In a 35-35 tie with 1:08 to play and the game on the line, Dawson High School’s kicker approached the 20 yard line. After a perfect snap, one swipe of the leg was the decision maker between which team was going home with a 5-1 record.
She made the kick.
Claire Jeffress, Dawson High’s senior kicker and homecoming queen, went viral after video of her game-winning kick proved that girls do have what it takes to make it in the male dominated sport of football.
But who is Claire Jeffress?
The game winner! pic.twitter.com/8Grl3qI0Vm
— Dawson Eagles (@DawsonHighSchl) October 21, 2017
Jeffress began kicking in seventh grade and spent two years in Dawson’s JV team before turning varsity last season. In her varsity debut, she went 4-4 in extra point attempts.
At only 5-foot-3, Jeffress only began attempting field goals last season after being relegated to extra point duty, and has yet to perform a kickoff. Still, she makes sure that her small stature does not warrant any special attention while the football field.
“Whenever I put on my pads or I go on the field, he’s like, ‘You’re not a girl right now. You’re a football player.’ ” Jeffress said to Chron.com. “Then, when we get back to the school, he’d be like ‘OK, Claire, you can be a girl now again.”
On the pitch, Jeffress is an established member of Dawson’s women’s soccer team. She’s scored 11 goals in her career at Dawson, and was a first-team selection for her district in April.
The spotlight doesn’t seem to bother Jeffress. In fact, see seems to actively seek it out. She kicked another game-winning field goal two weeks ago to seal a 14-13 win over George Ranch, and was crowned homecoming queen a week later.
https://twitter.com/DawsonHighSchl/status/919022165982408704
Following Dawson’s homecoming game against Brazoswood on October 13, Jeffress posed with her homecoming sash, tiara, and bouquet of roses while still donning her football jersey and pads. In a world where women are still under represented in major sports, Jeffress’ field goals bring hope that perhaps that won’t be the case for much longer.
