When it comes down to the final seconds in a football game, it’s always nice when a coach has a player who can make a 40- to 50-yard field goal. A game-winner, or a boot that puts the game into overtime, is relished.
When it comes to kickers in Colorado, and nationally, Golden’s Ryan Stokes (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) is among the finest this season. He was the Class 4A all-state kicker last season, and, if he has the season most expect, the Demons should improve on last season’s 6-4 record and fourth-place finish in the West Metro League.
Dustin Griffiths of Eaglecrest holds the state record for the longest field goal, 64 yards, in 2001. The Colorado record for the most in one season is 19 by Philip Welch of Fort Collins in 2006, and the most in one game is five by Denver West's Richard Martinez in 1976.
Stokes, who also will be starting at quarterback for his fourth consecutive season, first gained national attention when he won the National Punt, Pass and Kick championship as an eighth-grader. He staked his claim to future kicking superlatives when he booted a 47-yarder in a middle school game.
“Winning the national title gave me a lot of confidence, and as an eighth-grader I was pretty consistent hitting from 45-50 yards,” said Stokes, a Division I prospect who has yet to select a college. “I hit a 65-yarder in practice last week, but keep in mind, that was just practice. I just want to improve each year, and I think I made pretty good progress.”
Tom Ward coached Stokes for two seasons at Golden. He now is an administrator at the school, and he has high praise for Stokes, not only in athletics, but in the classroom.
“Ryan is a coach’s dream and our present coach, John Roberts, has such an outstanding talent to work with,” Ward said. “He is the heart and soul of the team. I remember his 51-yarder against ThunderRidge when he was a sophomore. We always felt we could count on him in a crunch.”
Stokes, who had touchbacks on more than 90 percent of his kickoffs last season, said he would like to consider a West Coast school first because he wants to be a marine biologist.
“I want a Division I school, but education is a priority,” said Stokes, who has missed only one extra-point attempt during the past two seasons. “I’m excited about this season, and as a quarterback, I’ve got confidence in all my receivers. If the team needs the kick at the end, I hope I’ll be able to come through for them.”
Stokes, who passed for 1,818 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for an additional 500 yards in 2008, is not the only player who has the leg to score points when it counts the most. In all, Colorado welcomed back seven kickers who earned either all-state or all-league honors last season.
Legacy’s Kip Smith is certain to challenge for top honors this fall. He made seven field goals last season, with the longest coming from 56 yards. As with Stokes on kickoffs, officials might as well put the ball on the 20-yard line, as 47 of his 50 boots sailed into the end zone last season.
“I’ve grown a lot over the year and I’m comfortable from 40 yards out,” said Smith, who had a 49-yarder in a game as a sophomore. “I like to think I could hit from 70 yards out, and right now I practice a lot at 50 yards. When I was younger, on kickoffs, I wanted to get the ball into the end zone, because I actually was afraid I might have to make a tackle.”
Said Legacy coach, Wayne Voorhees: “Kip has the powerful leg and that’s a plus. He’s a youngster we can count on when it really matters.”
Akron’s Byron Guy (6-2, 195) received all-state mention as a punter, where he averaged 38 yards a boot, and he also hit on a field goal of 47 yards last season. Coach Brian Christiansen said Guy has the ability to hit from 55-60 yards.
“I’ve made the 50-yarders in practice, but I haven’t had to kick one in a game,” said Guy, also an all-state center fielder for the Rams in baseball. “I just keep my head down and concentrate on getting the ball up. But we’ve won a lot of games by large margins and the team hasn’t needed me to make the long ones. I’ve kicked a lot of extra points, though.”
Other kickers to keep an eye on include Niwot’s Chris Johnson (5-10, 160). Johnson earned honorable mention all-state honors last season after being successful on 12-of-17 field-goal attempts, which included two 50-plus yarders. He was selected the Northern League’s Special Teams Player of the Year and has missed just one extra-point attempt in the past two seasons.
In addition, Arapahoe’s Cameron Durkin (5-9, 150) earned second-team all-Centennial League honors last season for the Warriors, making 7-of-9 field goals with a long of 49 yards. Ninety percent of his kickoffs accounted for touchbacks, and he averaged 34.5 yards a punt. He also plays defensive back for the Warriors.
Holy Family junior Jonathan Gerry should stand out once again for the Tigers. He went 5-for-9 on field-goal attempts, 41-for-43 on extra points and powered 22 kickoffs into the end zone.
Down south, Pueblo East’s Spencer Turner (5-9, 170), who also plays running back for the Eagles, is one to watch. He earned all-league honors by making eight field goals, three that traveled longer than 50 yards. He missed only one extra-point attempt last season.
Also, Justin Castor of Arvada West (6-3, 185), who doubles as a wide receiver for the Wildcats, was the 5A Jefferson County League kicker. His longest field goal last season came from 52 yards.
WEEK 1 WATCH
Class 5A: Who can forget the 2008 season opener between ThunderRidge, then playing its first game at the big-school level, against Douglas County? The Grizzlies surprised Douglas County en route to a perfect regular season (the Huskies won the rematch in the playoffs). Thursday, the third meeting in the past year, should be a good one … Bear Creek makes the long trip to the East Coast to play a non-league opener against Gilman, Md. Gilman won its season opener last week 63-16.
Class 4A: Defending state champion Wheat Ridge opens against Niwot. The question is how will the Farmers fare without all-everything Parker Orms, who now is playing at the University of Colorado? They figure to do well with several key returnees, but Niwot is not without talent. Offensive lineman Tyler Strong already has committed Wyoming.
Class 3A: Any time Palisade and Pueblo County get together it’s special. Palisade is coming off a 17-16 loss to Woodland Park, though, and the Bulldogs no doubt would like to erase their frustrating setback of a week ago.
Class 2A: Take your pick here from among Holy Family against Eaton, Florence and Buena Vista or Roosevelt and Platte Valley. All should deliver.
Class A: There are a handful of solid games, but keep an eye on three-time defending state champion Akron as it steps up in classification to meet Weld Central. The Rams are working on a 39-game winning streak.
Class A 8-Man: There will be no easing into the schedule for defending champion Dayspring Christian, which opens against perennial power Granada on Saturday.
Class A 6-Man: It seems too early for a potential championship matchup, but here it is. - Idalia, ranked second in the Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps poll, travels to meet No. 4 Eads.
MaxPreps Colorado editor Gerry Valerio contributed to this report. Follow Valerio on Twitter for Colorado high school sports updates.