Pioneers’ female football player a versatile athlete
West Greene freshman kicker Anna Durbin applauds after the Pioneers scored a touchdown against Monessen at Kennedy Field. West Greene defeated its rival, 24-6, to remain undefeated in Tri-County South action.
West Greene kicker Anna Durbin (9) talks with her teammates prior to the Pioneers' Tri-County South showdown with Monessen at Kennedy Field.
West Greene freshman kicker Anna Durbin (9) walks off the field at halftime of the Pioneers' Tri-County South game against Monessen at Kennedy Field.
Even though junior Ben Jackson rushed for 241 yards on 20 carries and scored four touchdowns in West Greene蘑菇视频 41-6 win at Bentworth on Aug. 31, the loudest cheers of the night, following Jackson蘑菇视频 fourth touchdown midway through the third quarter, were not for Jackson蘑菇视频 heroics, noted West Greene assistant coach Ben Brudnock.
Instead, that loudest cheer followed freshman Anna Durbin蘑菇视频 successful extra point conversion on her first varsity attempt, laughed Brudnock.
Although Durbin is not listed atop the Pioneers depth chart for kicker, shortly before Jackson蘑菇视频 fourth touchdown West Greene coach Rod Huffman looked in her direction and said, 鈥溾�楽tart warming up, you鈥檙e going in after the next touchdown,'鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚 started jumping up and down and got so excited. I was very nervous, but the players settled me down when I got on the field. They just said to concentrate on what I do in practice. After the kick everyone patted me on the helmet and congratulated me. Everyone was so excited for me.鈥�
Until this season, Durbin never displayed any desire to become a placekicker for the team. Instead, she focused on volleyball, where she is a middle hitter; basketball, where she plays both point and shooting guard; softball, where she is a right-handed hitting outfielder; and rec soccer, where she is a striker.
But, as he laughed, Huffman said he 鈥渉eard it through the grapevine,鈥� referring to Durbin蘑菇视频 strong leg. Actually, that 鈥済rapevine鈥� had nothing to do with Marvin Gaye or Gladys Knight and the Pips. Instead, it was Brudnock, who happens to be Durbin蘑菇视频 uncle, who first floated the idea.
鈥淟ast year Ben told me Anna can kick, that she has a strong leg,鈥� recalled Huffman, a West Greene grad who played quarterback, defensive back, and outside linebacker for the team. 鈥淚 said, 鈥楬ave her come out, we can use help in our kicking game.鈥� She came out this season, kicked in practice and became part of our team.鈥�
Observing Durbin蘑菇视频 soccer skills, Brudnock suggested she 鈥渕ight want to think about considering football as a kicker,鈥� Durbin said. 鈥淐oach Huffman talked to me, watched me kick, and said, 鈥楯oin the team.'鈥�
Brudnock said Durbin蘑菇视频 presence and skills 鈥渟erve to motivate our other kickers 鈥� including Brudnock蘑菇视频 son, Nathan 鈥� to step up. She has blended in very well with the team.鈥�
Noting Durbin蘑菇视频 athletic background, Huffman said everyone on the team has been very supportive. 鈥淲e are one big family at West Greene,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen Anna initially came out, I saw her willingness to work hard. She comes to football practice after volleyball and works on her own. She uses a kicking tee and kicks into and over a volleyball net that is on property adjacent to our field. Once she kicks, she chases the balls on her own. She does all the conditioning and running with the other players, but is not involved with hitting. Anna is quiet, dedicated, and works to improve.鈥�
With Durbin not at the top of the depth chart, Huffman opted to insert her in a game in a low-pressure situation for her first kick. 鈥淚 said take your time and put it through. And she came through with the kick.鈥�
In March, long before he start of the season, is when Durbin started practicing her football kicks, then increased her numbers as the season grew near.
鈥淏ut I didn鈥檛 think I would be in a game this early in season,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought it would be later. On the field I want to contribute as much as possible to help the team. I try to bring a positive energy to the team and we energize each other. If anyone messes up, we are all there to offer encouragement.鈥�
Without a doubt, Durbin referred to making that first kick as her best football memory, with more to come.
鈥淎t our practice field there is no goal post, so I kick into and over a volleyball net. I set up the proper distance for extra points and concentrate on basics, my form and driving the ball over the net.鈥�
Having not kicked in West Greene蘑菇视频 first game, a 22-14 loss at Cameron, West Virginia, High School, against Bentworth coach said 鈥溾�榠t was my turn to kick,'鈥� she added.
After going one-for-one in the extra point department, she missed her next kick, and was 0-1 against Chartiers-Houston, missing her first attempt before a bad snap denied a second attempt.
In addition to having her schedule and calendar filled with athletic practices and games Durbin carries a 4.0 grade average in the classroom, and says World History is her favorite subject. Outside of school, she has been involved in 4-H activities for six years.
鈥淲e live on a farm and do pigs,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e take care of them for 100 days then take them to auction.鈥� Durbin has also shown pigs at area fairs and claimed a Champion Middleweight prize on one occasion.
And perhaps that is as close to a pigskin connection as one can get.