Ball on the 33-yard line, one second left in the first half. Maddux Trujillo lined up for a career-long 50-yard field goal, but then came the penalty flags. False start on Austin Peay, back 'em up five yards.
Now on the 38-yard line staring down a career-long and program-record tying 55-yard field goal – timeout Jacksonville State. Would the Governors kick the 55-yarder or send the offense back out for the last-second heave to the endzone, that was the question on everyone watching's mind – but not the guys on the field.
"We knew we were still kicking, there was really no decision that we were coming off the field," said wide receiver and holder Trey Goodman. "After the false start, we talked to the guys and said obviously we can't have that, but I looked at Maddux, he looked at me, and we were both good. Then he looked at the sideline and gave a thumbs up and we were both telling coach and letting him know it's good."
"I just gave Coach Walden the thumbs up to tell him that I got it, that I know I can make it," said Trujillo. "I think my exact words were 'I'm good, I got it.' I believe he had the confidence in me no matter what, but I wanted to reassure him and the rest of the team that I had the distance and the confidence."
Decision made. The field goal team remained on the field after the timeout.
Ethan Myers snapped, Goodman held, and Trujillo kicked and you can guess the rest… good. The sideline went crazy. Trujillo, Goodman, and the guys on the field went crazy. Twitter even went a little crazy…
"I was excited, not going to lie," said Trujillo. "That record was one that I had my eye on for a while. I was aware of how far back we were; I knew I had the leg and just wanted to prove it to everyone else. It helps when you do not have to worry about anything but the kick. I have complete confidence in my teammates to do their job and to make mine as easy as possible, and that's exactly what they did. Everything from Ethan's snap, Trey's hold, and the line's protection was elite."
Now let's talk about the record. Trujillo's previous career-long was a 49-yarder against Western Kentucky earlier in the season. The last 50-plus yard field goal by an Austin Peay kicker was in 2016 when Nick Gauna nailed a 52-yarder against Eastern Kentucky. The record of 55 yards was set by Brian Yarbrough in 1983 – 20 years before Trujillo was ever born.
Prior to Saturday's kick, there had only been seven field goals of 50-plus yards in program history and four of them were made by Stephen Stansell. So along with tying the record for the longest field goal in program history, Trujillo is just the fifth Governor to ever connect on a 50-plus yard kick.
"It's an honor to tie the school record," said Trujillo. "Anything I can do to help my team is a huge opportunity and I take pride in it. I think it's more impressive that it was set during a time when there was not as much position-specific training. Brian Yarbrough, the guy who set it before me, must have had a cannon for a leg."
Nationally, the kick is the fourth longest in the FCS this season and is tied for the fifth longest in Division I football. It's one of just 23 50-plus yard field goals in the FCS and one of just 54 in DI football.
While we are all here and, on the subject, this isn't the first – or last – record Trujillo is going to take in his Austin Peay career. As a freshman last season, he set the single-season APSU record for field-goal percentage (.778) and tied the record for the most field goals made (14) in a single season.
Now, you might think I'm crazy to say let's talk about career record since Trujillo is in fact, just a sophomore, but bear with me. Trujillo is already tied for fourth in program history with 23 made field goals and is the Austin Peay career field-goal percentage leader at 71.88 percent – considerably better than the previous record of 63.6 percent.
The career record for field goals made is 35. Stephen Stansell set that record from 2009 to 2012 and I'm sorry to tell Mr. Stansell, but that record is in grave danger.
Now let's look at some PAT records. Logan Birchfield holds the career record with 159 made PATs and has the three best single-season marks, including a perfect 67-for-67 season in 2019 to set the record. Trujillo is 71-for-74 in his career, which gives him the fifth-most made PATs in program history and the second-best percentage. Trujillo is 44.7 percent of the way to Birchfield's career record, with three games this year and two more full seasons on deck, that mark is reachable. Birchfield's single-season mark is a little tougher due to the fact that he had three FCS Playoff games and one of the best offenses in Austin Peay history with the assist.
So, let's close the record book and get back to it. What's next? His holder doesn't think there isn't any field goal that he can't hit…
"Whenever I get in my stance with Maddux, I don't really feel like there is a field goal he can't hit because I'm down there and I'm like 'you know, this actually doesn't look that far.' I've never worried about the leg with Maddux. Anytime there is a miss, I automatically blame it on myself. I'm like 'how was the hold, would you want me to do it differently,' and I let him let me know. But there was never any waver in the belief that he was going to make it."
Fifty-six yards? 60 yards? What's the next distance that Trujillo puts in the record book?
"The longest field goal I have made in practice under full rush and operation was 58, but I know I have the distance from 62-63 yards," said Trujillo.
Look at the video, Saturday's program record 55-yard field goal was good from way more than 55 yards. "If you look back at it, that field goal had at least five more yards to go," said Goodman.
At least five more yards. At least. Regardless of how far Saturday's kick would have been good from, we've got a whole lot of time left to see where Trujillo can hit from next. We've got one of the best kickers in program history and one of the best kickers in college football right now, so be thankful for that when you come out to watch the Govs on Saturdays for the rest of this season and future seasons.
As for the Govs, they are on to North Alabama. Saturday's 4 p.m. contest is the first meeting between the Govs and Lions since 1978. There is a lot of ball left and a whole lot of the Governors' goals are still out in front of them. So make the trip to Braly Stadium in Florence, support these guys, and if Maddux can kick his way into the record book again next week.
Original source can be found here
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