Will Reichard: “The Kick Spark”

Alabama needed a spark.

The Crimson Tide had just given up a big touchdown to the Georgia Bulldogs. With a minute to go in the first half, the Alabama faithful stood in shock as their team was trailing 24-17 and not playing well on either side of the football. Alabama needed a big-time moment in the game, and they got one.

Sophmore kicker Will Reichard stepped up to the line to attempt a 55 yard field goal, which would be his longest attempt of the season. Reichard, who is averaging 42 yards per kick in his short Alabama career, is a player who has been very consistent this year in a position that gives Alabama fans nothing but nervousness.

Reichard drilled the kick and just made it through the uprights to bring the score at halftime to 24-20. Why is this important? In the game of football there are always momentum moments. Alabama needed a spark, and this field goal was it.

The crowd was going nuts when the referee's signaled the kick was good. While there may not have been one-hundred thousand people in the stadium, it certainly felt as though the crowd was alive for the first time in the game.

We all know what happened from that point. The Crimson Tide defense held Georgia to zero points in the second-half and Alabama's offense began to make big plays thanks in large part to quarterback Mac Jones' connection to wide-receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Interestingly enough, Reichard's kick was the longest kick since the 2015 Iron Bowl made by Alabama kicker Adam Griffith. While the kick was a small contribution to an overall score, there is no doubt that Alabama has a kicker, and his name is Will Reichard.