You don’t have to explain to Bridgeport High School junior Koby Kiefer how the world of social media and pop culture works. After all, everyone in his peer group is more than familiar with both genres and the fact that his older brother Kash has been on more than one reality show and in commercials as well is something that had made him kind of immune to what’s out there.

 

Yet, the Indians’ punter was taken by surprise with what happened following Friday’s 22-21 Class AA semifinal loss to Fairmont Senior. Not only did a play he made early in the double overtime game perhaps allow it to get that far, but video of it has gone viral on social media.

 

Before talking about where the video is at, it’s best to know what happened. With just over seven minutes to go in a scoreless second period, the Indians were facing a fourth-and-two from their own 32-yard line and opted to punt. On the play, the snap back to Kiefer was high – really high – and somehow he not only managed to do a one-hand grab of the snap, he managed to get off a roughly 40-yard punt despite what for many in the crowd was a highly anxious moment.

 

Kiefer said he didn’t give the play much of a thought. He said based on the repetition involved that you know there will occasionally be issues with snaps and it’s his duty to adapt to them.

 

“You always have to be in an athletic stance and be ready because the ball can go over your head, go to your right or left, bounce in front of you or just about anything else even though most of the times the snaps are right there,” said Kiefer. “I saw it going high and wanted to catch it clean and get it off before the rush could get there. I really didn’t think anything about it.”

 

As it turned out, an Instagram video began a spiral of attention nationwide and perhaps worldwide. As of yesterday afternoon, the original Instagram post was approaching 200,000 views. It was also posted on USA Today Sports (CLICK HERE), CNN Sports (CLICK HERE), Max Preps (CLICK HERE) while it got a Facebook share from U.S. Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings, a professional beach volleyball player that shared it to her Facebook page (CLICK HERE) saying she was "Inspired to work on my vertical after seeing this." 

 

“I was really stunned to see all the attention,” said Kiefer. “I didn’t think anything of it at the moment because it felt natural. I guess when you see the video I did get up a bit.”

 

Kiefer’s vertical leap in the video is one of two things impressive. The other is that he snagged the football with one hand, or as the USA Today article states the video shows Kiefer “making an Odell Beckham Jr. or Adam West-style one-handed snag.”

 

“Honestly, it’s pretty cool seeing it still going viral (Monday),” said Kiefer.

 

Kiefer has handled the Indians’ punting, field goal, extra point and kickoff duties this year. He’s also hoping to continue his career at the collegiate level. Although no offers have been made, he has drawn some Division I attention.

 

“I’m going to be lifting in the offseason and strengthening my leg, going to camps and trying to get exposure,” he said. “My goal is to kick at the college level.”

 

Already, he’s had game visits to Maryland and North Carolina State, but there’s been no offers made. Perhaps the exposure he’ll get from this video won’t hurt his chances.

 

Click HERE for the Instragram video, where he's dubbed "world's most athletic punter."

 

Editor's Note: Photo of Koby Kiefer snagging the punt by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.