Spokane kicker nails record 67-yard field goal
SPOKANE, Wash. - A Spokane Valley high school kicker has become etched in the record books after kicking a 67-yard field to propel his team into overtime, and the eventual win Thursday night, KXLY-TV reported.
With the Central Valley Bears down three against Shadle Park and stuck on the 50 yard line with just two seconds left, Austin Rehkow was summoned to the field to attempt the mammoth field goal.
With the holder set on the team's own 43 yard line, the ball was snapped, and the Rehkow's kick sailed into the Spokane night:
It was good and the game was tied at 55.
Central Valley would go on to beat Shadle Park on their first overtime possession and the final score was 62-55.
According to The National Federation of High Schools Record Book, Rehkow's kick tied the mark for the second-longest high school field goal. The record is 68 yards, set by Dirk Borgognone of Reno, Nev., in 1985.
The NFL record is 63 yards.
Central Valley coach Rick Giampietri said Friday that he could tell the kick had a chance the instant the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Rehkow booted it.
"It wasn't spinning real fast. He hit it right in the belly," Giampietri said. "It went between the uprights."
Giampietri said the choice with time running out was to try the field goal from his own 43, or to try a Hail Mary pass.
"He's kicked 60-yarders before in practice," the coach said.
Rehkow had made just 50 percent of his field-goal attempts (7 of 14) going into the game, including kicks of 52 and 56 yards.
"I felt confident in my leg strength," Rehkow told The Spokesman-Review newspaper. "I went out there and you get that extra adrenaline going. I let it rip. Luckily it stayed through the uprights and once I saw the arms go up (from referees) it was just an overwhelming feeling of joy."
"I couldn't have done it without a great team putting me in the position. The line gave me enough time. Great snap, great hold," he said.
Rehkow received a partial scholarship offer from Eastern Washington earlier this week.
With the Central Valley Bears down three against Shadle Park and stuck on the 50 yard line with just two seconds left, Austin Rehkow was summoned to the field to attempt the mammoth field goal.
With the holder set on the team's own 43 yard line, the ball was snapped, and the Rehkow's kick sailed into the Spokane night:
It was good and the game was tied at 55.
Central Valley would go on to beat Shadle Park on their first overtime possession and the final score was 62-55.
According to The National Federation of High Schools Record Book, Rehkow's kick tied the mark for the second-longest high school field goal. The record is 68 yards, set by Dirk Borgognone of Reno, Nev., in 1985.
The NFL record is 63 yards.
Central Valley coach Rick Giampietri said Friday that he could tell the kick had a chance the instant the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Rehkow booted it.
"It wasn't spinning real fast. He hit it right in the belly," Giampietri said. "It went between the uprights."
Giampietri said the choice with time running out was to try the field goal from his own 43, or to try a Hail Mary pass.
"He's kicked 60-yarders before in practice," the coach said.
Rehkow had made just 50 percent of his field-goal attempts (7 of 14) going into the game, including kicks of 52 and 56 yards.
"I felt confident in my leg strength," Rehkow told The Spokesman-Review newspaper. "I went out there and you get that extra adrenaline going. I let it rip. Luckily it stayed through the uprights and once I saw the arms go up (from referees) it was just an overwhelming feeling of joy."
"I couldn't have done it without a great team putting me in the position. The line gave me enough time. Great snap, great hold," he said.
Rehkow received a partial scholarship offer from Eastern Washington earlier this week.
50% average is nothing to be proud of. This kid has a ton of potential, he just needs a trainer or someone to help refine what he has. That being said I still couldnt come anywhere close to what he can do.
Pete Carrol, grab him quick!
If he can only hit 50% of the time, but can hit from 60+ yards out - he needs a good trainer to teach him some better control. He could have a very long career with a bit more education into that foot of his.
Hopefully he'll decide to become a Coug!!!
 @scooter sr. That would be a contradiction. If he had missed from 15 yards, then yes, by all means, let him Coug it during his collegiate years....but he made it, so any other school will be fine.
Great Job,
Keep up the great work. SeaHawk's did you see this video?
i did that in jr high whats the big deal
 @Rikk Brummet Really, so you did in Jr High, in essence, what most pro's can't do....Ok, back to your cave troll.
 @PacificNWRunner He didn't tell you he was 19 at the time.
Think about how amazing this feat is.,He kicked this field goal from his own 43 yard line.
Somebody give this kid a scholarship!Â
Wow. The next Janikowski. If you can make a 67 yarder, your range is essentially unlimited for football purposes.
Wow. Pretty sure some other scholarships will be on their way soon if not at the vary least lot's of scouts.
This blows my mind in light of the fact that the NFL record is only 63 yards.Â
 @caphillkid Might have something to do with the angle of trajectory needed and the NFL defensive players being so much taller are able to block it.  Also wind.
 @jb_22  @caphillkid Also, highschool kickers use a tee for field goals. You can't see it in the video, but it's there. Still very impressive though.
 @Cooter_Brown  @jb_22  @caphillkid Ummmm, if you watch the video, there is no tee.  You can clearly see the holder put it right down on the white hash mark.Â
 @Cooter_Brown   That's not necessarily true at all. High school kickers have the option to use, or not use, a kicking tee. Your comment of "You can't see it in the video, but it's there.", is wrong. It might be there, it might not. Austin Rehkow is a great kicker and with his stats, i'd be giving him the benefit of the doubt in that he was not using a tee in order to prepare for the NFL. Of course, assuming he wants the NFL. Â