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Bowling Green kicker drills 53-yard field goal for scholarship

By Alex Butler

Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Jake Suder now has a college scholarship after making a 53-yard field goal at Bowling Green football practice.

Falcons coach Mike Jinks noticed Suder was having a great practice and decided to challenge the kicker to make the long shot in exchange for a scholarship.

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"Coach had two scholarships still available for kids this year and Jake was one of the few kids who they had on their short list as a possibility for those two," Bowling Green spokesman Jason Knavel told Yahoo Sports.

"There had been no final determination on exactly how those scholarships would be given out," Knavel told Yahoo Sports via email. "So, at practice, they were kicking and Jake was nailing them. So when they got to the long one [53 yards out], Coach Jinks out of the blue told him, 'Knock this one down for a full scholarship.' It really was organic and out of the blue."

The big kick occurred on Tuesday. Sunder was a former walk-on with the team. He was on scholarship for a one-year agreement during the 2016 season.

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"I was already in that practice mode...game mode and no matter what kick I have, I enter it with a clear mind each and every time so...I heard him say it in the background but I didn't really process it through my brain so I could stay focused for that kick," Suder told TMZ Sports.

Suder told TMZ Sports that he can hit a field goal from 60 yards if the conditions are right.

"Jake had just made one from 57 yards before [in a previous practice] but I wanted to see him push his limit," Jinks told the Toledo Blade. "And the kick was spotted on the right hash, where he has struggled a little bit, so I thought if he made that kick, that would answer my questions."

Bowling Green opens its season on September 2 against Michigan State in East Lansing. Sunder hit 9-of-12 field goal attempts and made 35-of-38 extra point attempts last season.

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The Central Catholic High School product is from Toledo, Ohio. Bowling Green has an out of state tuition of nearly $27,000.

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