Jake Midgett and Kevin Schmanek have been good friends for years.
Even before they attended Father Judge High School.
“I’ve known him for years, we played on the same soccer team and we have been friends ever since,” said Midgett, who lives in Port Richmond. “He’s always pushed me to be better.”
When Midgett and Schmanek first became buddies, they were teammates on a soccer team. They are still teammates, and they’re still pushing each other to do great things, but the sport has changed.
What they do, well that really hasn’t.
Midgett is a senior punter on the Father Judge football team. Schmanek is the place kicker.
Together at practice, they do whatever they can to help each other become better players. It’s not a competition, it’s friendship.
“Last year he did kickoffs and I punted and kicked, but I talked to (Judge coach Ryan Nase) and said Kevin can kick, he’s very good at it,” Midgett said. “He’s a junior, he’s going to be around longer and he’s very good. I do try to help him where I can, but you see he doesn’t need much help. He’s really good.”
“We do whatever we can for each other,” Schmanek said. “At practice, sometimes he holds for me, he’s very good at that because he’s a kicker, too, so he’s very good at it. And I field punts for him so he can practice. We always look out for each other. The whole team is that way, but we do practice a lot together and have a really good relationship. We’ll do whatever we can to help the team win.”
They both did just that in a brilliant Catholic League intradivisional opener.
Midgett helped flip the field with three beautiful punts and Schmanek booted a trio of field goals, including one in overtime to lift the Crusaders to a 16-13 overtime victory over Archbishop Ryan in a game that featured a few mistakes, but mostly great football by both teams.
Ryan, which was playing without a banged-up Stan Montgomery, had won the past two against their biggest rival, so the win was very sweet for the Crusaders.
It was the exact type of game both players were hoping for.
“It’s great to get a win like this, and I’m really happy I was able to come out here and do this for the team, that’s what I want to do,” said Schmanek, who ended the game with a walk-off 22-yard field goal in overtime after the Crusaders blocked a Ryan field goal attempt on the first possession of the extra session. “Everyone did their job and I kicked it. It’s exactly the position you want to be in, starting with a win.”
“Senior year, you want to start like this,” Midgett said. “This is exactly how we wanted to start the season. You always want to beat Ryan, they’re our rivals. We didn’t give up.”
It marks the start of what both hope is a great athletic year for both athletes.
Midgett also bowls and plays midfield on lacrosse.
Schmanek plays center midfield for the Crusaders soccer team, which means he’s going to be plenty busy this fall.
He’ll hit as many practices as possible, but when there are games, that’s where he’ll be. If there are any doubleheaders on the schedule, he’s ready.
“It’s not too bad because I practice with soccer and then come over for football,” Schmanek said. “I love doing both. It’s different, but I’ve been doing it for years, so I know how to do it. I want to play both. If there’s two games, I’ll do whatever I can to play both. If I can show up at halftime to play, I’ll do it. I want to play.”
“I bowl and play lacrosse. I’m a midfielder. But football is definitely my main sport right now. I played soccer before, but after I got cut sophomore year, I put everything into football. I love the other sports, but I want to play football in college,” Midgett said.
“I definitely want to play in college. I want to stay in sports, either major in sports management or sports medicine. I want to play football, too.”
Schmanek said he appreciates all the work Midgett helps him with, and Midgett feels the same way.
He also credits his family with turning him into the player he’s become.
“My mom and dad never let me stop, and I love that,” Midgett said. “I love going to the gym, working out, getting better. But if I want to sleep late, my dad will wake me. We work out together. He always pushes me. My family is a big part of it.”
And if his parents aren’t there, Schmanek is.
“We work out together a lot, lift a lot,” Midgett said. “Mostly legs. Actually all lower body. That’s how you get stronger. It really helps that i have him to work out with.
“He’s helped me a lot and I try to help him as much as possible. We want to do whatever we can to keep helping the team.” ••
