Sports
Robinson Kicker Needs No Holder
South Tampa Patch looks at Robinson High School senior Kody Thomas and his uncanny play against Dunedin.
Last, the Robinson Knights took care of the to the tune of 34-14. It was dubbed an ugly game by Knights head coach Mike DePue.
But one play stood out that night, and it highlighted an unlikely player on the Knight roster.
"I like the pressure of being the kicker," said senior Kody Thomas. "I relish those high pressure situations where if you make the kick you win the game, if you miss the kick you lose."
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It wasn’t a game-winning situation against Dunedin, but the uncanny play revealed the poise of the young kicker.
Robinson had just scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Placeholder Byron Pringle was injured on the drive, and no one realized it until the field goal team came on the field.
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With the clock running, Thomas noticed Pringle was on the sideline. Instinctively, he yelled at long snapper Ryan Woehlert to snap the ball directly to him. Woehlert snapped it, and Thomas dropkicked it over the cross bar for the extra point.
"The coaches couldn't believe what had happened, they were just laughing," said Thomas.
If this had been a game where that extra point would have won the game, Thomas would have been carried off the field.
But the now infamous dropkick doesn’t come close to the defining moment for the Robinson senior.
As a sophomore, he converted 51 extra points on the year. As a junior, he converted 62 extra points along with four critical field goals. He finished second on the team in scoring with 74 points. He was also the primary punter, averaging just over 37 yards per punt.
And, yes, Thomas is a soccer guy.
He played his way up through club soccer in south Tampa, starting out with the Tampa Knights, which later became RSL Florida. (This year RSL merged with HC United to become .) Thomas was on the RSL team that made it to the national finals.
Thomas now plays forward for both the Tampa United club and for Robinson’s soccer team. He’s been the top goal scorer for the Knights for two years running.
Surprisingly, Thomas' true love is football, and he hopes to pursue kicking on the collegiate level.
"I think it's the atmosphere – watching the games and wanting to be in there,” Thomas said. “Just the intensity of football, I've always loved.”
This week, the Robinson Knights (2-0) take on district rival Jesuit (1-1). Thomas could prove a deciding factor.
