The ‘largest kicker in Texas?’ Meet 6-foot-6 Ike Riemenschneider, Rouse’s standout Ok/P/OT

As Ike Riemenschneider stood close to midfield earlier than the coin toss of Rouse’s Oct. 22 conflict towards Hutto, an official took him without warning.

“All of the referees know you, they all the time speak about you,” the 6-foot-6, 270-pound senior was instructed. “They all the time speak about you, like ‘Have you ever seen that man from Rouse? He is big.'”

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Riemenschneider would not simply stand out due to his stature. He is additionally considerably of an anomaly inside highschool soccer. Riemenschneider transformed from tight finish to offensive line this season, and now serves because the left sort out for an offense averaging 31.6 factors per recreation. What is exclusive is that he additionally handles punter and kicker duties for the Raiders, a job that’s stereotypically held by a slender specialist or talent place participant.

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Riemenschneider, who dubs himself the “Greatest Kicker in Texas” on social media – a reality the Statesman couldn’t confirm with certainty – has thrived this fall on the road and along with his booming boot. Each points of his recreation will probably be essential once more Thursday as Rouse (4-5, 2-3) goals to say the ultimate playoff spot in District 24-6A in a must-win recreation towards East View (4-5, 2-3).

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“Each week he is getting higher,” Rouse head coach Mark Hopkins stated of Riemenschneider’s efficiency because the crew’s blindside blocker. “He is grown not simply into a man that is on the market making an attempt to determine what to do, however telling different guys and ensuring the calls are proper and understanding the massive image of issues. So he is doing a very good job.”

An harm results in a brand new ardour

Earlier than Riemenschneider placed on pads and a helmet, he was a soccer-loving child who idolized Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, an uber-confident star who suited up for most of the sport’s European giants, akin to FC Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United.

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However as Riemenschneider grew into a bigger body in center faculty, soccer coaches took discover and swayed him to attempt the game. In seventh grade, he ended up breaking his arm, limiting his possibilities to get on the sphere.

“To fight that, I began to learn to punt and kick, and it is simply caught ever since,” he stated. “I actually prefer it, and I am fairly respectable at it.”

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Riemenschneider established himself on Rouse’s varsity squad final yr, serving because the crew’s punter and kicker, in addition to getting snaps as a primarily blocking tight finish. He caught two passes for 17 yards and a landing.

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When Hopkins, beforehand the offensive coordinator at Katy Tompkins, arrived because the crew’s head coach forward of the season, he initially instructed Riemenschneider he’d be remaining at tight finish. Because the coach evaluated the wants of the roster, he decided Riemenschneider can be higher served on the offensive line.

“He was a bit of hesitant at first,” Hopkins recalled earlier this season. “That is a giant transition. However as you may see, he is an enormous child, and he is obtained loads of upside on the subsequent stage so far as sort out goes. So he embraced it.”

Early issues in a brand new position

Riemenschneider, who additionally performs basketball and throws discus at Rouse, had realized most of the fundamentals of being a left sort out as a good finish. Nonetheless, he needed to learn to play with a brand new stance. When he first went to soccer camps, he was overwhelmed by opponents in go blocking drills.

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“They used to bull rush me into the bottom,” Riemenschneider stated. “I used to be nonetheless figuring it out.”

There’s additionally the truth that being an offensive lineman – particularly in a run-centric offense like Rouse – is bodily demanding. He apprehensive that it will be troublesome to punt after a minimal of three, however typically extra, blocking snaps.

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Hopkins was much less involved. When he was at Tompkins, offensive lineman Erben Birkhoff, who’s now at Rice, had performed this. The brand new Raider coach linked the pair.

“By the point I get again there with the punt, I am respiratory actual laborious,” Riemenschneider stated. “(Birkhoff) instructed me learn how to calm myself down, and get set to go punt. I’ve hit some good ones.”

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Regardless of his early uncertainties, Riemenschneider has discovered success as each an offensive sort out and a punter and kicker. His longest area aim of the yr is 37 yards, though he stated he has made kicks from previous 50 in observe. Moreover, he is had a number of punts go no less than 45 yards, in addition to keep within the air lengthy sufficient that dynamic opposing returners should accept a good catch.

The sort out can be one of many mainstays within the trenches for an offense that’s efficient working and passing the ball.

Rouse quarterback Chase Whitten has accomplished 67.2% of his passes for 1,625 yards, 19 touchdowns and simply 5 interceptions. Rouse’s high two rushers – Amauri Dickson and Aubryn Davis – have mixed for 1,414 yards and 14 touchdowns. The duo is averaging 6.6 yards per rush.

“(Riemenschneider’s) been nothing however nice along with his dimension and velocity,” stated Dickson, who’s within the midst of a breakout sophomore marketing campaign. “He is simply been wonderful. I may all the time belief him that he will block the dude in entrance of him.”

School curiosity, an enormous recreation

Riemenschneider’s efficiency has led to school curiosity as each a sort out and a specialist. The senior stated he’d choose to be a kicker or punter on the subsequent stage however is open to being an offensive lineman as effectively.

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For now, he’ll play a pivotal position Thursday as Rouse takes on East View. The winner of the sport will take the district’s last postseason spot.

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The Raiders narrowly missed out on the playoffs final yr, ending a six-season streak of being one of many top-four groups in its district. Whereas Rouse is 4-5 this season, it has battled with high competitors like undefeated Cedar Park, Hutto (7-2, 4-1) and Vandegrift (6-3, 4-1).

Rouse has handled its defeats, and grown from them. To make sure that East View doesn’t finish its season, the Raiders will want Riemenschneider at his finest.

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“He has performed an outstanding job of with the ability to slide inside and play sort out, after which go punt and kick off,” Hopkins beforehand stated. “I imply that is fairly spectacular.”

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This text initially printed at The ‘largest kicker in Texas?’ Meet 6-foot-6 Ike Riemenschneider, Rouse’s standout Ok/P/OT.