LJ FB: Bale kickin' it

Devin Bale (88), Viking kicker/punter, huddles up
with Head Coach Tyler Roach (far left foreground)
and teammates prior to opening kickoff
on Senior Night.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla punter Devin Bale received the long snap with both hands, paused for a second, realized he had time, then in a relaxed but firm manner booted the ball well down field.

That sequence of actions has happened many times this season for the Viking punter/kicker, his skill and confidence growing. But this particular instance came during his team's pressure-packed battle with Christian for an outright title in the Eastern League.

The kick boomed 44 yards, not the only punt of that distance for Bales in the contest.

Of course, he had the sureness and honor of kicking the winning PAT with 12 seconds left, after Finn Rice's touchdown reception from Jackson Stratton, for a 20-19 victory.

He knows the focus that is placed on a kicker or punter. He watched the Patriots' place-kicker miss his final PAT attempt, which left the door open for La Jolla to come back in the final 38 seconds.

But, here the focus came on the 6'2" junior's particular skills punting the ball.

"I think Devin could end up being a better punter than place-kicker," said Kevin Hurt, the team kicking/punting coach, who kicked at Ole Miss during his playing days.

"I told him, 'Don't play baseball (in the spring), and I'll come by the school three days a week and work with him.

"He could end up being a D1 (Division 1 college) prospect."

Devin's mother is aware of that offer. "When Devin was in the sixth grade, he couldn't run to first base, then turn to go to second base. His coach tried to get him to turn and go. He couldn't.

"It turned out he had a condition that didn't allow him to pull his feet back up. He had surgery on both sides, they placed pins in, and ever since then he has been able to kick a ball."

Reported back to his kicking coach, this history was news to Hurt. He was surprised.

Bale plays soccer in the winter for the Vikings, so that is pretty much a done deal. He started as a sophomore on defense. He is slated to return to his position in that sport as soon as the football team finishes its run in the upcoming playoffs.

In the win over Christian for the title, Bale had five punts for a total of 160 yards, an average of 32 yards a punt.

Against University City the week before, though admittedly the pressure wasn't on late in that contest, Devin dropped a punt from midfield inside the 10, getting a perfect roll to the 5 to really put the erratic UC offense in a hole to start its next drive.

Bale had four kickoffs against the Patriots, covering a total of 172 yards for an average boot off the tee of 43 yards.

Another member of the family has played end, as Bale does for Tyler Roach's Vikings. But no one has been a kicker or punter, according to his mom. For the season, Bale has 14 receptions for 155 yards, with his longest catch going for 28 yards.