Former Hahnville High School football standout Craig Ford emerged as a freshman for the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks last season and he appears ready to make even more strides this year as a sophomore. Ford racked up 60 points for the Warhawks as a freshman in 2015 after redshirting for a season. His big leg also made an impact as it aided the team’s field position, UL-Monroe ranking fourth in the country in terms of kickoff return defense. Ford broke a 36-year-old UL-Monroe record for perfect PATs with 33 made on the season, vaulting him past Bubba Toups, who hit all 26 of his attempts in 1980. He made four field goals last season of 40 yards or further.
He’s off to a good start as a sophomore, socking away three kicks from 41, 42 and 53 yards respectively to finish a perfect 3-for-3 in his team’s preseason scrimmage. In the Warhawks’ annual spring game, he went 4-for-4 with a 46 yarder as his longest kick. He hit all four of his extra point attempts.
Through two games this season, he is 2-for-2 on field goals
Former Hahnville football head coach Lou Valdin coached Ford during his prep career with the Tigers and said that he is extremely proud of his former player’s success — but not at all surprised by it.
“Shoot, he was a great weapon for us,” Valdin recalls, noting Ford served as both the placekicker and the punter for HHS.
“When he was kicking for us, we used to say, every offensive drive for us has to end in a kick. We’d prefer an extra point, but even a punt, because either way they’ll have a long, long way to go to score.”
Valdin said a great kicker is valuable at any level of football, but especially so in the prep game.
“The two biggest keys to games are field position and turnovers, and when you have a great kicker, you can turn the field over. He was basically our best defensive weapon.”
The veteran coach also said Ford’s strong leg was just a part of the package.
“He’s just a good guy, and a tough guy at that,” Valdin said. “I remember one game where he got a personal foul. Usually I’d be pretty mad, but I was so shocked it was the kicker. He was a tough person, and tough guys are mentally tough, and you want them on your team.”
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