Andy Pappanastos
Photo courtesy of Lisa Hopson-Anderson/Sports Photography Connection
Alabama's state high school football record book is starting to look something like the record book at
Trinity Presbyterian (Montgomery, Ala.).
Earlier this fall senior wide receiver Mark White broke the state record for career receptions. He now has 298, which places him No. 5 in high school history.
On Friday night senior kicker Andy Pappanastos (5-11, 175) kicked field goals of 24, 37, 41 and 44 yards during a 40-21 homecoming victory over Montgomery Academy (Montgomery, Ala.) to give him a state-record 46 for his career.
The previous record was 43 (a national record at the time) by Philip Doyle, a 1985 high school All-American at Huffman (Birmingham, Ala.),
"It's kind of one of those things that later in life will mean more," Pappanastos told MaxPreps. "It's a pretty big blessing and pretty big to do it."
He has been successful on 15 of his 21 field goal attempts this year and his longest field goal was a 52-yarder as a junior. He has not yet mssed an extra point kick. He has put 85 percent of his kickoffs into the endzone. He also leads the team in tackles from his safety position and spends only about 10 minutes at each practice on kicking.
The national record of 50 field goals is within his grasp.
"That would mean a lot to me (to set a national record), but it would mean more to my family," he said.
Coach Randy Ragsdale credits Andy's father, Paul, as the person behind his success.
"It may sound kind of corny, but I think it's a love story between a son and dad," Ragsdale believes. "It's been a way for a dad and son to connect."
Paul made a field goal post that he could insert into a base and raise or lower it at any time. He gave it to son Ryan, four years older than Andy, for a Christmas present when Ryan was about nine years old.
"We filled the house up with toys and that was the only thing they liked," Paul recalled. "It was something we had fun with in the yard. They kicked with it until high school. I tried to throw it away, but they wouldn't let me."
Ryan became an All-State golfer, but Andy, who also played soccer - and still does - was hooked on kicking. He does credit soccer for increasing his leg strength, but points out that the technique is totally different than for football.
Over the years, Andy estimates that he has broken at least a dozen posts kicking at home. As he got older, he began kicking over his house, but at least he waited until he was strong enough that he wouldn't break any windows.
Paul noted, "I knew at sixth and seventh grade he had that pop in his legs."
After attending camps at Alabama, Auburn, Texas, Mississippi State, Troy and South Alabama in a three-week period last summer, Andy decided to no longer use a tee, but to begin kicking off the ground to prepare for college.
It probably has hurt his distance, but will give him an advantage at the next level.
Andy estimates that he has attempted over three million field goals in his lifetime and he credits his father for giving him a very strong work ethic. He also credits the support of long snapper Jackson Britton and holders Jack Poundstone and Allen Wood for helping him on his record path.
Ragsdale always has confidence in his super kicker whenever the Wildcats get past their 40, so he definitely has a shot at the national record.
Whether he breaks any more records or not, Andy is prepared for the future because he's saving the family goal post.
"I'm going to keep it and give it to my kids," he said proudly.
