Jenni Goethe kicks the gamewinning field goal in overtime for Tecumseh.
Photo by Curtis Allen, The Countywide & Sun
Maybe it will be made into a big-screen movie some day.
On Wednesday 5-foot-7 sophomore Jenni Goethe joined the
Tecumseh (Okla.) football team. Two days later she was awarded a game ball after kicking a 22-yard field goal in overtime to beat Noble (Okla.) 16-13.
"I wasn't nervous at all," Goethe told MaxPreps. "Honestly, I didn't see it go through. It felt good. I just turned around and ran. All the guys jumped around. It was pretty intense."
Her story actually started on Tuesday when head football coach Greg George asked about her soccer background during history class. George confessed, "We have struggled with consistency on extra points for the last year and a half. Field goals were out of the question."
Jenni Goethe, Tecumseh
Photo by Ernie Goethe
Goethe noted that as a sixth grader she had punted for a boys football team and also once had competed in the national Pass, Punt and Kick competition.
Four years later her football interest was renewed, so she went to the field Tuesday night and began kicking field goals.
"A bunch of football guys came around," she recalled. "The longest one I kicked was about 40 yards. I was amazed, really, but I guess it was my soccer kicking (no pun intended) in. I was super excited. I dreamed about it that night."
Three of those eye witnesses immediately called their coach and that was more than enough to bring her in for a Wednesday tryout - but not until she had finished basketball practice.
On first look, George noted, "Her steps were a little long, but she hit the ball solid."
On Thursday she received her uniform and went through about a 30-minute workout where she faced a live rush.
On Friday, she admitted, "I had butterflies in my stomach all day up to the game. Once I got there I kind of settled down and was excited."
She was short on her initial field goal attempt of about 25 yards in the first quarter, but was encouraged by coaches and teammates.
In the second quarter she drilled an extra point and her confidence soared following some energetic fist-pumping.
In the third quarter she experienced the realities of football while attempting to kick another extra point.
She related, "A bunch of their guys came through the line, blocked the kick and smeared me. It didn't hurt very bad. That's what we expected (if the blocking failed)."
Coach George pointed out, "We brought her in for a reason and she hit it. It was fun to watch her. It was a neat story. I've got two daughters of my own."
Jenni's father, Ernie Goethe, admitted, "My wife and I had concerns, because she's very good at soccer. What are the implications if she gets injured?"
However, after watching her winning kick soar through the uprights, Ernie confessed, "I just ran through the stands hollering and screaming like a nine-year-old at a Justin Bieber concert."
Jenni still marvels at her whirlwind success. She calls it "a God thing. I don't think anybody could write a script like that. It's totally from above."
Now, what's she going to do for an encore?
She replied, "I''ve been thinking about that ever since. I hope it doesn't come down to me again, but I'll be ready."
The pressure will always be there, because on at least two days a week she has to practice basketball, then football, then soccer until it gets dark. She also plans to maintain her perfect 4.0 GPA in the classroom.
"It's going to be tough," she conceded, "but I know I've got people behind me."
