HS football position by position breakdown: Scouting the kickers/punters

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 | 5:30 PM

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Not always does the WPIAL have two kickers who rank among the nation’s very best.

This year it does.

Belle Vernon’s Cameron Guess and South Fayette’s Ryan Coe are veterans of the Kohl’s Kicking Camps, and each earned high marks this year. Both are talented kickers and punters who’ll make an impact on Friday nights.

Kohl’s has Guess ranked as the best punter in the nation in the 2020 graduating class and 13th among junior kickers. Coe, a senior, is No. 21 among kickers in his class and 30th among punters.

Another WPIAL specialist, Thomas Jefferson senior A.J. Meshanko, is ranked 73rd in the country among kickers.

1. Cameron Guess

Belle Vernon, jr., 6-0, 170

Guess made three field goals last season, including a 34-yarder in a 17-14 victory over Ringgold in Week 3. His season-long was a 44-yarder. He also made 31 extra points. He averaged 42 yards per punt with a season-long of 61 yards, and had 26 touchbacks on kickoffs.

2. Ryan Coe

South Fayette, sr., 6-2, 225

Coe made six field goals last season with a long of 32 in his first season with South Fayette. He also made 50 of 55 extra points. His leg strength showed when 22 of his 33 kickoffs were touchbacks, and he averaged 42 yards on punts. Delaware offered him a scholarship.

3. A.J. Meshanko

Thomas Jefferson, sr., 5-10, 155

Meshanko, who also plays soccer, made field goals from 25, 27 and 32 yards last season. TJ’s offense kept him busy with extra points, and he made 65 of 72. He put 37 of 88 kickoffs into the end zone, including nine touchbacks in one game last year.

4. John Opalko

Central Catholic, jr., 5-10, 155

Opalko, an all-section soccer player, kicked three field goals last season from 37, 30 and 17 yards as a sophomore. He also made 28 of 30 extra points. One of his best performances was against Altoona, when he had a field goal and five extra points.

5. Nate Clair

Latrobe, sr., 5-11, 190

Clair made seven field goals last season with kicks of 40, 38, 31, 29, 28, 27 and 21 yards. His total tied for the most among returning WPIAL kickers. He earned all-conference honorable mention honors in Class 5A.

One to watch

Jayson Jenkins

Gateway, so., 5-5, 125

Jenkins attempted only one field goal last season, but it was a big one. His 23-yarder with 10 seconds left gave Gateway a 31-28 victory over Manheim Central in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals. He also made 70 of 78 extra points.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Central Catholic, Gateway, Latrobe, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson