Former Dragon Kicker Hit Game-winner for BYU in Week 1

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With just 8 seconds to go, Brigham Young University's football team only needed a field goal to win the game. That's when a former Dragon stepped in. Jake Oldroyd, a freshman for the Cougars, in his first ever college outing, hit a 33-yard field goal to defeat Arizona in Week 1. We caught up with the Carroll alumnus to chat about how he's doing so far.

Southlake Style: You had a huge game, Week 1; it was your first-ever college attempt, you hit the game winner with 8 seconds to go … Take us through thatbrmoment and everything that happened after.

Jake Oldroyd.

Photo courtesy of

BYU Athletics.

Jake Oldroyd: I didn’t start the game and didn’t know if I was going tobrplay at all. After an early missed PAT and a close call on a field goal, they told mebrafter that that I’d be kicking field goals for the rest of the game. From the firstbrhalf, I was prepared for whatever I was going to do for the rest of the game. 

I didn't get that opportunity until the end of the game. I was waiting the whole game and Ibrwas ready. We got scored on on the long touchdown run with a minute and a half left in the game. At that point, I knew we'd get a drivebrtogether and put me in position for a winner. We got down pretty close, I took it nice andbreasy and tried to block everything out and just focus. Mentally I took myself back to hitting attempts in practice, and when the time came, it ended up going through.

SS: In your second game, you had some success as well, kicking two of the longest kicks of your career. How are you feeling rightbrnow and what are your hopes for the rest of the season?

Oldroyd: I’m feeling pretty confident. I’m starting to get the hangbrof this college experience. It's not too much different than high school. In terms of thebrenvironments I’m playing in, I'm feeling more confident after the first two gamesbrunder my belt. I'm looking forward to my first home game this weekend. Still makingbrkicks. That’s the goal.

SS: How did you get intobrthis position in the first place? How did you get to BYU?

Oldroyd: Going through high school, I always wanted to go to a school in Utah. My parents grew up here. I was born here. I have a lot of family here. I really love thisbrplace. I applied to Utah, Utah State and BYU. I knew I’d be a walk on to one ofbrthose places, because I didn’t anticipate getting a scholarship. 

I ended upbrgetting a preferred walk on option wherever I was going. In early spring, I got in contactbrwith coach [Ed] Lamb and coach [Ty] Detmer. I had conversations with them and started leaningbrtoward BYU. After getting in and getting accepted, that was my choice. It wasbralways my first choice. 

I tore mybrmeniscus and sprained my MCL on the third day of camp. I was competing for the starting spotbrin field goals and kickoffs, but that set me back. I was planning on being the backupbrafter coming back the Monday before the Arizona game, but things just went mybrway after the things that happened during the game.

SS: How are you adjustingbrto college life?

Oldroyd: I love it. It’s been a lot of fun for me so far. It’s benbrsuper busy but I think it’s really helpful to learn discipline and tiembrmanagement. Balancing all the stuff I have going on. I’ve really enjoyed my timebrhere so far.

SS: Reflect on your careerbrat Carroll – favorite moments, things you learned that help you now.

Oldroyd: I think the biggest thing that’s helped me is definitely thebrfanbase we had at Carroll. They were always so loud and traveled so well. It helps you in abrpressure situation. After playing in games like that, it's helped a lot to translatebrinto the college game, obviously. 

My favorite moment has to be the Tulsa Union gamebrmy junior year at Cowboys Stadium when we won in overtime. I kicked a couple of fieldbrgoals and kicked the extra point that put us into overtime. Then, we won on thebrtricky play that Parker [Fentrissm] threw to Ryan [Agnew]. That was my first or second start. Ibrcan't remember.

The Mansfield game also my junior year. I hit an onside kickbrthat I'd been working hard on. We were able to recover it and turn it aroundbrand end up winning and advancing in the playoffs.

Beating Cedar Hill in the first round my senior year afterbrlosing in my junior year first round of playoffs was good. We had a lot ofbrclose games my junior year that were memorable, like Coppell and Trinity, too.

SS: Any idea on abrmajor/career path yet?

Oldroyd: I'm working on finance and accounting. I always wanted to be inbrbusiness. I like finance. BYU has one of the strongest accounting programs inbrthe nation, so I’m working to make a decision between those. They each have the same prerequisites, sobrI’m leaning toward one of those, but don't have to make a decision quite yet.

SS: What do you miss thebrmost about Southlake?

Oldroyd: Probably my family, honestly. I haven’t been away form thembrfor too long, but that’s probably what I miss the most. I’d probably just saybrFriday nights, too. The games here are awesome, but you’ll never get to experiencebrthat Friday night high school football feeling again. Playing in that stadiumbris definitely something I wish I could do again.

SS: What would you like tobrsay to the folks back home?

Oldroyd: I remember in high school a lot of the time we’d hear frombrthe college athletes or the guys that had gone to the next level. They’d say, 'Cherish the moments you have in high school football. You’ll never get thembrback. It’s a one of a kind experience.' I always brushed it off and thoughtbrcollege has got to be way better. After being in both of those positions, I canbrdefinitely say high school is something you need to slow down and appreciate,brespecially the football program. It’s special and something you won’t get to experience again, so I would say that tobrthe football team.