‘Amazing opportunity’: Ex-NFL kicker makes Illinois high school coaching debut against Pekin

Ex-Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould fires up his team in his high school football coaching debut Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 during a 28-14 loss to Pekin at Memorial Stadium.

PEKIN — Robbie Gould had a reason for launching his high school football coaching career, and it wasn’t just for kicks.

The former Chicago Bears and NFL kicker made his debut as a high school football head coach Friday, bringing his Rolling Meadows team to Memorial Stadium, where host Pekin beat them, 28-14, in the season opener for both teams.

“I was just taking it all in,” Gould said after the game. “It’s an amazing opportunity to show these kids how to play, and maybe change their lives. … (Joking) You sure don’t coach high school football for the money.”

Elite talent and late dramatics: Top performers from Week 1 in Peoria high school football

Pekin built a 14-0 lead at halftime, and extended it to 21-0 when senior Landon Erxleben rambled 24 yards up the middle to the Rolling Meadows 8, then three plays later bulled across from the 2 for 21-0 with 5:52 left in the third quarter.

Rolling Meadows launched an inspiring comeback, shifting into a hurry-up tempo and getting on the board with a 9-yard run up the middle by wildcat receiver Shea Wells with 2:26 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs stopped Pekin with an interception on a tipped ball at their 17 by defensive back Arman Lepuzanov.

Former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould made his high school football coaching debut Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at the helm for Rolling Meadows, which lost 28-14 to Pekin High School in a season opener for both teams at Memorial Stadium.

They slugged out a 12-play, 64-yard scoring drive over the next 5:35 and closed to within 21-14 when Wells caught a 3-yard TD pass with 5:13 left.

“I’m proud of the way you guys played,” Gould told his team afterward. “We didn’t…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/amazing-opportunity-ex-nfl-kicker-053622420.html

Author : Journal Star

Publish date : 2024-08-31 05:36:22

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.