Columbus High School football coach Randal Montgomery had a higher level of confidence in sophomore place kicker Chris Taylor after he hit a 36-yard field goal Friday night.
However, for Taylor, the feeling was the opposite.
“After I made the first kick the only thing going through my mind is ‘How will I be able to keep this up?’ ” Taylor said.
Worries put aside, Taylor did just that. He hit a 35-yard field goal as the first half expired and hit another 36-yarder with 2 minutes, 44 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to lift Columbus past DeSoto Central 23-21 in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 1 opener for both teams.
For his efforts, Taylor is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“We have total confidence in Chris,” Montgomery said. “After he made that first one with so much to spare, I knew then I had no problem at all sending him out there in any situation. It’s pretty unique to have a kicker in high school win a game. That doesn’t happen often. He is good at what he does because he works all the time at it. He is a tireless worker, which is why it is good to see him succeed.”
Montgomery has worked to build the numbers in the football program. Taylor is one such example of the growth. A valuable member of the school’s boys soccer team, a little bit of encouragement was all that was needed to give football a try.
“I really didn’t know anybody on the team, but I knew this was something I wanted to do,” Taylor said. “It looked like it would be fun, and I thought I could help the team out. I slack off sometimes in practice, but, overall, I am pretty focused and determined. If I am going to do something I am going to go all out and do it right.”
Taylor’s final kick also cleared easily and sent the home crowd into hysteria. An interception by Kiren Sharp seconds later sealed Columbus’ third victory of the season.
After a speech by Montgomery, several members of the defense lifted Taylor high up in the air and on their shoulders. Captain Christopher Deloach then encouraged Taylor to lead the team in the postgame prayer.
“This was amazing,” Taylor said. “I never thought anything like this would have ever happened. I feel great. I feel like I helped the team out. Everybody on the team did their job. This was a great win.”
As for as the actual kick, Taylor was nervous yet confident. Success on the first two had paved the way for a successful mind-set.
“I was thinking about my family and Jesus,” Taylor said. “I was praying that it would all work out, and it did.”
Columbus rallied from a 21-10 halftime deficit with a stellar second-half performance by the defense. Kylin Hill also rushed for 237 yards. However, a 25-yard run by kicker Tahj Sykes on a fake punt helped set up the game-winning field goal.
“It’s a huge win,” Montgomery said. “Going forward, this should give us a tremendous amount of confidence. Being 1-0 in the region. It has not happened often around here”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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