior Ben Hansen is looking to get back on track and pursue postseason honors after enduring last year's injury-plagued season ... Is quite accurate and very good from 45 yards ... Will push the school records for longest field goal (currently 54 yards) and most made in a career (36) ... Owns the school-record for 61 consecutive PATs made.
2008 (junior): Endured a frustrating year with a hip injury that limited his availability ... Attempted just 3 fields goals, making 2, a 38- and 42-yarder, and just 5 PATs ... Attempted just 1 kick - FG or PAT - over the final 7 games of the season ... Tied Mike Betancourth's (2004-05) school-record of 12 consecutive field goals made (dating back to the 2007 season) when he converted a 38-yard attempt at San Diego in the second game of the season ... Had the streak snapped the following week when he missed on a career-high attempt of 56 yards at West Texas A&M ... Also had a PAT blocked at West Texas A&M for the only missed PAT of his college career ... Averaged nearly 61 yards on 17 kickoffs in the 6 games he did play.
2007 (sophomore): Fashioned perhaps the finest season ever by a Cougar place-kicker ... Converted 16-of-17 field goal attempts for an NAIA leading .941 field goal percentage (min. 5 attempts) ... Only miss was a 35-yarder at Wisconsin-La Crosse ... His 16 field goals were second most in school history, trailing only Betancourth's 19 in 2004 ... Attempted and made at least one field goal in 10 of the Cougars' 11 games, including a career-high 3 in the Cougars' 30-20 win at Dixie State ... Was a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond 40 yards out, including a career-long 49-yarder in the Cougars' win over Southern Nazarene ... Also hit a 48-yarder in the victory at Humboldt State ...Averaged 59.5 yards on his 62 kickoffs, 13 of which were not returned, including 11 touchbacks.
2006 (freshman): Enjoyed a fine 2006 freshman season in which he tallied 36 points, second best on the team ... Was 5-for-7 in field goal attempts ... Converted the first 2 attempts of his career, including a career-best 43-yard vs. Malone on his very first collegiate try ... Was a perfect 21-for-21 on PATs.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played 2 seasons of varsity football for head coach Mike Machado at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif. ... As a 2005 senior, named San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Bay Area, All-San Jose Mercury News, All-CIF, All-NorCal, and CalHi Sports all-state third team while leading the Warriors to a 12-1 record and the CIF championship ... Selected the West Catholic Athletic League kicker of the year ... Made a career-best 50-yarder ... Played 4 seasons of soccer as well, earning All-West Catholic Athletic League recognition 3 straight seasons, including first team honors as a keeper during his senior campaign.
PERSONAL: Born April 3, 1988, to Jeff and Sue (teacher) Hansen ... Has 1 older brother (Chris) ... Enjoys wakeboarding, surfing and hockey ... Majoring in business.
Year G PATS FG-FGA 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LG Blk
2006 10 21-21 5-7 4-4 0 1-3 0 43 0
2007 11 37-37 16-17 8-8 3-4 5-5 0 49 0
2008 6 4-5 2-3 0-0 1-1 1-1 0-1 42 0
27 62-63 23-27 12-12 4-5 7-9 0-1 49 0
