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The latest overnight sports sensation is a high school senior from the Spokane area. Austin Rehkow on Thursday night kicked a 67-yard field goal — yes, 67 — to help Central Valley beat Shadle Park 62-55 in overtime.
With the ball placed on the Bears’ own 43-yard line — yes, their own 43 — Rehkow sent it through the uprights to send the game into overtime. Next thing he knew, he was landing on SportsCenter’s top plays and on national news shows.
“To be truthful, we kicked some 67-yarders two days ago with the wind behind me and I didn’t make any of those,” Rehkow said. “So to be able to do that in a game is just a great feeling.”
The national high school record is 68 yards. That gives Rehkow something to shoot for next game.
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Other games will receive more national attention and have more of an impact on the rankings and the bowl picture, but few will be as important today as Washington at Arizona.
After facing Oregon State next week in Seattle, the Huskies close with California, Utah, Colorado and Washington State. Washington likely will be favored in those final four games; a win today and an upset next week and they are looking at a 9-3 season.
On the other hand, a loss today with a highly ranked team on tap for next week could send the season spiraling out of control.
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In the wake of Alex Rodriguez’s postseason performance — 3 for 25 (.120) with no extra-base hits and no RBI — a reader of The Columbian astutely points out: “He would fit right in back with the Mariners. . . . They probably couldn’t afford him, though.”
