Interview: 5-Star Norco 2017 K Lucas Havrisik off to Hot Start to Senior Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

True football fans know how important the kicking game is to win one game much less the success of an overall season. Anyone in doubt that stayed up late to watch the New England Patriots eke out a 23-21 road win over Arizona Sunday night knows the snap, the hold, and the kick all have to be perfect. Early into the 2016 season, all-around kicker Lucas Havrisik has been doing his part in the kicking game for Norco High School.

Arizona starts their season 0-1 after the Cardinals long snapper short-hopped the snap to the holder forcing a wide-left 47-yard Chandler Catanzaro attempt to win the game. Watching film on Havrisik’s first two games of his senior year, he is 4 for 4 on perfect snaps and holds missing two kicks on a break in the flow.

Havrisik has come out canon leg blazing nailing his first attempt of the season against Arizona’s Desert Ridge hitting from 47 yards in a 14-10 win. He also has left the opposition zero chance for a quick-six in the kick return game booming 9 of 9 attempts for a touchback. The Corona area native has added punting to his duties this year shinning in that phase of the game as well. Against Desert Ridge, two of his three punt attempts were downed inside the 5-yard line with one at the 1-yard line.

Havrisik is no stranger to kicking at an elite level. The 6-2, 168 pound, talent is considered one of the best in the country earning a five-star rating as the No. 10 kicker in the nation by Chris Sailer and is a member of Sailer’s “Top 12.”

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Havrisik to see how the early part of his season has kicked off (bad pun!).

Interview

Lucas, you worked all summer on your camp attending various camps. Which camps did you attend?

“I went to the Chris Sailer camp in Florida and to a camp in South Carolina for the U.S. Army All-American (FBU) tryouts. I did really well there but did not make it to the finals, I made it to the semifinals. At the Florida camp, the IMG camp, I did really well there.”

What parts of your game did you work on throughout the off-season?

“A lot of accuracy with field goals. With punts, I worked on my drop and follow through making sure I am straight every time. With my kickoffs, I worked on my hang time. That is going well this year.”

Has anyone recorded your hang time on kickoffs so far this season?

“No one records that, but it is hanging up there for a while and with great distance on my kicks.”

About how far are you getting on your kickoffs so far?

“I’m around 69 or 70 yards on my kickoffs. I put two through the uprights and another one hit the upright half way up.”

I know punts are new for you this year, but do you know what you are averaging on your punts?

“I’m not sure. I need to look at that. The first week I was doing great. The second week I was punting against the wind. In practice I’m fine with my punts, I’m still a little nervous punting in games but it is coming around.”

Field goals are the most important thing for you, how are you doing with your field goal kicking?

“I’m doing great. In our first game I hit a 47-yard field goal. I had a 41-yard field goal that helped us win 14-10 against Desert Ridge. I think they were the No. 1 team in Arizona by Max Preps.”

The score adds up oddly.

“Our coach likes to go for two after a score, we did not convert a two-point conversion after a touchdown.”

Got it. Which teams are showing recruiting interest in you right now?

“UNLV, Boise State, and Army has direct messaged me on Twitter asking for my grades.”

Are you taking any visits coming up?

“My parents and I are not too sure where we will go yet.”

The Cougars have started off 1-1 against two really great teams in Desert Ridge and Rancho Cucamonga, how does the team look heading into another tough game against Orange Lutheran?

“Our defense is great. We’re getting better on offense. Our running game has been great.”

All players are excited to play all games but you guys have a really tough schedule against some good teams. Are there any games coming up that you are excited to play?

“Oh yeah. I think Week 4 we play Poly (Riverside on Sept. 23). That is my old school. That’ll be a big game. We have Orange Lutheran next, that game will show us who we are as a team. In Week 9 we play Centennial (Corona), we are always hyped for that game.”

Lucas, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your season.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Havrisik family; Lucas Havrisik attempts a field goal.

Photo credit: Havrisik family; Lucas Havrisik attempts a punt.