WEST POINT — Chris Craven doesn’t have any problem leaving the fate of his football team in the hands of a kicker.
The confidence Craven has in Grayson Easterling is magnified because the 5-foot-11, 140-pound sophomore is in only his second year with the Oak Hill Academy varsity football team. Prior to Friday night, Easterling had attempted only one game-winning field goal. But Easterling’s inexperience in last-second situations didn’t factor into Craven’s decision to send his sophomore into the game to attempt the game-winner against West Memphis Christian.
“He’s good. He’s young, but he is good,” Craven said. “He practices all year round and works at it.”
Easterling’s work paid off as he made a 23-yard field goal as time expired to lift Oak Hill Academy to a 17-14 victory against West Memphis Christian in West Point. The kick was even sweeter because it helped Oak Hill Academy (2-2) earn a victory on a night when it celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“I was hoping we could score, but I started to warm up anyway,” Easterling said. “I was ready. I should have made it and I did make it.”
For his efforts, Easterling is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
Craven said Oak Hill Academy started what proved to be the game-winning drive with 3 minutes, 58 seconds remaining deep in its territory. He said strong running from Macon McBrayer helped the Raiders move the ball, but he said they also had to be careful to manage the clock because he didn’t want his team to score too quickly and give the ball back to West Memphis Christian with time remaining. Craven admitted the Raiders played “real conservatively” on the final drive, but he didn’t worry about his strategy because he had confidence in Easterling. The confidence came from Easterling hitting a field goal from about 30 yards to beat Pickens Academy last season in a scrimmage. Craven also has seen how hard Easterling has worked to come back from torn meniscus in his left knee, which is his plant leg, so he knew good things would happen when he sent him into the game.
“We are at practice and we see him hit 35- to 40-yarders. He also has hit a 50-yarder with the wind,” Craven said. “He is just good at what he is. Thomas Easterling (Grayson’s father) does a great job working with several boys out here who are our backup kickers and punters. They are invested in that and spend a lot of time kicking field goals and PATs all year.”
Easterling, who also plays baseball at the school, has been a member of the football team since the eighth grade. He has been kicking since seventh grade. He started playing soccer when he was 5 years old, but he no longer plays soccer. He said he became interested in kicking after attending a camp by Carol A. White. He said he met White at a camp in Noxubee County, but he also attends White’s camp at Ole Miss every year. He said he first attended one of White’s camps, which was four to five days, in 2014.
Easterling said he and his father keep in touch with White each month to get advice or to learn about drills or exercises to do to help him stay in shape. White was the director of the Auburn Kicking Academy from 1989 to 2010.
Easterling wasn’t sure if he would get a chance to win the game, but he said he was ready if his name was called. He said he attempted two or three practice kicks and stretched as the Raiders drove deep into West Memphis Christian territory. He felt his leg was getting to the football quickly, so he was ready when he took the field.
An Ole Miss fan, Easterling couldn’t help think of Westin Graves, who missed a 28-yard field goal in the final seconds in Mississippi State’s 21-20 loss to South Alabama on Sept. 3 in Starkville. Easterling said he thought of Graves when he was lining up, but he said he quickly erased that image from his mind and focused on what he had to do to be successful from the right hash. He said he prefers the football to be centered or on the right hash because he sometimes has a tendency to pull the ball.
“I felt a little bit of pressure, but I guess I had the confidence to get it through,” Easterling said. “The snap (from Macon McBrayer) and the hold (from quarterback Ken “Buddy” Dill) was down real fast, so I had a lot of time. They always do a really good job.”
Easterling followed the procedure many college and professional kickers use and didn’t get into the huddle before the kick. He said he played out making the kick in his head and concentrated on his footwork. Three steps back and two steps over. From there, all he had to do was plant, kick, and watch the ball go through the uprights.
“It was great. It was really awesome,” Easterling said. “We had a quick little celebration because it was a good game.”
Easterling said he feels confident going out to 46 yards. He said his longest is 53 yards in practice. There is no telling when Easterling will get his next chance, but he believes he will be ready.
Craven credits Easterling for working hard in the weight room to come back from the injury. He said Easterling has come back stronger since the injury and gives the team a valuable weapon it could use again later this season.
With the new-found experience of hitting a game-winner, Easterling said he will be prepared for his next opportunity.
“I think it is an advantage because they know even if they don’t score a touchdown, which we hope we do every time, we can still put points up on the board,” Easterling said. “It definitely helps my confidence, but I have to stay focused and make sure I make all of the other ones.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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