Boone kicker Michael Ray has scored ten points already for the Braves this season. The senior smashed a 41-yard field goal and earned seven extra points in the first two weeks of the year.

This season though the senior is upping the ante on every kick he takes. 

“To be honest, I thought I was going to go down for a soccer career but one day my dad was like you got a good leg –why don’t you try kicking a football,” Ray said of first starting to kick. 

So in about 8^th grade Michael Ray took his dad’s advice and tried out for the football team. He fell in love with the position. 

“In high school football they need to make their extra points and they need to execute on their kickoffs. Field goals really are kind of a bonus,” Boone High School Head Football Coach Andy Johnson explained. 

The senior kicker has exceled at just that. This fall Ray wanted to take it a step further and create a bigger meaning behind every kick he takes. 

“So if I make a field goal, people can pledge money per field goal or just a flat donation trying to raise money for research and childhood cancer,” Ray said. 

Pairing up with Kick-It Champions and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation his goal is to raise $2000. 

“Honestly, it’s what they want to give I mean any donation counts. On my page there is a pledge bar and you can pledge a certain point or do a flat donation,” Ray explained. 

And he has all the support from his coaches and players. 

“He’s the salt to the earth kid,” Johnson added.  “Really a good team mate, quiet, but he’ll do anything you ask him to do and his teachers will tell you the same thing just a super kid.” 

An athlete that is looking to make a difference and hopeful the next class of kickers at Boone will make it a tradition. 

“Just give back to my community because it’s given so much to me, I want to give back.”