Take away Cory Munson’s effort (not forgetting the contributions of the defense) and Northside and Ware County might still be playing.
Maybe not, but you certainly can’t deny the scoreboard: Zeroes from the second quarter on if not for his field goals of 51, 44 – those two in the second quarter – and 49 – third quarter.
As such, the Eagles junior kicker has been named the Academy Sport+ (week five for Northside).
(Note: He was also named the Georgia High School Football Daily’s Specialist of the Week and note 2: This article doesn’t include the three he kicked in the Eagles’ win over Macon County.)
That 51 yarder just happened to be the longest he’s ever kicked. As such, he said it represents one of his greatest accomplishments. In fact, he said, the game was his best ever. In addition to the field goals, he averaged 38.3 yards per punt and placed two of those inside the 20 and kicked three in the endzone for touchbacks.
On the season, he has made seven-of-nine field goal attempts and put 17 of his 26 kickoffs into the endzone while average 40.6 yards per punt.
First things first, he said, is to get that first kick in. “If it goes good,” he said. “I have faith (that all will go well) for the rest of the game.”
If that faith ever wavers … well, there’s always the Northside staff. Or, maybe even better, there’s “dad” – his “hero” and “biggest fan.”
“He quiets me through all my problems and helps me out. He also believes in me. He comes to all of my games no matter how far away they are.
“He has supported me through everything I have been through.”
The same might be said of his grandfather. In fact, if Munson could ask God one question, it would be: How is he “doing up there and is he happy?”
If you’re sensing a deep spiritual awareness there, you’re not mistaken. In fact, Munson said one of the things that has had the most affect on him – Northside football being the best “because we are ‘family’” – has been the devotional meeting after practice. There, he said, “I have heard some life-changing messages and have learned a lot.”
Hobby-wise, Munson said it’s working on cars and trucks because it’s a way for him to relax and spend time with his dad. And just out of curiosity, what would he do with $50,000 if he had it to give away? He would pay-it-forward to the Eagle program, of course, the weight room in particular.
It should probably come as no surprise that Munson’s leg also gets a workout in soccer. In fact, he’s played varsity for it the past two years and outside of the high school confines, holds honors of being third in the nation for club soccer.
He has also played varsity football for two years and said of it: “(It) has opened a new door for me … nothing could replace the opportunities it has given me.”
As Dwayne Johnson once said: “When you walk up to opportunities door, don’t knock … kick it in.” (Note: That’s actually the G-rated version.)
So far, so good.
