By René Ferrán, Mike Wilson, Bob Lundeberg, Mitchell Forde and Paul Valencia

Over the following week, we’ll be taking a position-by-position take a look at a number of the prime returning gamers in Oregon highschool soccer. Our subsequent checklist focuses on the kickers and punters.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These lists had been compiled early within the season and are based mostly totally on final 12 months’s performances and what occurred within the first few weeks of this season. Earlier than the season ends, we will likely be highlighting lots of the new stars who’ve emerged this fall. 

There are a whole lot of standout soccer gamers in Oregon and these lists aren’t supposed to be complete. Tell us about another gamers you assume must be added! 

Kadyn Butcher (Jesuit) photograph by Naji Saker 

State leaders by means of Week 6:

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Ok Charlie Beyer, Kennedy, senior

The primary-team 2A all-state kicker made 20 of 26 PATs for the state runner-up Trojans final season. 

Ok/P Kadyn Butcher, Jesuit, junior

Butcher turned one of many state’s prime placekickers final season, incomes second-team all-Metro honors in going 61 for 63 on PATs and making 2 of three discipline targets. Coach Ken Potter expects him to enhance upon his 44.3-yard common on kickoffs. “He has nice vary and has actually improved his energy,” Potter mentioned. “He’s a giant plus for us.”

Ok Aimar Cancinos, Scappoose, senior

He is a soccer participant who handles kickoffs and the lengthy discipline targets for Scappoose soccer on Friday nights. In his first season of soccer, he earned second-team all-league recognition. He’s a weapon on kickoffs for his means to kick deep and his true purpose to kick it to the deep nook of the sector. So far as discipline targets: “He’s the sort of man, you get contained in the 25- or 30-(yard line), you may have an opportunity to attain,” coach Sean McNabb mentioned. “With some work, he can kick on the subsequent stage.”

Ok/P Owen Cheyne, Henley, senior

Cheyne was an all-Skyline choice at 4 positions final season, receiving honorable point out as a placekicker (21 for 32 on PATs, 2 for 3 on discipline targets) and punter (40.4-yard common).

Ok Jeremiah Cordle, Eagle Level, junior

Cordle was the one returning Eagle Level participant who made the all-Midwestern checklist final fall, incomes second-team honors after going 28 for 30 on PATs and kicking two discipline targets.

Ok Keaton Emmett, Lakeridge, junior

Coach Spencer Phillips describes his all-TRL honorable point out kicker as “nails” for a way he solidified the kicking recreation for the Pacers final season, going 37 of 41 on PATs and making each of his discipline objective tries. “He has gotten lots stronger since final offseason and has taken his kicking recreation to a brand new stage,” Phillips mentioned.

Ok Oscar Hatangimana, Gresham, senior

The 5-10, 212-pound Hatangimana was an honorable point out all-Mt. Hood kicker final fall who went 5 for 7 on PATs within the Gophers’ opener this season. 

P Luke Higginson, Crater, senior

Higginson obtained second-team all-Midwestern recognition as a punter final season, averaging near 35 yards on 34 punts. 

Ok/P Gage Huryck, West Linn, junior

Hurych capped a season by which he obtained all-state honorable point out by kicking the profitable discipline objective in time beyond regulation to defeat Lakeridge within the 2021 state quarterfinals. He completed 48 of 51 on PATs and 4 for 4 on discipline targets. He averaged 35.8 yards per punt and had 9 touchbacks on kickoffs. 

Ok/P Ridge Jantzi, Salem Academy, junior

Jantzi was a 2A all-state honorable point out choice at punter final season, averaging 28.1 yards per punt. He additionally made 19 of his 20 extra-point kicks. 

Ok/P Benito Jennings, Pendleton, junior

Jennings is a do-everything dynamo for the Buckaroos, making the all-NWOC East checklist at three positions final fall — first crew at placekicker (28 for 35 on PATs) and second crew within the secondary (three interceptions) and at punter (38-yard common on 19 punts). “Benito is a really gifted athlete with top-end ball abilities,” coach Eric Davis mentioned.

Ok/P J.T. Knobloch-Scott, North Medford, senior

Knobloch-Scott transferred from Cascade Christian, the place he was a first-team 3A all-state punter (36.7-yard common with an extended of 54 yards) and second-team kicker (34 for 37 on PATS, 2 for 3 on discipline targets with an extended of 48) for the Challengers final fall. 

Ok Anthony Martinez, Century, senior

Martinez made his mark as a junior within the kicking recreation, going 21 for 21 on PATs and making his solely field-goal try in incomes all-Pacific second-team honors. “Anthony is the very best kicker that I’ve seen,” coach Danny Kernan mentioned. “He can kick any kind of kickoff that you simply ask him however may also hit 45-plus-yard discipline targets.”

Ok Henry Masters, Tigard, senior

Masters took over placekicking duties when Nate Duenas went down with an damage final 12 months, making 11 of 14 PATs and a pair of of three discipline targets, together with a 39-yarder. This season, he’s gone 12 of 13 on PATs and kicked a discipline objective.

Ok Jack Nguyen, Creswell, senior

Nguyen final season starred as a quarterback and linebacker for the Bulldogs, but it surely was at kicker the place he earned 2A all-state honors, making the third crew after going 11 for 13 on PATs and posting a 25% touchback charge on kickoffs. He gained a district title and positioned fourth within the excessive hurdles on the 3A state observe meet. 

P Ryan Oliver, Lakeridge, senior

Oliver not solely has began at quarterback for 3 seasons for the Pacers, however he’s additionally served because the crew’s punter, incomes first-team all-Three Rivers recognition final season, averaging 41.3 yards per punt with an extended of 60 yards. 

Ok/P John Remily, La Grande, senior

Remily joined the soccer program final 12 months from the soccer crew and had a direct affect, changing on 24 of 28 PATs and making his solely field-goal try in incomes first-team all-GOL at placekicker and punter. He additionally stepped in for just a few video games when accidents ravaged the secondary. “He has actually labored on his kicking recreation within the offseason,” coach Wealthy McIlmoil mentioned. “I’m wanting ahead to seeing him kick this 12 months.”

P Drew Rodriguez, Sprague, senior

One of the vital electrical gamers within the state, Rodriguez made first-team all-league on offense, protection and particular groups a season in the past and was even a second-team all-league punter.

P Jeremiah Schwartz, Ridgeview, senior

As a junior, Schwartz made the all-NWOC East first crew as a receiver and a punter, averaging 35 yards on his 22 punts. 

P Kellen Segel, Grant, senior

Segel, an all-state pitcher and infielder, is each the beginning quarterback and a first-team all-PIL punter for the Generals, averaging 34.8 yards per punt with an extended of 62 yards. 

P Jonathan Shannon, Central Linn, junior

Shannon was a first-team all-league and 2A all-state honorable point out choice as a sophomore. He additionally performs operating again and linebacker for the Cobras this season. “They are saying the whole lot is greater in Texas, and that adage couldn’t be extra correct for this native Texan’s leg energy,” coach Ryan Palmer mentioned. 

Ok Hudson Spike, Baker, junior

As a sophomore, Spike was a second-team all-GOL choice at placekicker after making 18 of 25 PATs. “He has nice arms, is lengthy and athletic and a wise participant,” Bulldogs coach Jason Ramos mentioned. 

P Austin Stockwell, St. Helens, junior

This particular groups man is, effectively, particular. (He’s greater than particular groups, although. He can play operating again and defensive again.) A 12 months in the past, he acquired second-team all-league recognition as a punter, and coach Cory Younger mentioned, “He’s in all probability a greater kicker than he’s a punter.”

Ok Oliver Thake, Grant, senior

Thake gave the Generals a sweep of the all-PIL particular groups first-team slots final season, going 31 of 34 on PATs.

P Leithan Thompson, Sandy, senior

Thompson made the all-Mt. Hood checklist at three positions final season, together with the primary crew at punter, the place he averaged 37.6 yards per punt with an extended of 65 yards. 

P Jack Wagner, Tualatin, senior

As a junior, Wagner made the all-Three Rivers second crew as each a security and punter, averaging 38.4 yards per punt. 

Ok Juan Zaragoza-Perez, West Albany, junior

Zaragoza-Perez earned all-Mid-Willamette honorable point out final season, when he went 38 of 42 on PATs and made all 5 of his discipline objective makes an attempt with an extended of 31 yards. 

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State leaders by means of Week 6: