Spencer Barnes is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover the Red Mountain Mountain Lions for AZPreps365.com

His teammates call him “The Leg.”

Seventh in Arizona, fifth in Division 6A and second in the East Valley League: Those were the Maxpreps midseason overall kicking rankings for Red Mountain high school kicker Kai Evans.

For Evans, the process to find success is more than just kicking a ball.

“I kick every field goal the same; stay relaxed and consistent no matter what the circumstances are,” Evans said.

Born and raised in Arizona, Evans has been playing football since fifth grade, but he also played baseball and was a goalie in soccer.

The pressure of playing goalie helped him make the transition into a kicker. He was a busy kid, so jumping from one practice to the next taught him to be organized.

He really started his kicking journey in eighth grade because his older brother was a kicker for Red Mountain. That inspired Kai.

Kai and his brother would train every other day, noticing improvements to make quickly. From the repetition, he grew passionate about kicking.

“Once I wanted something, I had to get it,” Evans said.

It takes a mix of attention, concentration, and vision to kick a field goal.

The kicker must mentally focus on performing the ideal kick as they line up for it while ignoring outside distractions. They must visualize how the ball will move as it travels through the uprights, and they most importantly must have faith that they can make the kick.

The kicker must also control the strain and tension brought on by the result, since success or failure frequently depends on the kicker's mental toughness at that crucial time.

Confidence is sometimes a struggle for Evans.

“I tire myself out and let the lack of confidence take over me, and sometimes my emotions take over my game,” Evans said.

Something that has helped Evans gain confidence this season is the support of his head coach, Kyle Enders.

“I’ll always stick with Kai. I remind him to not let his emotions take over his game,” Enders said.

For a kicker, routine and consistency rule everything, especially for something where timing and rhythm are so crucial.

“If you are not consistent every time, you won't get the results you want,” Evans said.