The Miners football squad just shipped off their 2023 kicker David Dellenbach to UCLA this fall, but that hasn’t stopped them from dominating on special teams. In fact, the kicking torch has been passed onto junior Tanner Pidwell, who’s continued the program’s recent kicking success. Pidwell is a perfect 6-6 on field goals and 49-49 on extra points through Park City’s 10 regular season games. He was going through a series of kicking exercises at the team’s Monday practice. His head ball coach Josh Montzingo said he often has to pry Pidwell and his restless work ethic off the turf.Pidwell only started kicking the pigskin last year, but he’s already the top-rated kicker/punter in the state and the 10th in the nation, according to his X account. Chris Sailor Kicking rates him as a five-star recruit and predicts he’ll be a first-year starter and scholarship player at the Division 1, FBS college football level. Schools have started to contact Pidwell, who said said the Ivy Leagues would be a dream as he values the game and his education. “It makes it really easy,” said Montzingo on calling games with Pidwell on the sideline. “A lot of times on kickoff, we don’t have to worry about covering it for scary returners. We know we could put it in the end zone most the time. It’s amazing. We don’t have to hold our breath on extra points; those are crucial points, and if we need a field goal to win it or to keep us in games, we know we also got that in the bag, even with the winds blowing like last time at Springville.”Pidwell played the role of the hero in the Miners’ regular-season finale Oct. 16 at Springville, nailing a tough 25 yard field goal in overtime, which would end up being the game winner. He embraces the pressure of those moments as a leader on his soccer teams and isn’t scared if the team turns his way during their upcoming playoff run, he said. The Miners open postseason play Friday at home against Bear River. “No one works as hard as he does,” added Montzingo on his star kicker. “He’s prepared for everything and anything. It doesn’t matter what it is. He’s amazing.”Montzingo said the recent kicking legacy dates back to the team’s 2021 season, when they had fellow soccer player Stephen Shagen come out to kick for them. Shagen sank 8 field goals and 30 extra points that year, and more importantly he returned to the soccer team and told others to join up football. Shagen currently kicks for St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Tanner Pidwell kicks the ball during the home opener on Aug. 23 at Dozier Field. Credit: Park Record file photo by Clayton StewardMontzingo is extremely confident Pidwell will find himself kicking at the next level. Pidwell already is mentoring two freshman kickers below him, the same way Dellenbach helped him out greatly when joining the team. Montzingo even laughed when considering Pidwell has another year to add muscle and improve his game next year. “This season’s been great,” said Pidwell. “ I played soccer my whole life, so transitioning was pretty easy. I decided to work on it the whole summer, and now during the season, we’ve been great.”Pidwell thanked his long snapper Luke Castelli and holder Max Brodbeck for helping guide him to success. The team also worked on protecting their kicks from outside pressure Monday. Pidwell isn’t sure where he stands as far as team or state records with his perfect season. He’ll surely look to keep it rolling throughout the postseason. Pidwell will also continue playing soccer in the spring. He hopes to be part of a turnaround for the program, which went 3-11 last season. “A soccer ball, if you want to hit it really hard, you’ve got to get way over the ball and drive it down,” added Pidwell on the differences between the two sports. “For football, you want to lean back more and follow through up through the ball.”Pidwell has both great support on the field from his teammates, who told him they knew he was going to sink the Springville kick, as well as his friends and family, who are big football fans. He grew up watching football with his Dad and said his friends love having someone to cheer for on Friday nights. The impending cold weather doesn’t worry Pidwell, nor does the high-pressure playoffs. He said the team will do their best to inflate the balls a touch more and keep everyone warm on the sidelines. “Yeah, we want to make it to the championship,” said Pidwell. The kicker also believes the 2025 soccer squad has the potential to make a deep playoff run. He said he’s extremely excited about the ending and duration of his respective sports seasons at the school.The post Miners kicker rolling into postseason with perfect record appeared first on Park Record.