Country Day’s Ben Dorsey is The Observer’s prep football player of the week
Ben Dorsey said he knew his school’s football team needed a kicker, and he thought he might be able to help.
“He came to me late last winter and said he wanted to kick for us,” Charlotte Country Day head football coach Drew Wittman said. “We’ve had guys who did that before, and it worked out well.”
It’s working out well again.
Dorsey has made all 14 conversion attempts and 2-of-3 field goal tries so far this season. All but one of his 16 kickoffs has reached the end zone for a touchback. And he’s punting for an average of 36.2 yards, with a 53-yard kick to his credit.
He has been voted The Charlotte Observer’s Football Player of the Week, after making four extra points and a 45-yard field goal in last Friday’s 38-14 victory over Covenant Day.
Charlotte Country Day takes its 4-0 record to the High Country on Friday night, facing Asheville School.
“I just wanted to try something new — have some fun,.” said Dorsey, who starts on the soccer team and attends practices for both teams on several nights of the week.
“It really wasn’t hard,” he said. “Soccer really translates well to football.:”
Dorsey said he watched some YouTube videos and worked with other kickers to prepare to his first-ever football season this fall.
“He’s a phenomenal kid,” Wittman said. “He’s a natural, a real joy to coach.”
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The Bucs’ coach said Dorsey, a 6-2, 185-pound senior, is attracting interest from colleges.
“I’d like to kick in college, and I think it’s something I can do,” Dorsey said.
He’s taken quickly to the sport of football. In the Buccaneers’ season-opener at Savannah Country Day, Dorsey made a touchdown-saving tackle on a punt return. He’s connected from 55 yards during halftime drills, and several of his punts have been downed inside the opposing teams’ 10 yard line.
Wittman said the coaching staff especially appreciates Dorsey’s touchbacks.
“I told him that he helps me sleep at night, when he puts kickoffs in the end zone,” Wittman said.
Dorsey’s also a man of many talents. Dorsey takes several AP classes, plays violin in the Honors Orchestra, and is involved with student government.
He also runs the 800 meters on the track team and set a couple records in that sport during his middle school days.
Dorsey said being a kicker means the focus is turned on him during games.
“There’s some pressure,” he said. “But in kicking, you have to concentrate on the next one. Don’t focus on what you did last.”
Past Players of the Week
Week 1: Jad Aljakhbeer, Ardrey Kell
Week 2: Weston Michalak, Ambassador Christian