HS FOOT: And here's the kicker

It's going to be a good year for kickers this season, perhaps one of the best in a long time.

Among the top returning kickers to watch out for are Alex Ball of Westlake, Matt Goudis of Chaminade, Martin Meza of Alemany and Mohammad Roknipour of Canyon.

Everything about Ball is big. He's just a junior, but he's 6-foot-4 and is coming off a season in which he scored 98 points and totaled eight field goals and 58 touchbacks.

Goudis, who has a Boise State offer, has been a machine since his freshman season. He has kicked seven field goals in each of his first three seasons, and if he keeps the pace Goudis will finish with 28 - which would put him fourth all-time among area kickers behind Chris Sailer (33, Notre Dame), Ignacio Brache (32, Village Christian) and Jordan Mannisto (29, Westlake).

Meza is coming off a season in which he kicked six field goals and totaled 47 PATs for a team that generally goes for it on fourth down.

Roknipour got off to a late start while awaiting eligibility clearance but still finished with five field goals and 15 touchbacks in 22 kickoffs. He also scored 15 goals in soccer, so you know the kid can kick.

-- Gerry Gittelson