Lirim Hajrullahu: Kicking in the Face of Adversity

LIRIM HAJRULLAHU: KICKING IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY By: Todd Devlin Teams Coordinator. “There was no doubt teammates needed him the most. in my mind that it was going through.” “Everyone knew what was at stake,” When Lirim Hajrullahu lined up his 34- And the coach was right. Hajrullahu said. “I knew the game was on yard field goal attempt with five seconds Hajrullahu quieted his thoughts, took the line, but I had to try and erase that out left on the clock and his team trailing a deep breath, and knocked home the of my head and just think of it as another 25-23 in last year’s Yates Cup in Ottawa, game-winning field goal with 1.3 seconds regular kick.” Western Mustangs fans collectively held remaining, clinching Western’s third The 21-year-old has certainly come their breath. Could the sophomore, in Yates Cup in four years and providing the a long way since his first training camp his first season as Western’s full-time highlight of the Mustangs’ 2010 season. as a Mustang in 2009. As a freshman, kicker, handle the pressure of making a “I was ecstatic,” Marcus said. “I was so Hajrullahu played in just three games, do-or-die kick on the road with a provincial happy for him.” serving as the backup to veteran kicker/ championship on the line? The kick capped off a highly-successful punter Darryl Wheeler (Hamilton, Ont.). Coach Chris Marcus says he didn’t season for Hajrullahu (St. Catharines, His CIS career got off to an inauspicious even entertain the thought. Ont.), who emerged as a top kicker in start, as both of his field goal attempts “We try as much as we can to put him the OUA. But, perhaps more important, were blocked in his debut. in scenarios like that in practice, and give it showed he could be counted on as a “My first year was kind of brutal,” said him situations where he has to make a pressure player, someone who could Hajrullahu, who finished the season 5-for- kick,” said Marcus, the Mustangs’ Special come through in the clutch when his 9 in field goal tries while making all 14 20 of his extra-point attempts. He Team Canada’s Junior National dressed for the playoffs, but was Team, where he witnessed the on hand only for kickoffs and youngster make another big kick emergency situations. -- a key 42-yard fourth-quarter But the rookie improved field goal against Japan in the throughout the year, working semis of the 2009 World Junior hard and soaking up every bit Championship to help send the of knowledge he could from the Canucks to the final against the veteran Wheeler. U.S. “I knew from that moment “Spending so much time with on, this kid was going to be a him [Wheeler] on and off the clutch guy eventually. I didn’t field really helped,” Hajrullahu know when, but eventually.” said. The when turned out to be So, when Wheeler underwent 2010. offseason hip surgery and, as a But Hajrullahu hasn’t result, could only handle punting rested on his laurels since his in 2010, Hajrullahu was ready successful season last year. to go. The Mustangs dressed In preparation for the 2011 both of them all season, and campaign, he participated in the Hajrullahu took over the kicking 9th annual East-West Bowl, and duties. also competed alongside six “We were both able to current and former Mustangs on concentrate on our strong Canada’s Senior National Team points,” he said. “It was a great at the 2011 IFAF World Football duo we had, and I think it Championship, which was held worked out very well.” in Austria in July. In fact, when the dust settled, “I think both of those Wheeler had earned an OUA opportunities are going to help all-star nod as a punter, while me have a strong season [in Hajrullahu had more than 2011],” Hajrullahu said. “Playing exceeded expectations. In eight with all the best our country has regular season games, he made to offer is definitely going to help 20 of his 26 field goal attempts me take my game to the next and led the OUA in scoring with level.” 95 points. His 20 field goals not And that next level may just only topped the OUA, but also help the Mustangs reach their tied a school record. ultimate goal. And, of course, there was the “I just want to give my team Yates Cup-winning kick. the best opportunity to get to “It was huge … the biggest the Vanier [Cup] and win it,” he one that I’ve ever been a part said. “Western hasn’t brought of in a football game,” said one home in 17 years now. I Former coach Mickey Donovan, think that’s the number one goal who recruited Hajrullahu from here.” 21.

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