By Lucas Treat
ltreat@kcautv.com
Hinton, IA - There's a new all-star in Hinton, Iowa.
Jay Small can kick it, punt it, and pass it farther than any 14 year old in the country. He's the 2012 Punt, Pass, And Kick National Champion.
"I practice a lot with my dad. That helps me a lot." Small said.
It all started when Jay was around eight years old. He was infatuated with the game of football.
"My mom saw it on the internet and asked me if I wanted to do it, and it was football, and I love football so I said yeah, sure." Small said.
And Jay kept at it, practicing his technique with his father Joe. About three years ago, he was headed to the big dance.
"In 2009, I got second at nationals. That's the second farthest I've been." Small said.
But Jay didn't want to settle for second place – he wanted to be the best. Last year he fell just short.
"If I would have kick it, punted, passed it five feet more I would have gone to nationals that year too." Small recalled.
Which brings us to this season, where Jay captured the moment – a national championship – at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
"Obviously this year I didn't come up five feet short. I don't know… I did well and left Atlanta with a victory." Small said.
Next fall Jay will be an incoming freshmen, and with Morgan Wenzel graduating in the spring, Bruce Held will be looking for his new signal caller next football season. It's a long shot for a freshmen to start at the varsity level but Jay says he's up for the challenge. "I'm just taking it one step at a time."
