By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
After playing soccer for 10 years, Baylor Cannon decided to try kicking for the Marbury High School football team. It was a decision that has provided for his future, as he earned a scholarship to Alabama State University and will continue his football career collegiately. One big thing stuck out to Cannon when he joined the Marbury football team.
The food.
“Once I started playing, I realized how much better food we got when playing football. I was still going to play soccer my junior season but then we got fed steaks for the first (football) game.”
The rest was history. Cannon made 7 of 10 field goals his junior season, including a game winner late in the regular season against Shelby County in an important Class 5A Region 3 contest that helped the Bulldogs clinch the #4 seed in the region and a spot in the Class 5A playoffs.
Cannon’s Senior season started strong. He nailed a game winning 27-yard field goal in the second game of the season against John Carrol to lift Marbury to a 38-36 win.
Later in his Senior season, Cannon had another memorable game against Shelby County, converting a 45-yard field goal and a 39-yard field goal in Marbury’s 35-14 win. The Class 5A Region 3 win helped the Bulldogs clinch a playoff spot once again.
Cannon finished his Senior season making 10-13 field goals with a long of 45 yards. He also had touchbacks on 70% of the team’s kickoffs.
Every time he gets on the field, it is exciting. “I enjoy the pressure that comes with kicking the most. It always gives a great adrenaline rush whenever you go out to kick.”
He’ll continue feeling that rush when he kicks for Alabama State University. The decision to choose the Hornets was based on the great hospitality the ASU coaching staff showed on his visit to the school. The short distance between Marbury and Montgomery was also a contributing factor that helped make the decision easier.
Cannon is thankful to all that have helped him along the way as he developed into a collegiate kicker. “I’d like to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ first and foremost for giving me the ability to kick. I would also like to thank my coaches, especially Coach Hayden Stockton for helping throughout the two years I played football. I also want to give credit to Mike Mcabe and One on One Kicking for training me, and Coach Steven Clark for training me as well. I want to thank my holder, Dawson Smith, for putting in all the work to make sure my holds were great. Finally, I want to thank my parents for believing in me and sending me to all the camps I attended.”
Cannon’s goals are to be an All FCS and All SWAC kicker and help Alabama State University win the SWAC and the HBCU national championship. He hopes to go to law school after graduating from ASU.
