When Polk County football needed a kicker, Loreynzo Sanchez took a chance on a friend, convincing Wolverines soccer player Blake Anderson to give it a try.
Anderson picked up the challenge, and it’s working out well for the Wolverines, who will look for another solid outing from Anderson on Friday in the Western Highlands Conference opener against Owen. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. in G.M. Tennant Stadium.
“I wanted to kick because my friend Loreynzo convinced me,” Anderson said. “I went out early summer and just started messing around with it a little, and found out I was somewhat decent at it. I just kept working at it. I’ve grown to find a love for it.”
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That love has been spurred on by the people around him.
“Having a real good team and brotherhood behind me helps a lot,” he said.
Anderson enjoys helping out the Wolverines on both fields.
“It feels really good,” he said. “And it helps that my team has confidence in me. Even when I make a mistake they help lift me up. That’s just how they are, and it’s really nice to know I’ve got them behind me.”
Anderson’s taken to kicking a football in no time. He’s averaging hitting his kickoffs to the 11-yard line, including two touchbacks. He notches 31.5 yards per punt, with three of his eight punts inside the 20. He’s 8-of-9 on extra points, and he’s hit an unrushed 40-yard field goal in a scrimmage.
Still, he thinks he can do better.
“Kickoffs could definitely be better,” he said. “I need to work with it some more and get under control. I think I can help my team even more.”
Wolverines football coach Dustin Fry said Anderson is doing plenty.
“Just to have a guy that you can just rely on, know that he’s going to be able to kick extra points and field goals. Heck, he’ll even go down on kickoffs and try to make tackles,” Fry said. “He’s just a great kid that you love to have on the team, and for what he does, playing three or four games a week, essentially, is very impressive.
“Just the determination, and what he wants to do, he’s just a very selfless individual, and I just love having him as part of the team.”
On the pitch, he’s got a goal for the Wolverines, following a junior season that saw five goals and two assists.
With a double schedule, Anderson’s time management is crucial.
“I go to football every day for about 30 minutes, and I’m a little late for soccer,” he said. “And then there are three games every week. But I try to dedicate myself to both teams, because I’m a part of both. It’s just a big thing for me, being a team player.”
That entails a ton of communication between Anderson, Fry and Polk County soccer coach George Alley.
“He communicates very well. Same with George,” Fry said. “If George is like, hey, we have a big game and I need him for practice, well, sure, absolutely, because sometimes we kick a little later in practice. Logistically, it’s all been about communication, him communicating with me when he can’t be there, and him coming out in third period and kicking.”
Alley said the communication piece has been easy to manage.
“Coach Fry’s been really easy to work with,” Alley said. “I told him I had to have him all day yesterday, and that’s what we did.”
Alley’s happy to see Anderson shine in another sport.
“It kind of came out of nowhere,” he said.. “It’s something he found out he has an aptitude for, and there may be something with it for him at the college level.”
Fry said it’s been great to have Anderson join the football team.
“It’s been awesome with him, to be able to show up and you don’t have to go over a whole lot with him,” Fry said. “I can be like, hey, can you pooch one over there? Oh, yeah. boom. Can you give me a squib kick? Yep, got it. It’s just nice to have him. He’s been a great addition to the team.”
For his part, Anderson is having a blast.
“I love playing both so much,” he said.
