The Panthers have re-signed kicker Craig Peterson who solidified the position late in last season's championship run.
After trying six other kickers during the season, the Panthers ended the search by signing a clutch leg with championship pedigree.
"Craig is an experienced kicker with a powerful leg, who has made huge kicks in big games," said Keefe. "His confidence and ability greatly prepare him for the big stage."
In the Dollar Loan Center IFL National Championship game against Sioux Falls, Peterson's third quarter field goal extended the Panthers' lead to 10 points, ramping up the pressure on the Storm who trailed by two scores in what became a Bay Area 51-41 win.
"You've got to be able to reset after every kick," said Peterson. "Some guy might be a good kicker, but he doesn't have the mental game. Kicking is 90 percent mental."
Peterson's familiarity with Keefe goes back to 2015 when Peterson played for the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm and Keefe was coaching the Orlando Predators.
"Guys would talk about him back then. It says a lot when guys rally behind you and play for you. And he was a young coach at that time. I always wanted to play for Coach Keefe."
The two would not join forces until 2022 with the Northern Arizona Wranglers.
"We have that relationship that he knows what I bring to the table," said Peterson. "Now, there's more of a trust factor that I've done it for him."
Peterson's professional journey began on a whim. He was watching an NFL preseason game in Albany with friends and grew frustrated when a kicker missed his third field goal.
"I shouted out in disbelief that I couldn't believe guys could get paid millions of dollars and couldn't make a 50-yard field goal. I said I could make a 50-yard field goal," said Peterson.
Peterson's group then went to Albany High School where he promptly nailed a 50-yard field goal.
That kick was the jump-start to turn a party trick into a profession. He hired a kicking coach and put in endless hours working on the craft.
"That was the process I fell in love with because you have to fall in love with the process to be great at something," said Peterson.
Peterson grew up as a soccer striker who developed his game in the Olympic Development Program. He had no football experience through his time at SUNY Cortland. So, he began a three-year plan of either driving to or flying to every CFL tryout. The breakthrough happened in 2014 when Ottawa brought in Peterson after their first two kickers were injured.
The Redblacks preceded his stint with Tampa Bay in the AFL for two seasons. The dizzying journey continued over the years with stops in Spokane, Hamilton, Carolina, Columbus and Albany through 2021.
In 2022, Peterson joined the IFL with Massachusetts before moving on to Frisco and eventually catching on with Keefe and the Wranglers for their run at the title.
The following season, Peterson signed with Arizona but suffered a groin injury and was released late in the year. With Bay Area flailing away at the position, Peterson was a trusted fit as the final piece in pursuit of the championship.
Keefe maintains the Panthers have the best kicker in the league and Peterson vowed to not to sign with any other team in the IFL. He models athletes like Lebron James for keeping his body fine-tuned as a veteran player with a routine that includes Pilates and daily stretching. It's a commitment to the craft at his 12th professional stop in three leagues since 2014. Some would view the path as nomadic while Peterson embraced every new location along the way.
"I love my life. I love traveling to new places and seeing different things," said Peterson. "For those that never leave their states, they're missing so much in life, and you only get one of these."
