Not until a few years ago did kicking specialists have a spot on the Rudy Mumley Ohio Valley Athletic Conference All-Star Charity Football Game rosters.

However, with the emergence of placekicking in the sport – on each and every level – a roster exemption was granted for kickers-only.

When Buckeye Trail’s Randy Thompson was seeking a kicker for his Ohio squad for last night’s 63rd annual event, he had no further to look than Martins Ferry.

And for good reason.

A BIG reason, in fact – that being 6-ft.-5, 235-pound Herman Timmersjo, the Purple Riders’ foreign exchange student from Sweden.

Although he admitted to never playing organized American football before, he wasn’t at all in awe of the crowd, which was estimated at 7,000 by Game Director Bob Koch.

“My first game at Martins Ferry (vs. Buckeye Local) was a big crowd,” Timmersjo recalled. “But this stadium was packed. There were a lot of people here.”

The Buckeyes took the opening kickoff and drove right down the field behind a potent running game. However, the drive stalled at the W.Va. 25-yard line, bringing on Timmersjo for a 42-yard field goal attempt.

The soccer-styled Swede got off a booming kick that sailed high down the field from the right hash mark, curving just enough to evenly split the uprights and give favored Ohio an early 3-0 advantage.

“I just wanted to do my best and hit it through,” Timmersjo said when asked what his thought’s were as he trotted onto the field prior to the kick. “Just get it through.”

The 42-yarder tied his career long, which he set last season in Week 10 against Bellaire.

“I haven’t kicked much lately,” Timmersjo admitted. “I’ve been in Sweden for the last six months, but I have played a lot of soccer. I have kicked a little, but not a lot.”

In addition to his three-pointer, he kicked off five times. On two of those occasions, his booming end-over-end kicks sailed into the end zone for automatic touchbacks. The other three resulted in the returner fielding the pigskin inside his own five, but he didn’t make it much further.

For now, Herman is headed back to Europe where he will finish up his senior year of high school. After that, he said he wants to further his gridiron skills.

“I am looking forward to playing college football,” he offered. “I just don’t know where.”

Well, if there were any college coaches or scouts in attendance last night, his stock rose like the mercury in a thermometer on a 100-degree day.

Good luck Herman, I’m sure we haven’t heard the last from you.

Punt, Pass and Kick

A Martins Ferry resident had the chance to win $10,000 in a contest sponsored by WTOV-9 during last night’s game.

During a break in the first quarter, Tim Cooper was given the opportunity to show his skills

However, an admitted “lousy” punt did him in. “That got me down, but I thought I did okay,” he reflected. “I threw alright, but that punt got me.”

To his credit, the 54-year employee of Scheehle’s Produce in the Purple City didn’t have much time to practice. “I entered the contest four times online,” he recalled. “I found out Friday night about 9. I was attending the Queen of Queen’s Contest when a friend called and told me he had heard my name had been selected.”

Practicing would have been pretty hard anyway as Cooper explained that he didn’t even have a football. Likewise, he didn’t play football growing up.

The Next Vernon Gholston?

Former Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston never played organized football until his junior year in high school.

Neither did Bellaire’s Tyler Robinson.

Gholston, who was the New York Jets’ No. 1 pick in last spring’s NFL Draft and signed late last week, had never scored a touchdown until last year when he scooped up a Northwestern fumble and lumbered into the end zone.

Robinson, a 6-ft., 205-pounder and the lone Big Reds’ representative, had never scored a TD. Never ever!

Well, that all changed last night in the opening stages of the fourth quarter. With the Mountaineers pinned in the shadows of their own goal post, Bishop Donahue quarterback Michael Angalich was sacked and fumbled the leather. It bounded into the end zone where it was finally corralled by Robinson.

“Grab it,” he said when asked what his thoughts were as the ball bounced around. Well, after he pounced on it, what was his reaction? “Yes!” he stated.

“I’ll remember this game forever. It was a great way to end my high school career.”

Korner Stones

Shadyside quarterback Billy Merryman on when the last time was he spent this much time on the sidelines. “Ninth grade.” The Tiger great only saw action as a holder on the field goal and extra-point attempts, and also some mop-up duty at QB.

A Colliers woman won the 50-50 raffle – a whopping $1,062.

Ken Halloy, Friends of Coal Prep Classic organizer, on the outstanding crowd. “This is why I’m bringing my football here. These are the diehard fans.”

With 6:52 remaining in the third quarter, Buckeye Trail standout Brock Davis carried the ball towards the W.Va. sidelines where he met a Mountaineer defender in a violent collision. While the W.Va. player slowly rose to his feet and wobbled to the bench, Davis lay motionless.

“He was totally knocked out,” said Ohio trainer Randy Elliot.

“I’m straight,” Davis told some friends who were checking his status from the stands. “Get me back in the game,” he said.

That didn’t happen. The concussion kept him out the remainder of the contest.

Queen of Queens

Tyler Consolidated’s Emmalyn Ruckus was the winner. She seemed to be totally in shock when interviewed by WTOV-TV 9’s Jackie Cain following the crowning.

Bellaire’s Monica Chase was the fourth runnerup, the lone winner from eastern Ohio.

Other winners included Wheeling Central’s Nicole Wilson, first runnerup; Weir’s Chelsee Casey, second runnerup; Wheeling Park’s Christina Fortunato, third runnerup; and East Liverpool’s Whitney Chafin, Miss Congeniality.

Congratulations to all!

“Picture-perfect weather and another fine crowd,” said Koch. “We also had a good camp. No problems and no incidents. This was a week Rudy (Mumley) would have been proud of.”

North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com