Lakota West's Kofi Adubofuor eyes OHSAA history after 56-yard field goal

When Lakota West's Kofi Adubofuor converted a 56-yard field goal in the Firebirds' Week 6 win over Middletown, it marked a new school, district and Greater Miami Conference record.

"It feels really good, but the most important thing that Friday night was the win," Adubofuor said.

After the game, he said he felt relieved because he had gotten a similar chance against Fairfield, but hooked a 55-yarder wide left.

There were oohs and aahs from the crowd as both officials signaled that his kick was good, but it was nothing his teammates hadn't seen before. Adubofuor is in his second season kicking full-time on varsity but has routinely made 66-yard practice field goals since he was a freshman.

"Every time I hit from a certain yard, they say, 'Good job, Kofi,' but I'm really lucky to have this amazing coaching staff and to play for this organization that has built me up and not rushed me," Adubofuor said.

If he gets the chance, he wants to attempt a 60- or 63-yarder in a game. The current Ohio High School Athletic Association state record is 61 yards, held by Mentor's Kevin Harper and Mayfield's Carey Spear.

His power has changed head coach Tom Bolden's philosophy on whether to go for it on fourth down, punt or try a field goal in plus territory.

"If I get a chance to get the three, especially with that weapon, I'm taking the chance to get the three," Bolden said. "It's like the three-point shooters in basketball when you say, 'in-the-gym range.' Pretty much anywhere on the plus side of the field is in his range," Bolden said.

Kofi Adubofuor has one of the strongest legs in the city

His powerful leg comes from his soccer background. That is the primary sport in his homeland of Ghana, where he began playing when he was six years old. He is a striker and winger for his club team, FC Cincinnati Academy, and that speed came in handy when he started playing football in eighth grade at Lakota Plains Junior School. He initially played running back and safety but started kicking because the team needed to fill that role.

Now, his kickoffs are almost always a guaranteed touchback, even if he only needs a three-step approach. Through six games, just five of his kickoffs have been returned. In the season-opener at St. Xavier, he sent a kick over the netting behind the end zone.

"Coach Specht and his staff said they'd never seen that done before. He's the most gifted kicker, in 32 years of coaching, that I've ever been around," Bolden said.

Adubofuor has attempted on-side kicks from time to time, but has yet to master the art.

He is also splitting the punting duties with Liam Feeney. Adubofuor, of course, has the booming leg to flip the field while Feeney has the finesse to pin the opposition deep in the red zone.

The Lakota West coaches believe in Adubofuor and he trusts his teammates

When Adubofuor lines up for a field goal, all of his previous experience flashes in his eyes. He envisions all of his training, thinks about replicating his makes and draws motivation from his misses. He hears the advice of Steve Nguyen, who was his eighth grade coach and would send videos to Bolden.

"'Give me a chance, coach!' That's all I'm asking for, and he does a good job of trusting me. Even if I miss, he always lifts me up. That's all you can ask for as a kicker," Adubofuor said.

He prefers to kick from the right hash mark and has let Bolden know that, but somehow, he always ends up kicking from the left hash. It's worth noting that his record-breaking kick came from the left side.

Adubofuor is grateful for the rest of his special teams operation, even as the roles have changed from one year to the next. Owen Herring is the long snapper and Wyatt Schroeder is the holder. Both are backup quarterbacks and "tremendous athletes."

"I really appreciate my special teams group because they always do their job," Adubofuor said.

He went 9-for-13 on field goals as a junior, but his most painful miss was a 52-yarder at the end of regulation in a regional semifinal against St. Xavier that would have sent the game to overtime. If given another chance this November, Adubofuor is confident the outcome would be different.

"It would mean the world to me. Last year, I was devastated by the way we lost that game," Adubofuor said. "We have the talent to go to state. It doesn't matter which team it is, but it would really feel good if it's St. X."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota West football blessed with 'gifted' kicker Kofi Adubofuor