The Situation

You’re on special teams where your opponent faces a fourth and four at their own 25 yard line. Your opponent leads 20-17 with just over a minute remaining in the game. They’re in punt formation with gunners spread on both sides and a personal protector lined up in front of the punter. There are also two blocking backs over each guard as signals are called. How would you align your defense and what strategy would you use to do everything to block this punt and get possession in your opponent\'s territory? What play do you call? Steve Humphries, Assistant Coach and Director of Football Operations, Piedmont High School (CA). AFM subscriber since 2007. With just over a minute left in the game we want to put maximum pressure on the punter to force a block or bad kick, giving us good field position for a final shot at a winning field goal. With a team tightening up their punt formation,