A high school football kicker in Illinois lined up a 104-yard field goal attempt from his own end zone on Saturday night, turning a standard fourth-down decision into one of the most viral plays of the season.
The unusual special teams sequence happened during an Illinois High School Association Class 8A football playoff game between Lyons Township High School and Bolingbrook High School, BroBible reported. While the Lions ultimately lost the game 22-14, the attempt itself captured national attention after being shared online by The Daily Herald Preps.
Lyons faced a fourth down and long from its own six-yard-line during the contest. Instead of executing a conventional punt, the team relied on a strategy it has used all season by attempting a field goal regardless of the distance, according to BroBible.
Got to love a 104-yard FG attempt. (Lyons does this instead of punting) pic.twitter.com/kDGnhuE06k
The tactic takes advantage of National Federation of State High School Associations rules, which treat a missed field goal the same as a punt. Under these regulations, if a missed kick comes to rest untouched in the field of play, the receiving team takes possession at that exact spot, or at the point where the ball goes out of bounds.
Total Pro Sports noted that the Lyons kicker successfully generated enough lift on the deep boot to give his defense room to operate, preventing an immediate disaster deep in their own territory. This rule differs sharply from college football and the NFL, where an unsuccessful field goal that is not fielded in the air results in the ball returning directly to the previous line of scrimmage.
The playoff matchup itself remained closely contested for the majority of the evening. Lyons secured a 14-13 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter following a long scoring drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown.
Bolingbrook reclaimed the lead with eight minutes left on the clock in the fourth quarter and later padded its advantage with a late field goal to seal the 22-14 victory. The win advanced the Raiders, who finished the regular season at 10-1, while ending the campaign for the Lions at 8-4.
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