Cal Hayes getting his kicks for East Rowan

GRANITE QUARRY — Cal Hayes Jr. arrived at the first day of football practice unaware his responsibilities were about to inconceivably increase.

East Rowan coach Tom Eanes simply needed more out of his star runner and receiver. Not to mention his dangerous punt and kick returner. And his ultra-quick cornerback.

Eanes approached Hayes early in practice and told him he would be the Mustangs’ punter this season.

Hayes quietly said OK, walked away and immediately started practicing his new craft.

“If you tell Cal to do something, he just goes and does it,” Eanes said. “He doesn’t say ‘Why’ or ‘Is this the way you want it done?’

“He just goes and he’ll master it. If you told him to stand on his head for 24 hours, he’d probably do it.”

The Mustangs’ season is just one game old, but the early review of Hayes’ punting ability is extremely positive.

Hayes punted five times in last Friday’s opener against Salisbury and averaged 40.2 yards a kick. He hit several low spirals and even connected on a 55-yarder in the third quarter.

Those results are pretty impressive for a player who practically learned to kick a month ago from Rob Linder and Bill Eanes, known as “Coach Pops” to his players.

Hayes will point out that he and teammate Adam Trexler used to punt in his yard at home when they were 12 years old.

“Coach Pops told me I had a pretty good leg, and if I kept working at it, I might could go somewhere with punting,”Hayes said. “We used to punt around in the yard when we were smaller, but I never thought about doing it for real.”

Eanes had that idea in his head last season, when he knew he would have to replace graduating senior Hunter Kepley.

Eanes wanted to have one of his best athletes catching the long snaps in case trouble arose.

There was no better choice for East Rowan than Hayes, who showed off his athletic ability by scoring three touchdowns and amassing 214 yards from the line of scrimmage on Friday.

Opposing coaches now have to worry about Hayes talking off into the open field on fourth downs.

Hayes said that thought didn’t cross his mind against Salisbury, but he also said the Mustangs have plenty of plays to run out of their punt formation.

“Coach Eanes said he tried to get my attention to fake one on Friday, but I didn’t see him,” Hayes said.

Eanes insinuated that Hayes doesn’t need his approval to fake a punt and take off for a first down.

“If he does, that’s as good as any punt’s going to be. I’ll take my chances with Cal Hayes,” Eanes said. “If you’re going to put your game in somebody’s hands, it would be Cal Hayes.

“If Cal thinks he can take the ball and do it, I’ll let him do it. If he decided he wanted to throw it, he could throw it.”

For now, Hayes is doing just fine by sticking with the game plan. Two of his five kicks settled inside the opponents’ 25-yard line, and none were returned for positive yardage.

Bill Eanes has worked with Hayes on his mechanics, stressing the importance of keeping the ball on the instep of the foot as long as possible to create more hangtime.

Eanes also crossed over to a different sport to supply Hayes, a star shortstop, with an apt metaphor.

The message: Punting is just like hitting a baseball.

“You’ve got to see the ball hit the bat,” Bill Eanes said. “You don’t actually see that, but you’ve got to keep your eye on it. Every punter that has ever been great actually says they see the ball hit on their foot.”

Hayes has a naturally strong leg and great flexibility, but he’s relying on lots of practice to become a better punter.

He often goes out to the field at East Rowan on Saturdays and Sundays to kick for about 45 minutes.

Hayes also gets in his share of punts on the field before practice and in the yard at home afterward.

Hayes said he still likes his roles as a running back and pass receiver the best, but punting has recently snuck its way into his heart.

“I like it now,” Hayes said.

East Rowan’s coaches are thankful he does.

Said Bill Eanes, “He’s already ahead of guys that have kicked for three years.”

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Contact Bret Strelow at 704-797-4258 or bstrelow@salisburypost.com .