By Joe Frollo

CantonRep.com staff report

Posted Jul 18, 2009 @ 10:10 PM

CANTON — .A.J. Sarbaugh followed his 52-yard kick for about 10 steps, willing it over the

crossbar.

“I didn’t think I had it when I kicked it,” he said. “I thought it was short.”

The field goal was only good by a couple of feet, but it was enough. The rest of the East-West

kicking contest participants couldn’t duplicate the distance, allowing the Hoover High School

senior to take home the trophy for the first time.

Sarbaugh finished second behind Massillon graduate Steve Schott the past two years. Schott

is at Ball State now, but Sarbaugh said the competition didn’t get any easier without the former

Tiger.

All four contestants advanced to 50 yards, with Northwest’s Seth Miracle missing at that

distance. Perry’s Ben Kanam and St. Thomas Aquinas’ Ray Benedetti couldn’t find the range

from 52.

“The last two years, it was just me and Steve after 45 yards,” Sarbaugh said. “As everyone

kept making it, I’m like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

“Take nothing away from the other three guys. They were great.”

Sarbaugh kicks for the Vikings and plays tight end. He’s also a member of the varsity

basketball and baseball programs. He said about 20 teammates and coaches were texting

him while he waited for the kicking contest to start.

“That was fun,” Sarbaugh said. “It was great to have all the Hoover people here for support.”

Hoover Vikings Football

Hoover Vikings Football

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Sarbaugh wills winning kick the final few feet

CantonRep.com / Ray Stewart

North Canton Hoover High School senior A.J. Sarbaugh follows through with his winning 52-yard kick during the Repository East-West All-Star Game Kicking Contest on Saturday at Fawcett Stadium