National Highlight Reel: Jimmy Gammill kicks team to victory

Though he has the greatest respect for Jimmy Gammill, Ryan Wiggins isn't going to miss him when he graduates next spring.

"I think we've seen enough of him," Wiggins told MaxPreps.

No wonder, because the 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior has kicked six field goals in as many attempts against Wiggins' team during his three-year career. His kicks, in fact, have provided the winning margin in each of the last two years as New Albany (Ohio) has nipped St. Francis de Sales (Columbus, Ohio).

Gammill's 18-yard "chip shot" field goal provided the winning margin last year in overtime, but this year's heroics were much more dramatic.

The Eagles trailed de Sales 24-21 with 5:30 remaining. With one minute left, Gammill drilled a 44-yard field goal to knot the score. Clayton Wootten's interception gave them life and with just one second left Gammill coolly booted a career-best 48-yard field goal for a 27-24 victory that sent the packed house into a frenzy.

"There was some pressure," he conceded, "but I knew I had it in me. We were so excited. We always love to beat de Sales. It was the first time we ever beat them on our home field."

Wiggins conceded, "He's very good. You've got to give the kid credit. He's kicks a 44-yarder to tie and then a 48-yarder to win. For a high school kid to come in and win under those circumstances, I tip my hat. He has great focus and guts."

It marked the fourth time that Gammill has kicked two field goals in a game. He has outstanding accuracy, too, having made 21 out of 25 during his career. His only misses have been from 51 and 50 yards as a sophomore, 37 as a junior and 46 earlier this year. He also puts more than 90 percent of his kickoffs into the opponent's end zone.

New Albany coach Mark Mueller knows he has a powerful weapon.

"He's pretty clutch," Mueller praised. "He's had multiple game-winners. He also does a great job on kickoffs. It's a nice thing to have. We feel comfortable that getting across the 50-yard line we have a chance to score some points."

Because he has seen Gammill up close and personal, Wiggins is quite surprised that he has no firm college scholarship offers. He noted, "He consistently puts the ball in the end zone. Obviously the kid knows how to win. Being a good student (4.1 GPA and great test scores) on top of that, if I was a college coach I'd take a good look at him."

* Junior Luis Riascos kicked field goals of 37, 36 and 27 yards, plus two of 22 yards to spark Pembroke Pines Charter (Fla.) to a 28-27 victory in overtime against Piper (Sunrise, Fla.).

* Junior quarterback Hayden Rettig completed 30 of 47 passes for 508 yards and six touchdowns as Cathedral (Los Angeles) routed Banning (Wilmington, Calif.), 52-36.

* Just promoted from the JV team, sophomore Lucas Alfonso made his first varsity kick truly memorable as his 40-yard field goal in overtime gave Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) a dramatic 17-14 victory over Valencia (Calif.).

* Sophomore quarterback Will Hunter passed for 395 yards and four touchdowns to spark Lexington (S.C.) to a 63-44 victory over Spring Valley (Columbia, S.C.).

* Saugatuck (Mich.) rolled past Watervliet (Mich.), 41-13, despite Jake Cowsert's 398 passing yards.

* Josh Harris, a two-way star for Mason County (Maysville, Ky.) has been sidelined for his senior year due to a foot injury. The 6-2, 200-pounder was among favorites to be named Kentucky's Mr. Football.

* Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) nipped powerhouse Mullen (Denver), 12-7, to snap a 34-game winning streak. The perennial state champions' last loss also was to Grandview, in 2008.

* Frank Lenti tied the Illinois coaching record with his 306th career victory as Mount Carmel (Chicago) defeated De La Salle (Chicago), 40-7.

* Lynn English (Mass.) blanked Gloucester (Mass.), 41-0, behind Jermaine Kelly's six touchdown passes to end a 26-game winning streak.

* Columbia Central (Brooklyn, Mich.) star Travis Turner rushed for a school-record 360 yards on just 17 carries – including scoring runs of 99, 80, 60 and 34 yards – during a 44-22 victory over Hillsdale (Mich.).

* Junior Meiyako Williams returned punts for touchdowns of 65, 56 and 36 yards to spark Spring Mountain (Las Vegas) to a 62-0 rout of Mineral County (Hawthorne, Nev.). He also rushed for three touchdowns and passed for one.

* Vanderbilt University recruit Brian Kimbrow rushed for 367 yards and five touchdowns as Memphis East (Tenn.) defeated Wooddale (Memphis, Tenn.), 39-25.

* Martin (Arlington, Texas) defeated Flower Mound (Texas) 56-41 despite the passing of Marshall Williams, who completed 28 of 62 for 433 yards and five touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions.

* Brad Walovitch celebrated his 18th birthday by kicking a 51-yard field goal with 6.1 seconds left to give South (Crystal Lake, Ill.) a 10-7 victory over Cary-Grove (Cary, Ill.).

* Midlothian (Texas) overcame 424 passing yards by Draze Lawliss to edge Northwest (Justin, Texas), 47-42.

* University of Utah recruit Chase Hansen threw for six touchdowns and ran for a pair to pace Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) to a wild 56-41 victory over Highland (Salt Lake City).
 
* Devon Linzenmeyer (5-9, 195) ran 18 times for 447 yards and six touchdowns to lead Ozaukee (Fredonia, Wis.) to a 67-33 rout of Horace Mann (North Fond du Lac, Wis.).

* Mentor (Ohio) rolled past St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 38-24, before a crowd of 6,800. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky, a 6-3 senior, completed 28 of 44 passes for 469 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 84 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw four interceptions – three of them by senior cornerback Adam North. Senior wide receiver Cameron Kavan had 14 catches for 284 yards.

* Pulaski Academy (Little Rock, Ark.) whipped Cabot (Ark.) 64-34 by recovering seven onside kicks – five in the first quarter. Fredi Knighten led the offense by completing 22 of 26 passes for 416 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for 104 yards and two more scores.

* Matt Gay kicked a 54-yard field goal to help Orem (Utah) defeat Provo (Utah), 52-34.

* Washington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) senior wide receiver Flynn Heald set a school record with 21 catches for 293 yards during a 41-28 loss to Kennedy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). In the season opener he made nine catches for 244 yards.

* Matthew Pensa kicked a 29-yard field goal with 48 seconds left to give Austin (Decatur, Ala.) a 25-23 win against Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.). Earlier he had made field goals of 37, 29 and 20 yards.

* Lafayette (Oxford, Miss.) extended its winning streak to 20 games with a narrow 35-34 victory over Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.). Jeremy Liggins, a 6-4, 270-pound quarterback, led the winners by rushing for 119 yards and three touchdowns and passing for 80 yards and one touchdown.

* Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) defeated Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) 58-31 behind the passing of Mason Rudolph, who drilled 26 of 36 for 404 yards and six touchdowns.

* South-Doyle (Knoxville, Tenn.) outlasted Heritage (Maryville, Tenn.), 38-31, in a four-overtime thriller.

* Junior Zach Howell completed 32 of 48 passes for 424 yards and four touchdowns as Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) edged Oklahoma Union (South Coffeyville, Okla.), 40-34.

* Patrick Miller (6-7, 255), a four-star offensive tackle from Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), has chosen Louisiana State University over Miami and Auburn, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

* Cameron Cox connected on 13 of 16 passes for 437 yards and six touchdowns to lead Appalachian (Oneonta, Ala.) to a 46-0 rout of Coosa Christian (Gadsden, Ala.). He also made eight tackles.

* Four-star defensive end Polo Manukainiu (6-6, 260) of Trinity (Euless, Texas) has made a commitment to the University of Oklahoma, according to the Star-Telegram.

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