With one of the biggest games of his career coming up, punter Stuart Gomez has been preparing for the Sept. 7 football battle against Bishop Chatard like no other, despite him playing a position in football that often is not widely respected.

“It has been a week in which I definitely have been paying attention to details,” Gomez said. He mentioned specifically that worked on his timing as well as his drop in anticipation of a hostile environment at the rivalry game.

Gomez has watched film of Chatard’s punter to prepare as well, saying that he hopes to do better than his opponent. “He’s pretty good, actually. But based on the year that I have been having, I think that I will perform better than him this week,” said Gomez.

Gomez focuses on proving his doubters wrong each and every game, often using the statement “For the Brand” as his main motivation for doing so. “For the Brand,” started by former Colts punter Pat McAfee, is a movement in the sports world meant to “spread awareness that kickers and punters are football players as well,” Gomez said.

Gomez plans to come out against undefeated Bishop Chatard and exhibit this message through his preparation and attention to detail on the field. “‘For the Brand’ means everything to me. Every week I just try and go out there and uphold that message, trying to make my idols proud,” said Gomez.

The Sept. 7 matchup against Bishop Chatard will be played at Arsenal Technical High School at 7 p.m.