Granite City placekicker wants to inspire other girls to give football a try

Granite City’s new kicker hopes to inspire other girls to give football a chance.

Abby Knight, sophomore, has stepped up as the Warriors placekicker for the 2022 season.

She knows a few other female athletes that kick for their football teams, and it should become a norm to see more girls try out, she said.

“I think it’s not as uncommon nowadays as it was back then,” Knight said. “But people shouldn’t feel like just because they are girl that they shouldn’t try out for football.”

Before stepping on the field, her family would joke about her becoming a football kicker for the school.

“It was a last minute thing and kind of like a joke,” Knight said. “We finally took it seriously, came out and they were excited cause this is something new.”

Knight is a three-sport athlete at Granite City High School, she also plays tennis and soccer.

“I have always been known for my big foot in soccer,” Knight said.

Kindle Lyons, Granite City football head coach, said the guys “treat her as if she’s a little sister and they’re very protective over her.”

“She looked as if she was one of the guys so that was the big thing with it, she didn’t come in afraid to do this,” Lyons said.

In fact, they stepped up to help Knight learn football as soon as she stepped onto the field, she said.

“They’re very supportive, answer every question I have and they did not hesitate to help me with everything,” Knight said.

Knight was 3-for-3 on extra-point kicks and booted a 31-yard field goal in the Warriors lost to Carbondale on Sept. 9. She booted a 30-yard field goal in a win over Madison on Saturday, Sept. 17 — the Warriors’ first victory since 2019.

She said her friends encouraged her to contact the head coach to see if there was an opening for a field goal kicker.

“They think it’s cool that I am on the football team and they were shocked,” Knight said.

Kendrick Lyons, starting quarterback, said when she kicked for the first time, he knew she had a “leg on her.”

“It’s not like she’s an outcast, she’s a part of the team,” Kendrick Lyons said. “We bring her under our wing and we have her back.”

The online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, lists five women who played in men’s professional leagues dating back to 1970, including Jennifer Welter, who became the first female coach on an NFL staff when she interned with the Arizona Cardinals.

In 2020, Sara Fuller, earned kickoff and extra-point duties for Vanderbilt to become the first woman to play in an NCAA Division-I football program.

But Knight says she’s not trying to make history are draw attention to herself. She just wants to compete, contribute and be with her friends.

“There’s a lot of people that tell me they’re proud of me,” Knight said. “That makes me feel good.”

This story was originally published September 21, 2022 at 5:30 AM.