Dave Conway
PositionPlacekicker, Punter
Number35
Birth dateJanuary 6, 1945
Birth placeBaytown, Texas
Death dateJanuary 22, 2008 (aged 63)
Height6 ft
Height in1
Weight lbs200
High schoolRobert E. Lee
CollegeTexas
Highlights
Draftyear1967
Draftround7
Draftpick173
Pastteams
PfrConwDa20

David Alexander Conway Jr. (January 6, 1945 – January 22, 2008) was an American football placekicker and punter who played college football at the University of Texas in the 1960's and played in one game for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL) in 1971.

He holds the NFL record for most extra points made per game (5) and shares the record for most extra points attempted per game (5).[1][2]

Early life

Conway was born and raised in Baytown, Texas where he played jr. High and High School Football. In 1959, he led all Baytown Jr. High football players in scoring.[3] At Baytown High School he played punter, kicker and quarterback for the football team and also ran track.[4][5]

College career

Conway played college football at Texas from 1964-66, where he was a 3 year starter at kicker and 1 year starter at punter, but had been recruited as a quarterback.[6]

In 1963 he was on the freshman team.[7]

In 1964 he went 7-12 on FGs and 24-24 on PATs and helped the Horns go 10-1, win the Orange Bowl and finish ranked #5 after spending 3 weeks ranked #1. He scored the 2nd most points on the team and the 4th most kicking point in the Country.[8] He also had 2 punts and 3 tackles.[9] He tied Tony Crosby's school record for highest extra point percentage (100%) - both of whom went 24 for 24.[10] Billy Schott would match it, but with more PATs, in 1972.

In 1965 he led the team in scoring going 8-16 on FGs and 21-24 on PATs and was also the team's primary punter, kicking 52 punts for 2,253 yards total on a team that went 6-4. He set the then school-record for punting average with 43.3 yards/punt and finished 5th in the country for punting average.[10][8] He finished 9th in the nation in kicking scoring.[8] He also had 3 rushes for 25 yards, including one scramble for 20 yards, and a pass attempt.[11]

In 1966 he again led the team in scoring, going 8-13 on FGs, including a career long and school-record 52 yarder,[12][13][10] and 17-19 on PATs on a team that won the Bluebonnet Bowl. Bill Bradley took over primary punting duties, but Conway still had 8 punts for 315 yards as well as 3 tackles.[14] At the end of the season he was name All-Southwest Conference as a kicking specialist.[12]

He graduated holding the conference record for kicking points, with 131, and the school record for highest punting average in a career with 41.97 yards/punt, still 6th best in school history. His punting records were eventually topped by Russell Erxleben in the 1970's.[10][15]

Professional career

Conway was drafted in the 7th round of the 1967 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers (173rd overall), but was cut by them in August of 1967.[16]

He preceded to bounce around the NFL spending time with the Broncos later in 1967 and then trying out for the Chargers again in 1968.[17][18][19]

In 1971 he was signed as a free agent the Dallas Cowboys. He hit 2 of 3 FGs, both 49 yards, for them in the preseason and was waived, but then picked up by the Green Bay Packers for whom he went 4 for 4 in the preseason which earned him a spot on the roster.[20][21] He played his one and only game with them on September 19th - a wild one against the Giants in which Green Bay's coach Dan Devine had his leg broken. He went 5 for 5 on XPs, but missed his one FG attempt that would've won them the game. He was cut 3 days later.[22][23][24]

In February 1972, he was signed by the Atlanta Falcons, but was cut during camp.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ "most extra points attempted per game". Statmuse. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Most extra points made per game". Statmuse. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Two Junior Highs Play Road Games". The Baytown Sun. 15 October 1959. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  4. ^ "The Baytown Sun from Baytown, Texas Oct 4 1961". Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  5. ^ Lee Traveler, Yearbook of Robert E. Lee High School,. 1963. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  6. ^ Lyons, John (5 January 1964). "No Worries At Texas About Quarterback". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Southall Puts Baylor Cubs past UT Frosh". The Victoria Advocate. 11 October 1963. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  8. ^ MacCambridge, Michael (2009). ESPN Southeastern Conference Football Encyclopedia. Ballantine. p. 330. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Texas 1964 Cumulative Season Statistics". Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Texas Football Record Book". Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Texas 1965 Cumulative Season Statistics". Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  12. ^ "1967 Cactus Yearbook". University of Texas Libraries. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  13. ^ "TEXAS WINS,13-3, ON 2 FIELD GOALS". New York Times. 13 November 1966. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Texas 1966 Cumulative Season Statistics". Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Steers Beat Aggies, Get Bluebonnet Bid". The Victoria Advocate. 25 November 1966. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Football Transactions". NY Times. 23 August 1967. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  17. ^ Gonslaves, Rick (2012). Placekicking in the NFL. p. 229.
  18. ^ "Dave Conway". Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Johnny Peacock Visits San Diego Workout". The Victoria Advocate. 19 July 1968. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  20. ^ "1971 Green Bay Packers Media Guide". Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Packers, Broncos Grab Ex-Pokes". The Victoria Advocate. 19 August 1971. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Dave Conway Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  23. ^ "Dave Conway, K". Nfl.com. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  24. ^ "Green Bay Cuts Kicker Conway". Schenectady Gazette. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Falcons Sign Ex-Dash Champ". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. 27 February 1972. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  26. ^ "Falcons Cut Five". Spartanburg Herald-Jouranl. 8 August 1972. Retrieved 15 September 2025.