Former UM kicker Carpenter earns AFC honor

The Daily Inter Lake

Miami Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter earned weekly honors for the AFC after having a career game last Sunday.

Carpenter, a Helena native who played for the University of Montana Grizzlies from 2004-07, hit a career-long 50-yard field goal in the Dolphins' 16-3 win over the Buffalo Bills. Carpenter made three-of-four attempts in the game, putting his season total at 19-for-22.

Carpenter's Week 14 Special-Teams Player of the Week honor comes shortly after being named November's AFC Special-Teams Player of the Month. He went eight-for-eight on field goal attempts last month, including 47-yarders against the Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams.

Sunday's lone miss snapped an NFL-tying rookie record of 14 straight field goals made by the undrafted kicker. Carpenter was signed as a free agent before the season started, along with former Flathead Braves athlete and Grizzly running back Lex Hilliard. Hilliard remains on the team's practice squad. The Dolphins (8-5) are currently tied for first place in the AFC East with New England and New York. Last season they finished a dismal 1-15.