Early in the year there was a great post that indicated that the kicking game was becoming a much bigger part of KY high school football. Several kickers were listed and their value to the team. Playoff time has come and these kickers will prove invaluable to a championship run. How did your kicker do? What were the FG numbers? Distances? Punting averages, etc. There really is not a place to to find this out. KHSAA site lists some of the kickers if they scored enough points. Otherwise they could have 10 FG's and not be listed! Did your kicker have a good season?

Belfry sports one of the best "Straight-On" kickers I have seen on the high school level. Senior Glenn Earnest has been the picture of consistency. He has only missed two XP's, both on bad snaps. He has also kicked a school record 51 yard Field Goal and been consistently accurate in the 30-40 yard range. He has not only been able to garner a number of touchbacks on his kickoffs, his accuracy on pooch kicks and directional kicking has been vital in the kickoff unit. Not to mention he is a big ole boy (5'9 250+) that will flat out hit you on kick returns.

According to the Rikerds KHSAA site, Bowling Green's Oldham has 67 pts. 1 FG and 64 PAT's; Bell's kicker Merrick has 60 pts. total of FG's and PAT's. Ryle's kicker Kaufman has 58, and Bathiany of Highlands has 56 at the end of regular season. Other good kickers may have more, but are not listed. With a ten game schedule....and 6 pts. per game average required for the posting....Oldham and Merrick qualify. Others are still posted if they are close. Several are way below the radar and don't show up. One could have ten FG's and 30 pts. and not appear. How many points have your kickers scored? How many FG's. No where else can one find out this info.

Bell Co.'s kicker/punter Monte Merrick finished the regular season with 60 pts. Total of 4 FG's and 48 PAT's. He also had 55 touchbacks! Zero punt return yardage; 40 yd.+ punting average, with longest at 67 yds. Near misses on 58 yd. and 60 yd. FG attempts. Longest field goal in state (I believe) this year-56 yds. against Rockcastle.

I don't have any stats on him, but Mayfield's Tommy McNutt would have to be considered one of the best in the state.

I don't have any stats on him, but Mayfield's Tommy McNutt would have to be considered one of the best in the state.

Tommy is a great kid and certainly this is true, but that was the spirit of the early thread....Best Kickers in the State.....but how did they do? Does anyone have his stats for FG's PAT's longest FG, etc for this year? It would be great to see how all the guys discussed earlier ended the regular season going into the playoffs.

Lexington Catholic's Pumphrey finished with 59 pts. according to Riherds/KHSAA site.

Points aren't necessarily the best indicator of a good kicker. Putting the ball into the endzone is SUCH a weapon that teams with kickers who do this consistently have a great advantage in field position. Percentage of FGM to FGA is a better indicator...and even then, the length of the attempt can skew this stat. All things considered...Drew Bathiany...or "Beth-a knee" as he's often called...is one of the state's BEST and HHS is glad he's a Bird!!

Points aren't necessarily the best indicator of a good kicker. Putting the ball into the endzone is SUCH a weapon that teams with kickers who do this consistently have a great advantage in field position. Percentage of FGM to FGA is a better indicator...and even then, the length of the attempt can skew this stat. All things considered...Drew Bathiany...or "Beth-a knee" as he's often called...is one of the state's BEST and HHS is glad he's a Bird!!

 

My question does not have anything to do with this thread directly, but why is it a high school rule that any part of the ball or the receiver that enters the end zone results in an automatic touchback? In my opinion it takes away from one of the most exciting plays of football - the kickoff return. I think that with the improvement of high school kickers, either the kickoff should be moved back to the 35 yard line or the automatic touchback rule should be done away with. Any thoughts?

Bell County and Dunbar both have outstanding kickers.

Lafayette has a really good kicker in Jake Stephens. The best one I've seen in person this year.....so far.

My question does not have anything to do with this thread directly, but why is it a high school rule that any part of the ball or the receiver that enters the end zone results in an automatic touchback? In my opinion it takes away from one of the most exciting plays of football - the kickoff return. I think that with the improvement of high school kickers, either the kickoff should be moved back to the 35 yard line or the automatic touchback rule should be done away with. Any thoughts?

 

It's only a touchback if the ball crosses the goal line. The return man can step into the endzone as long as the ball doesn't cross the line.

My question does not have anything to do with this thread directly, but why is it a high school rule that any part of the ball or the receiver that enters the end zone results in an automatic touchback? In my opinion it takes away from one of the most exciting plays of football - the kickoff return. I think that with the improvement of high school kickers, either the kickoff should be moved back to the 35 yard line or the automatic touchback rule should be done away with. Any thoughts?

 

It is for the safety of the players as many injuries occur on kickoffs and punt returns. I wish they would allow them to bring it out as well.

The Dunbar kid has to be one of the best punters in the state. I saw him play against Trinity a few weeks ago. He punted 3 or 4 very long blasts in that game.

My question does not have anything to do with this thread directly, but why is it a high school rule that any part of the ball or the receiver that enters the end zone results in an automatic touchback? In my opinion it takes away from one of the most exciting plays of football - the kickoff return. I think that with the improvement of high school kickers, either the kickoff should be moved back to the 35 yard line or the automatic touchback rule should be done away with. Any thoughts?

Poppa Bear...we must be two of the oldest coaches around LOL.....and I heard a rumor that next year KY was going to have a "trial" period allowing returns from the endzone. Anyone heard anything from KHSAA?