Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
EMILY NIPPSA kicker either makes it or he doesn't and either way, must quickly put it behind him.
Central coach John Wilkinson is stretched thin during a game, keeping an eye on every player's stance, keeping tabs on every official, going back and forth with his assistants and thinking two or three plays ahead.
So it's rare that he'll step away from it all to single out one kid on the sideline. Last week he made an exception. When his kicker, junior Steven Bock, missed an extra point that would have tied the score with Springstead with six-and-a-half minutes to go, Wilkinson knew he had to tend to the slumped boy on the bench.
"That was his first kick he missed," Wilkinson said. "I told him, "You'd better shake it off. You might have to make a field goal to win."'
Bock didn't get that opportunity, as Springstead beat the Bears 27-20, but it's an example of how one measly point can be one of the most heart-wrenching facets of a game. Or one of the most uplifting.
It's been an exciting theme in college games this year. Most recently, Oregon State's kicker missed three extra points, including one that would have forced a second overtime against defending BCS champion LSU. In another huge game, Tennessee's kicker missed an extra point to leave the Vols trailing Florida 28-27, but then kicked the winning 50-yard field goal.
"I can't imagine what I'd do if I missed more than one extra point in a game," Springstead kicker Justin Demutiis said. "If I miss one, it bothers me all week.
"With field goals, it's not as bad if you miss one, because the conditions change. But an extra-point should be automatic."
When it comes down to the wire, kickers must be dealt with delicately. Springstead coach Bill Vonada has learned this over time.
"It's real crucial for them to get off to a good start," he said. "You have to have a short memory if you're a kicker, and it you're a coach, you've got to read your kid to know what he needs. With some guys, you need to tread lightly. Other guys need to be yelled at."
Some teams, such as Nature Coast Tech, like their chances with the two-point conversion. In last week's game versus Frostproof, the Sharks were successful on both two-point attempts using Rian Williams and Mike Allen on the run. When they want to play more conservatively, they go to quarterback Billy Hughes, who also serves as the team's starting kicker.
Coaches try to show they have complete confidence in their kickers, no matter what the case may be. Central graduated one of the area's best kickers, Mike Hibbert, a Times All-Suncoast first-teamer.
That left Bock with some pretty big cleats to fill, but Wilkinson tried to make it clear that Bock was under no pressure.
"Stephen Bock doesn't have to be Mike Hibbert," Wilkinson said. "He can kick an extra point. We're never going to line up and go for two unless the score absolutely calls for it.
"Percentage-wise, most teams can get the extra point 90 percent of the time."
As for the other 10 percent?
It's best not to talk about it.