Quarterback of Special Teams

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The kicking position in football is unique. Most of the team focuses on scoring a game changing touchdown or forcing a crucial turnover or stop on defense. A kicker, however, is expected to put points on the board when the offense is stopped short of a touchdown or to add an extra point after a touchdown. A kicker also decides where on the field the opposing team begins their offensive drive.

“[Kickoffs] are extremely important,” Specials Teams Coordinator J.D. Walker said. “Kickoffs can set the tone of the game. We treat [the kick off] as the first defensive play.”

Michael Ewton, Allen High School’s starting kicker, “has done a fantastic job this year” according to Walker.

“He is very versatile with his kicks,” Walker said. “It has made it easier for us to make certain adjustments of where we want the ball placed.”

Through 10 regular season games and five playoff games, Ewton has made 18 out of 20 field goal attempts, putting him at a 90 percent completion percentage. He has also made 100 percent of his 67 extra point attempts. His longest field goal this season was from 51 yards away, and his only miss was from 47 yards. Behind the Eagles’ offense, Ewton averages about 4.6 extra points per game and about 1.2 field goals per game.

A big problem many kickers face is the stress during the game. With minimal time to prepare, and possible game-deciding scenarios, kickers typically have to handle a lot of stress. A big part of handling anxiety during the game is preparation and routine.

“The preparation before a kick is everything,” Ewton said. “[Just like in golf], every swing and set up before you hit the ball has to be the same.”

Another problem that can affect a kicker is the unpredictable variations in weather.

“My coach always tells me that weather does not affect good kickers and I play by that,” Ewton said. “If you’re an advanced kicker you should be used to wind and weather.”

With only one missed field goal and zero missed extra points, Ewton credits much of his success to his coaches.

“I am very blessed to have the coaches at Allen,” Ewton said. “They really make my job easier and help me if I’m off in a certain area in my kicking.”