Even when missing a field goal of 52 yards … by coming up just a couple of yards short … Will Cowart does some impressive things when kicking things in a sporting contest. The coaches at LaGrange College were impressed enough to give this dual sport standout from Houston County High’s 2013 senior class a spot on its football team this fall.
Cowart could be seen playing both football and soccer for the Bears the past four years. The son of Tod and Susan Cowart chose to take on the challenge of moving on to the next level on the gridiron and celebrated the decision Friday with family and teammates at the school.
“I’ve played soccer since I was little,” said Cowart, who gave up playing t-ball because, according to his father, it was simply too slow for him. “I started kicking (footballs) my junior year because I realized I was decent at it.”
Cowart actually first donned a football uniform in middle school, but instead of focusing on the special teams aspect he played in the defensive secondary. He didn’t stay there long, moving to wide receiver. His father said, during his time in school, Cowart grew five inches.
“I was really small in middle school and early high school,” said Cowart. “When I started kicking I grew.”
His senior season in football was Cowart’s time to shine as both Houston County’s placekicker and punter. Before then, he backed up Hunter Heck, who had quite a career in the same roles before graduating after the 2011 season. For the Bears in 2012, Cowart was 29 for 31 in PAT tries and had a punting average of 31.7 yards in 35 tries.
“Hunter was good to learn from,” said Cowart. “I liked kicking with him. He already had the technique down, and I was still learning it. I got a lot of good practice in with Hunter.”
Cowart’s 38 total points last season matched Heck’s scoring in 2011, both tied for third place in the school’s single-season record book.
While football didn’t afford Cowart any opportunities for postseason action, he’s seen nothing but success as a part of Houston County High soccer. His team is bidding for a fifth straight region championship, and a high state ranking makes the Bears of coach Jason Kirk a favorite to advance farther in the state playoffs than ever before.
Cowart’s growth in soccer mainly came through the Central Georgia Soccer Association.
“I definitely wouldn’t have kicked (in football) if I hadn’t played soccer first,” he said. “It got my legs strong.
“The kicking technique is a lot different (in football) from soccer. Your arrival to the ball and the way you kick it are different from the way you kick a soccer ball. Kicking is pretty individualistic. With football practice, I’m by myself most of the time.
“Punting is a whole other monster to deal with.”
The spotlight really thrusts onto the kicking game when it is time to make a field goal. In the middle of the 2012 season, Cowart lined up for a 52-yarder in the closing seconds looking to beat Lakeside-Evans. Earlier in the same game, he made a 40 yarder, but this second try landed close to the posts, but maybe inches shy of the going over the bottom bar.
“It was sad (to miss), but I’m proud of the way I attempted it,” said Cowart.
He only had two other makes all season, but those were no chip shots by any means (37 and 42 yards). Cowart didn’t get any varsity chances until last season.
“It was really nerve wracking,” he said about taking the field for the first time. “But it was good to see hard work pay off.”
Cowart also attending kicking camps during his offseasons, and that combined with his game film convinced LaGrange coaches to welcome him to Troup County. Cowart liked what he saw in the program and players while visiting.
“Their placekicker right now is really good,” he said. “I think the punter job is open. I’m going to compete for whatever I can.”
That means that competitive soccer is likely over after the current high school season. Cowart hopes, though, that with this strong senior class with five teammates already committed to college teams things will end on a championship note.
“I’m tall and lanky, but I can deceive you with my speed,” the center midfielder and center back said. “I like to put in tackles and make good passes.”
As a college student, Cowart is looking to study political science and pursue a law degree.
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