BEEN THERE DONE THAT:
FRIDAY NIGHT KICKS
By PATRICK MURPHY
In high school football, placekickers can be just as important as any other position. For the past three years, my Friday nights have been occupied with covering high school football games. Of all the positions on the field, I thought I would be good at was a kicker, or possibly the holder. So I figured I would try my hand, er, foot at it. I turned to Providence senior kicker Jaxon Revell for help. Revell, who also plays for the soccer team, went 49-for-50 in point-after-touchdown kicks last season for the Class A state champion Pioneers. He also kicked a pair of 33-yard field goals.
I drove to Providence on Aug. 25 to try and begin my career as, hopefully, a professional kicker. On Sartini Field, I met Revell when the boys’ soccer team was practicing on one side and the junior varsity football team was on the other.
Revell grabbed his black tee, a tee holder and a football as we walked to the 10-yard line on the left side while the soccer team practiced on the right. He showed me how to have the ball in place on the tee and tee holder, showed me how to line up, take steps behind and to the side of the ball for my kick.
I was entranced by the technique and the poise the senior showed during this process. He kicked it through the uprights with ease.
If only it was that simple for me. Revell showed me where he kicks for power, and it’ s not at the end of shoe. He also showed me where he kicks the football, at the laces.
But that advice probably wouldn’ t have even worked for me if I had played football for awhile. I struggled to get the ball high enough to make it over the 10-foot yellow crossbar five times. Twice I came close.
It didn’ t take me long to realize that it’ s not as easy as it looks. I knew I could never become a professional kicker. Now I know there’ s much more to kicking a field goal or PAT than just going up and booting the ball.
So I can say,“ We’ ve been there and done that!”
Contributors
BILL HANSON Editor and Publisher
bill. hanson @ newsandtribune. com
Chris Morris is a former editor at the News and Tribune. Chris, a resident expert on all things sports, will write a feature called“ Looking Back” in each issue of News and Tribune Sports Magazine. He is currently employed at Baptist Health Floyd.
Brandi Jones is a seasoned marketing and design professional who leads the marketing team for a local engineering firm. She regularly contributes her graphic design skills to numerous regional clients.
PAGE NO. 6 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE SEPT / OCT 2025