Bodenhamer becomes Hawks’ unlikely hero

Even before Hockinson High School’s playoff football game against Black Hills Friday, Hawks coach Rick Steele had more than a few stories he could tell about Quentin Bodenhamer. And, none of those stories involved the senior kicking a game-winning field goal.

But, that was before Friday’s game.

Bodenhamer made his high school career even more memorable than it already was to Steele when he booted a 23-yard field goal with 1:52 to provide final margin of victory in Hockinson’s 24-21 win over Black Hills at Battle Ground’s District Stadium.

“That’s a crazy kid right there,’’ Steele said of Bodenhamer. “That kid has given me headaches for years. He’s kind of the team clown. He’s a goofy kid.’’

Steele’s comments weren’t made to be derogatory. He was speaking in an affectionate tone as he reached back in his memory for a story that would encapsulate the type of kid and player Bodenhamer is and was.

“Two years ago, we were playing Tumwater,’’ said Steele, who had special instructions for Bodenhamer for that game when it came time to kickoff. “I went to him and said, ‘Now Quentin, don’t kick to No. 7. He’s really fast. You understand what I’m saying right?’ ’’

Steele said that Bodenhamer, a sophomore at the time, acknowledge to his coach that yes, he understood the instruction.

“He went out and kicked the ball to the ball to him three times and all three times he ran the ball back for a touchdown,’’ Steele said. “Me and Bodenhamer go back a few years. So, for me to send him out there to kick a game-winning field goal, it was like, ‘oh my goodness.’ ’’

But, that’s just what Steele did.

Hockinson had scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and Bodenhamer’s three extra points helped the Hawks knot up the game at 21-21. Black Hills handed Hockinson the football on the 14-yard line late in the game and when the Hawks offense couldn’t score, the outcome of the game was entrusted to Bodenhamer, who said he had failed on the only previous field goal he attempted this season.

“We ran three plays and then trotted ‘ol Bodenhamer out there,’’ Steele said. “He was huge. He split the uprights on that field goal and all the extra points as well. That’s how high school goes. He’s a great kid.’’

Bodenhamer said he was just a little but short on a 40-yard attempt earlier in the season. He said he made three field goals last year as a junior and one in his sophomore season, the year he inexplicably kept kicking to Tumwater’s speedy No. 7.

“I was just trying to warm up,’’ said Bodenhamer, describing the moments on the sideline before he trotted out on the field to attempt the gamewinner. “I realized this could come down to me. I was excited. I couldn’t believe it.’’

Bodenhamer said he wasn’t too nervous once he got on the field.

“I just had to block everything out and just kick a field goal,’’ he said. “It was perfect as it could get. It was a good snap, good hold and I kicked it right down the middle. I was picked up by my team and we just started screaming.’’

Bodenhamer’s teammates had faith in him to come through in that crucial moment.

“Quentin is a funny guy, really goofy,’’ senior Kedrick Johnson said. “I knew he could do it. He’s a great kicker. It looked like a hard kick at that angle, but he did it. He pulled it off. It was a great kick.’’