Grandson of local couple kicks 67-yard field goal

By Eric Wade

Herald-Tribune

The grandson of a local man has made himself and Central Valley High School in Spokane, Wash., an overnight sensation.

Austin Rehkow is the grandson of Nevada residents Fred and Shirley Rehkow who seems to be a natural-born athlete. He spent his first several years of athletic endeavors playing soccer, but his attention turned to football his freshman year at Central Valley at the urging of his parents, Kim and Freddy Rehkow Jr.

Since the start of his football career, Rehkow has played wide receiver, cornerback and even spent some time as the Bears' backup quarterback, but his true calling is place kicking, which he emphatically proved Thursday when he kicked a state-record 67-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to tie the game at 55 in Central Valley's 62-55 win over Shadle Park High School.

It was the third longest field goal ever kicked in a high school game anywhere in the United States. The former state record had stood untouched for 83 years prior to Thursday night

Austin's father, Freddy Jr., played football at Nevada High School under Larry Testman and his grandparents still live in Nevada. When he heard of Austin's feat, his grandfather was elated. "I've just been ecstatic," Fred Sr. said of the feat and the accolades that have come with it.

"His little town of Spokane, Wash., was calling him the deadliest weapon in that high school," he added.

Since accomplishing the feat, Rehkow has found himself not only on ESPN, but also garnering attention from the Today Show and CNN. "I talked to his mother just a little bit ago and he's been swamped," the elder Rekhow said in a telephone interview with the Herald-Tribune Friday.

Before kicking the state-record field goal, Rehkow had already gotten a lot of attention from college football programs, but he's getting a lot more now. "His dad said it was kind of funny," Fred said. "He got a bonafide offer from Eastern Washington three days ago."

The record boot was just one of 20 field goals Austin made this year, which is another state record. He has also thrown and caught a touchdown pass this season, as well as returning an interception to the opponent's 1-yard line in a game earlier in the season, his grandfather told the Herald-Tribune.

"He's been all around this year. I'm very proud of him," the eldest Rehkow said.

Among the schools interested in Rehkow since his state-record kick are Stanford, Oregon and several others. As a place kicker, Rehkow has made a habit of making 50-plus yard field goals, as well as only having one kickoff that didn't reach the end zone all season.

Despite his strenuous athletic schedule, Austin is an Eagle Scout and carries good grades, keeping up with his class work on top of excelling at athletics.

Video footage of Austin's record-breaking boot can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMF9qgs3PEw.