HS Football: Micah Cuthbert gives Independence a Lethal Weapon in the kicking game

Cuthbert is both a standout football and baseball player for the Patriots

The Cuthbert name and athletic success have gone hand in hand over the years at Independence High School.

Rising junior Micah Cuthbert is now adding his exploits to that legacy.

However, a portion of his success has come in an unusual place for the family name - place kicking.

"It is such a luxury to have a kicker and have a weapon like Micah," Independence head football coach John H. Lilly said. "Micah is at the point now where he is pretty consistent from 40 (yards) out. You know you have points when your get it to the 20-yard line."

With some soccer in his background to feed off of, Cuthbert has mainly been self-taught through hard work and some instructions from YouTube videos.

"In the playoffs he made two big field goals for us," Lilly said. "You have 4th-and-3 on the 20 (yard line), sometimes it's a tough ask (to get a first down) against a good team, so you take the points. It does change your strategy a little bit."

"He is a good kid and he works hard," Lilly went on to say. "What I like about him is, he is more than just a kicker. Micah can play outside linebacker for us and he can play some slot receiver. He is a total team player."

While field goals get the most attention from fans, Cuthbert's ability to effectively locate kick-offs has been a huge weapon for the Patriots.

"He is almost where he puts them in the end zone consistently. When he does that we will turn him loose, but he is perfect as far ball placement," Lilly said. "We do a lot of sky kicks and stuff like that, largely because we don't want to out-kick our coverage. He is a very good directional kicker and has been working at it since he was in 7th-grade. In two different publications he is one of the top five kickers in the state."

While kicking has already brought him some next level attention, Cuthbert also continues to add to the baseball tradition for the family as well.

This summer he spent time playing with Beckley Post 32 Top Prospects and helped lead them to the American Junior Legion State Championship title.

Cuthbert talked with me Thursday following some early morning work at the high school about his kicking and playing for Post 32.

Class AA Independence opens the season at home, Thursday, August 28 against AAA Herbert Hoover.