Kick and scream

Avon’s Vakos true on dramatic FG to send Avon to final four

In close football games, it often comes down to the kicking game.

That’s just what happened Nov. 6 in Avon, as Eagles kicker Nathanial Vakos drilled a 30-yard field goal as time expired to send Avon to the state semifinal for the fourth straight season, 20-17.

“Nathanial Vakos is only a junior and I think is the best kicker in the state of Ohio,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “He’s going to kick on a big-time college football (team) some day. We practice that situation a lot where I use the timeout and we ice him. I knew that if it didn’t go through it wasn’t going to have anything to do with nerves, it would be he just misses one. He’s really good.”

The junior kicker lined up for the kick before being iced by Avon Lake as Coach Matt Kostelnik called a timeout. Vakos had to regroup before lining up one more time.

“When I lined up, I knew they were going to ice me, and I just kind of had to wait for it,” Vakos said. “I was staying calm, and I knew it wasn’t the longest kick. They called us off and everyone was gassing me up. I went out there, took my steps, stayed true and we got the win.”

Vakos isn’t used to being iced, as this was a relatively new moment for the junior.

“This was maybe my first or second (time),” Vakos said. “I knew this was coming. It might have happened last year against Avon Lake in the playoffs, but I knew this was coming. I definitely stayed calm through it and did my job.”

This was Vakos’ first game winning kick, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for him and Avon.

He had experiences with making pressure kicks but had never lined up for a game-winner.

In Week 1 against Avon Lake, he lined up for several high-pressure kicks as that game went into double overtime.

“This was the best moment of my life,” he said. “First game-winning field goal. I don’t want it to happen, but I do want it to happen and thank god I did the right thing.”

Vakos made sure to give plenty of credit to junior long snapper Tim Conwell and senior holder Jacob Fischer.

“Timmy Conwell, I love that guy so much, and me and Jacob have been working together for so long,” Vakos said.

MARK KEMPTON — FOR THE MORNING JOURNAL Avon kicker Nathanial Vakos connects on a field goal as time expires to give the Eagles a 20-17 win over Avon Lake in the Division II, Region 6 final Nov. 6.