Under the lights at Bellevue West High School on Aug. 29, a perfect storm was brewing as the Thunderbirds led the Eagles 28-26 late in the fourth quarter.  

 With just nine seconds left, only one option remained for Central’s offense, who had just regained possession: a field goal kicked by a kid who had never played football before.  

 “You’re going to have to win this game,” kicker and receiver coach Nick Webster told Robin Vargas-Pablo. The junior drilled a 39-yard field goal to win the game for the Eagles, 29-28. 

 “I was confident I was going to make it,” Vargas-Pablo said. “But I really had to take in all that was going on around me and hype myself up.” 

 Vargas-Pablo’s game winner wasn’t a fluke. Central’s kickers had been putting in intense work since early summer. Vargas-Pablo and fellow juniors Grant Grace and Adrian Schulte, all soccer players experiencing their first year of playing football, were recruited to join special teams by Webster, who is also the head boys soccer coach.  

 “They’re some of the best kickers I’ve seen in years,” Webster said. 

 All three are filling the vacancy left by Hendrick Shradar, who graduated last year. Over the summer, they impressed the coaching staff immensely, and it has been shown on the field. Vargas-Pablo’s game winner made him a known name for Central’s special teams. Schulte has drilled extra points, and in the Eagles’ 63-0 win against Omaha South on Sept. 5, Grace didn’t miss a single kick.  

 Beyond individual success, the cohesiveness of this year’s kickers has drastically improved Eagle special teams. All three have known each other through soccer for years and can often be found next to each other on the sideline, helping in high pressure moments where each has to trust each other.  

 “Trust we’re going to get the job done,” Grace said. “Expect points to come out when we’re on the field,” Schulte said.  

Vargas-Pablo, Schulte, and Grace are all hoping they play a crucial role for the team this year. For now, the trio is focused on winning.

 “[We] just do our job,” Vargas-Pablo said.