Kicking Kenny Kranston

Kenny Kranston of Kannopolis, Kansas, watched football practice and dreamed about playing, but Coach Klaus Klamm had no position for such a small guy. Kenny was strong and athletic but only weighed 65 pounds. One night, he and his dad were watching a football game, which was tied with only seconds left. Kenny’s favorite team, the Oakland Raiders, was on its own 40-yard line, with time for one play.

“Wow!” shouted Mr. Kranston. “Coach Kissinger sent in George Blanda to try a 60-yard field goal! He’s been kicking for four decades and is too old to score from that distance.” When the quarterback asked him if he could do it, Blanda said, “Put the ball on the kicking tee; I’ll do the rest.”

The stadium was totally quiet. The snap was perfect; the quarterback placed it on the tee, and George sent the ball on its way. Even the opposing players watched in awe. The ball flew above the stadium lights, came spinning down, and sailed through the uprights. George Blanda’s famous leg won the game.

Immediately, Kenny said, “Dad, if I learn to kick well, maybe Coach will let me play.” Mr. Kranston bought a dozen footballs and a kicking tee for his son. Alone, Kenny went to the field late in the afternoon when nobody was around and, placing one ball at a time on the tee, kicked all twelve of them, gathered them up, and kicked again. When he could kick them through the uprights from the ten-yard line, he moved to the twenty-yard line.

Day after day, Kenny practiced, and at night he tied heavy weights to his kicking leg and lifted them until his leg muscle grew large and as hard as steel. As time went by, he never missed, even from the 50-yard line.

When football practice started, Kenny asked Coach Klamm if he could try out for the team’s kicking position. Snickering, the coach said, “Son, I doubt if you can even kick a point after touchdown. Besides, we already have a kicker, but I’ll give you a try.”

When the coach placed the ball on the twenty-yard line, Kenny sent it straight through the uprights and into the stands. “Coach, please hold it for me on the fifty-yard line.” Laughing, the coach placed the ball where Kenny requested, and to his amazement, the ball sailed straight through the uprights.

Speechless, the coach knew immediately who would be his kicker. The team reached the playoff championship game. Time was almost up, the score was tied with only seconds on the clock, and Kenny’s team was on its own forty-yard line. When the coach told Kenny to try for a 60-yard field goal, the team’s puniest kid trotted onto the field.

Kenny kicked with all his might, smashing the ball above the lights. Reappearing, it sailed through the uprights! Nobody who witnessed that kick ever forgot it, and they never forgot the little guy who dreamed of being like George Blanda: Kicking Kenny Kranston.

NOTE: Jimmy Reed is a retired college professor and author of several books. This story is from his latest, a children’s book entitled FROM A TO Z, TO YOU FROM ME. Each story in the book maximizes the use of an alphabetical letter, enhanced by alliteration and assonance. The book is available on Amazon, or can be purchased directly from the author. His email address is jimmycecilreedjr@gmail.com.

Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.

Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).