Hold the Snickers: Moody's Six Field Goals Most Ever in a Big Ten Game
11/17/2018 11:39:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jake Moody found out shortly before game time that he would be doing more than his regular kickoff duties in a game the University of Michigan needed to stay perfect in Big Ten football play and run its winning streak to 10 straight games.
"I found out in the locker room right before we ran out onto the field," said Moody, a true freshman from Northville (Mich.) High. "Quinn (Nordin) wasn't feeling too well, and he said it was going to be a game-time decision, and he decided that it would be best for me to go out there."
Wolverine head coach Jim Harbaugh liked the look in Moody's eyes after he got tapped on the shoulder before going out and kicking a school-record six field goals.
"It's a great accomplishment," said Harbaugh. "It set a record at a program as good as Michigan that has been around for 139 years playing football. That's a huge accomplishment as a true freshman, and it was great.
"His demeanor didn't warrant anything, didn't change at all. So, I never thought he needed a pep talk or a Snickers bar or anything. Just get warmed up, go out there, and I didn't hesitate to give him the chance to do it, and he just kept coming through."
Moody didn't have to make a field goal longer than 33 yards, but he made at least one each quarter in Saturday's (Nov. 17) 31-20 win over Indiana that secured a share of the Big Ten East Division title and, most importantly, kept the No. 4-ranked Wolverines' College Football Playoff dreams alive.
He also set the record for the most field goals in a Big Ten game, Though, E.C. Robertson of Purdue holds the overall record with seven field goals in a game against Rose Poly on Oct. 27,1900. Moody also made one extra point for 19 points in the game, ranking second in conference history behind only Robertson's total from 118 years ago.
"This guy was a sniper," said Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, glancing at Moody seated to his right during the press conference. "This guy was a sniper. He did a hell of a job. … To have a freshman come out and kick like this was amazing. We couldn't finish some (drives), but him just going in there finishing for us, that was great to see."
Snicker if you want about the short distances -- 32, 30, 31, 33, 23 and 29 yards, in that order -- but it's no simple task to do what he did. One slip-up, and the Hoosiers could have had that ball on their last drive with a chance to tie the score.
And that final field goal with 2:37 remaining to play wasn't easy to stay focused on. Holder Will Hart did a good job of handling the difficult snap and getting the ball down the instant before Moody knocked it through just a few yards inside the left goal post.
That made him six-for-six and moved him one ahead of the four who held the Michigan record with five field goals: Mike Gillette (Minnesota, 1988), J.D. Carlson (Illinois, 1990), K.C. Lopata (Minnesota, 2008) and Nordin (Air Force, 2017).
"It feels amazing," said Moody. "The offense did a really good job of marching down the field and putting me in position. There was nothing too long -- so it wasn't too hard to break.
"It was an incredible experience. The guys out there made it real easy for me with the snaps and the holds by Camaron Cheeseman and Will Hart. They made it easy for me to just go out there and do my job."
The press conference ended with Moody's comments, and Patterson slapped him on the back with his right hand. Defensive end Rashan Gary, who had the big sack late in the game, leaned in and slapped him on the back with his left hand.
The three of them smiled, got up, and walked to the recording studio for interviews with the "Inside Michigan Football" show.
There, Moody was asked if, one year ago, he could have imagined doing what he just accomplished.
"Never in a million years," Moody said. "It's been a crazy experience -- a crazy day. It was a surreal feeling. It felt like a dream to me. It's insane; it still hasn't really registered yet what I just did.
"I've been kicking for a while, and just went out there and did what I needed to do."
Strong safety Josh Metellus said, "Yeah, that's crazy. Everybody, when their number's called, they've got to show up. And, you know, he did a great job. He was still kicking amazing kickoffs, and had to kick field goals as well -- especially in a game like this where we kept getting stopped on third downs, and had to kick field goals to take the lead.
"So, I think he did a great job of showing up at the table."
Michigan's Thanksgiving table, you might say.
Few knew very much about Moody before this game. He'd been handling kickoffs all season long, and was perfect in that department in this game, too. He had nine kickoffs, and none were returned by the Hoosiers.
But it turns out Moody really is an accomplished kicker. His 58-yard field goal for Northville tied for the second longest in state of Michigan prep history with former Michigan State star John Langeloh's kick for Utica in 1985. The state record is a 59-yarder by Doug Kochanski of Warren Woods-Tower in 1994, and Moody also had a 57-yarder for the Mustangs.
Moody wanted to try out for receiver at Northville. But when it was discovered that he could boom the ball with his right leg, Moody became the varsity placekicker during his freshman season. He also was an accomplished punter.
He figured to be a "greyshirt" this school year, joining the Michigan football team in January with four years of eligibility remaining.
"I was originally coming in January as a student," Moody told me. "But they decided there was a spot open for me this fall, and so they brought me in this fall.
"I had a couple of scholarship offers elsewhere, and (Michigan) told me that it was going to be a pretty good chance that I would get a scholarship eventually. So, I decided to come here, to the best university in the world.
"My final two choices were here and Central Michigan."
He grew up a Wolverine fan, and decided to come initially as a walk-on before the scholarship kicked in, even before the season started.
Moody learned everything he could from Nordin, who is 11-for-16 on field goals this season after going 19-for-24 last year and making a 55-yarder against Florida to earn All-Big Ten honorable mention.Â
"Quinn's been a great role model for me," said Moody. "He's taught me what to do when you get out there, and to get your mind right before you kick."
Harbaugh was asked if Moody would be the kicker against Ohio State.
"We'll see," said Harbaugh. "We'll see this week."
That was another decision for another day.
But back to that Snickers Harbaugh mentioned. Everyone from Elton John to Betty White with Steve Buscemi in between has filmed a commercial for the candy bar. The central theme is that they're acting irrationally until handed a Snickers and taking a bite, and it's mentioned, "You're not you when you're hungry."
Harbaugh knew everything was going to be all right with Moody, and held back on the Snickers.
Good call.
