GRAND BLANC, MI – Dylan Hertzberg could be facing a difficult decision right about this time next year.
Does he play soccer in college?
Does he play football?
Or does he try and do both?
Fortunately for Hertzberg, he has plenty of time to ponder the first two options. But the third could also be a possibility if a college is willing to give him the opportunity to do both.
Hertzberg, a junior at Grand Blanc, has played both sports since he was in eighth grade. He’s a forward on the Bobcats' unbeaten soccer team, which will take a 15-0-1 record into tonight’s district championship game vs. Okemos at Fenton.
Grand Blanc has legitimate state championship aspirations on the soccer pitch.
Hertzberg also kicks and punts for the Bobcats football team, which is 4-1 entering this week’s regular-season finale vs. Saline. Although this is his first year punting fulltime, he’s ranked No. 6 in the country – yes, the entire country – among non-seniors by KornBlueKicking.com.
So the young man will have some options before he hangs up his kicking shoes at Grand Blanc.
“I don’t think there’s one (sport) I like better,” said the 5-foot-11, 160-pound Hertzberg. "There’s different things I like about both of them. I like being a leader on the soccer field but I like my role on the football team and being part of that family, too.
“I’ve just tried to perfect my craft as much as I can. Always kicking around a soccer ball just helps (in football). A lot of the punting stuff is just technical, like your drop and your swing and everything like that.
“It’s kind of more how you align your foot. Football, it’s more like you have to point your toe. Soccer it’s more of you have an open ankle. The ball will travel a different way.”
Hertzberg converted the only field goal he attempted this season, booting a 27-yarder with plenty of room to spare in last week’s 56-14 victory over Powers Catholic. He also kicked four PATs against the Chargers and put two kickoffs inside the 5-yard line with two more going into the end zone.
For the season, he’s converted 24 of 26 PATs – one vs. Powers was blocked – and as a punter, he’s averaging 44.5 yards per kick.
“I think he’s a college kicker,” said Grand Blanc football coach Clint Alexander. "He’s a kid we had up (on the varsity) last year. We thought he had potential. Next year, he’s going to be one of the best kickers in the country.
“He punted a little bit last year, tried to learn it, really worked hard this summer. I don’t think we’ve had a punt return all year.”
Grand Blanc soccer coach Greg Kehler, who has been on the Bobcats' sideline since 1999, thinks Hertzberg could also play soccer in college if he chooses.
In 14 games this season, he has seven goals and five assists. That includes a pair of goals in last week’s 5-0 victory over Lapeer in the district opener.
“He’s tremendous,” Kehler said. “He played last year for us as a sophomore.”
Hertzberg said he stretches “a couple of hours a day” to keep his legs loose because he’s kicking so much. He not only plays in games for both teams, he usually attends two practices a day.
He goes to soccer practice about 3 p.m. each day before heading over the nearby football field at 4:15 to practice there until 7.
On top of that, Hertzberg also had to squeeze in time for homework – not to mention sleep.
“It’s been a little hard but this year I’ve gotten kind of into a groove where I can do both” sports," he said. "I’ve been doing both since eighth grade so I’ve kind of just found that rhythm with school and the two sports.
“Online (classes), it’s been a little easier. I can do (homework) it in the morning.”
So what happens if the Bobcats have a soccer and football game in the same day?
Well, that’s actually happened twice when he was on the junior varsity teams.
Two years ago, the soccer team played in Rochester Hills and Hertzberg suited up before high-tailing it back to Grand Blanc to play in the football game vs. Lapeer. But this year, he wasn’t able to pull it off when the soccer team played in Midland and the football team was at Lapeer.
He helped the soccer team win 3-0 against Midland Dow but didn’t have enough time to make the football team’s 34-16 victory at Lapeer – one of its biggest wins in years.
The obvious question is what will he do if both teams go deep into their respective state tournaments and play at the same time?
“I guess I’ll just have to decide that then,” he said. “If I had to, I think I’ll try to make it to both somehow.”
Hertzberg said he’s gotten some interest from a few colleges about playing football but so far hasn’t gotten any interest for soccer.
And what if some college asked him to play both sports?
“I think it would depend on the school,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t know for sure.”
MORE:
The amazing story of ‘blessed’ Grand Blanc player
Grand Blanc hoping patience pays off this year
Explosive Grand Blanc football team picking up steam
Grand Blanc says farewell to old friend
Grand Blanc ‘in limbo’ as soccer tryouts begin
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