Braden River kicker Kyle Thoma excelling late in the season

EAST MANATEE -- Before he powers his right leg through the football teammate Jacob Huesman holds in place, Braden River kicker Kyle Thoma takes a couple deep breaths.

It's part of the routine Thoma goes through on each extra point or field goal attempt. The routine aspect is something most kickers operate with, but Thoma's sequence works in harmony with the other members of his kicking group: Huesman, the team's quarterback and holder, and Chase Balliette, a linebacker and long snapper.

The unit, along with the rest of special teams players, are paramount to success in a deep playoff run when the opponents get stronger and stronger, and games can be tighter and tighter.

So Thoma, standing 5-foot-6 and weighing 165 pounds, could provide the difference beginning Friday when the Pirates host Venice in a Class 7A-Region 3 quarterfinal.

"I think he'd admit he struggled a little bit early in the year," Braden River head coach Curt Bradley said. "I don't know if he was pressing or what. But late in the season, he's really stepped up for us big. I know he had two touchbacks against Venice (and) a couple more against Palmetto. I think he's had a touchback in every game. And any time you make a team go 80 yards in high school, that's a tremendous disadvantage for the opposing offense."

It's a rematch of two teams ranked in the top five in Class 7A. Braden River won the regular-season meeting, 30-20, en route to capturing its second straight district championship and first 10-0 regular season campaign in program history.

"We're just excited for the opportunity to play them again and we're playing better football than we did the last time we played them," Venice head coach John Peacock told the Venice Gondolier. "We really don't have anything to lose."

Thoma booted a pivotal field goal to stretch Braden River's lead to two possessions during the October clash with the Indians. And that kick started a turnaround this season.

Up until that point, Thoma was 0-for-5 on field goal attempts. Converting the crucial pressure-packed kick against Venice heightened Thoma's game. He's been perfect ever since going 4-for-4, which included three attempts against Naples Gulf Coast in the region quarterfinal victory last week.

"It was difficult, because I wasn't used to missing and I started my career (5-for-6), so it wasn't something that I was accustomed to," Thoma said. "I went to my kicking coach Gary Cismesia, and we talked about it. And he gave me some good advice, and told me to forget all of my previous kicks."

Cismesia, the former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University star kicker, works with Thoma outside of Braden River football practice.

"He's taught me so many things that I don't see or wouldn't even know about kicking," Thoma said. "He helps me mentally, too. If I get down on myself, he's right there and always has been."

Thoma, a senior, is one key piece to the Pirates pushing toward a region final for the first time in program history.

To get there, they'll need to knock off Venice for the second time this season, just a month after defeating the Indians for the first time in seven meetings.

It could come down to Thoma's right foot, which is even more impressive when it's taken into account how he's done it with tendonitis in his left knee on his plant leg. It was discovered during the regular season finale against St. Petersburg Gibbs.

Thoma, though, has been stellar despite the ailment. He's dropped nine consecutive extra points and four straight field goals with the injury.

Even if misses a kick, there isn't any finger-pointing.

"From a team perspective, you never want to point fingers because then everybody gets on each other," Huesman said. "Then it turns from a team game to singling each other out."

Huesman, a Florida International University-bound quarterback, earned the holding job when the previous holder graduated. Huesman stepped up in practice to attempt holding. He was a natural, and offensive coordinator Eric Sanders looked no further for holding duties.

Balliette was the first choice at long snapping after his older brother, Marcus, graduated. Marcus Balliette previously performed that role with the Pirates, so it fit Chase would possess the same skills.

Together, Huesman, Balliette and Thoma have formed polished a three-man team in perfect snaps, holds and kicks. Thoma has nailed 87.2 percent of extra point attempts this season, and drilled three field goals during Braden River's five red-zone trips last Friday.

"We have to be sure of ourselves, because we're playing Venice and they're such a good team," Thoma said. "If everyone does their job, that's the only way to beat good teams."

IF YOU GO

What: Class 7A-Region 3 semifinal

Who: Venice (10-1) at Braden River (11-0)

Tickets: $8 with $5 for parking.

Gates open: 6 p.m.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Braden River kicker Kyle Thoma excelling late in the season ."