The rumble of the crowd is electric. The kicker runs on for the extra point. The kick is good and the stands roar.

For them, it’s everything.

For freshman Lottie Smith, it’s just another Friday night.

Smith is the only girl on the JV football team and has already made her mark on the field. Coach Mike Weaver explained the benefits Smith brings to the team by having a strong kick.

“We saw what a great foot she has, kicking point after touchdowns, PATs, and she’s been a wonderful addition to the team.”

Smith said at the first practice she was nervous but the community was very supportive and welcoming

“I was definitely nervous. I was surrounded by a lot of people that I didn't know very well, but it was very welcoming and fun, and it's nice to try new things.”

Weaver revealed that the team was intimidated by Smith at first because of how well she was kicking.

“The team was kind of intimidated by her because she was kicking so well and had a very strong left foot, and the ball was easily going through the uprights,” Weaver said. “So there was a little intimidation, but since she started working out with them, that has all gone away, and she's just been another player on the team.”

Tight end Tyson Meyer said that it’s a big win for the team when they can be able to count on Smith to get the extra point.

“When it's a really close game, and we get a touchdown and it's a tie and we get another point and score, it's a big plus for us,” he said.

Lineman Wyatt Bell expressed his delight for having a kicker who is accurate and can kick far.

“I think it's really good having her on the team, especially since she can kick further than all of our other kickers,” Bell said.

Kyle Boatman, who plays as a lineman, lauged about the other teams responses to having a female kicker.

“They walk up, like, we’re gonna beat this team and they get there, and they start flipping out because of Lottie, hilarious.”

Smith agreed that other teams seemed shocked to be playing against a girl.

“They’ve responded pretty well to my place on the field,” Smith said. “I think it's just more of a shock than a dismay.”

It’s no shock Smith is so good at kicking field goals. Her background in competitive soccer has given her excellent power and accuracy while kicking.

“She has a very strong left foot,” Weaver said, “Lottie is a competitive soccer player that plays for a Loomis United team. She's coming off of an ACL tear on her knee, kind of came in rehabbing, but having daughters that have played competitive soccer is really great for the team.

“Right now, she's two out of three (on extra points). Her role is the kicker, for only point after touchdown. She's not doing kickoff or punt. So her stats, she's 66%. But two out of three PATs for a JV football team is amazing.”

Along with being a star athlete, Smith is also an invested leadership student. The leadership teacher, Jessica Lee, said that Smith brings positivity to the class.

“Lottie is super positive and friendly. She takes a lot of initiative and she's a hard worker so she's one of those students that will step up and do a task without having to be asked, or she'll ask if she can complete something or work on something without me having to beg for her to do it.”

Lee shared that she could see Smith filling a class officer role in the future and hopes she stays at Bear River through high school.

“I hope that she's a four-year student,” Lee said. “I could definitely see her, maybe stepping up into a class officer role in the future or taking on more responsibilities if it's a chair position or something. But I'm hoping she stays all four years because she definitely brings some structure in order and is good at taking initiative and getting things done.”

Smith said that she looks forward to leadership class because she makes good bonds with the other students.

“I look forward to pretty much everything in leadership,” she said. “It's a very welcoming and a great experience overall. You make a lot of friends through it and make really good bonds.”

One thing Lottie would like to do in the future of leadership is to make Bear River a place where students are excited for events and look forward to going to school.

“I want to help the school out more or just create more of an exciting environment, where everybody's hyped about certain things.”

Whether it’s field goals or goals for the future, Smith is prepared to take on any challenge she might face.