Dunnellon's female placekicker hits walk-off FG to beat Lake Gibson

It has been a season of firsts for the Dunnellon (Fla.) football program and Friday night marked one that will go down in the history books: A female placekicker knocking down a game-winning field goal.

With the Tigers trailing Lake Gibson in the waning seconds, 7-6, Dunnellon junior placekicker Jayliana Lopez-Neumann knocked down a 27-yard field goal with time expiring to lift her team to a thrilling 9-7 win on the road at John R. Olin Stadium.

“She made history with it,” Dunnellon head coach JB Bynum said. “She showed some ice in her veins putting (that kick) through. She’s a gamer. I’ve seen her do it in flag football. Flag was my first opportunity in the spring to coach her.”

Dunnellon (2-2) took over with the ball with a minute and 33 seconds left in the game, trailing by a point to Lake Gibson. That’s when the Tigers’ offense got to work in running their 2-minute drill and were able to get the ball down to the seven-yard line to setup Lopez-Neumann for the eventual game-winner.

“She also plays flag football for me at Dunnellon as well as volleyball, soccer,” Bynum added. “She is just an all around athlete. She approached me back in the spring about kicking and she came to every work. She asked if she could get an opportunity. She’s getting better and better at it and she is a perfectionist so I knew she was going to continue to improve.”

This isn’t the first time Lopez-Neumann has made history at the school as the junior made the groundbreaking achievement at the beginning of the season. She became the first female to ever score points in program history in the Tigers’ 17-14 loss to FSU High back on Aug. 22.

Now, the four-sport athlete, placekicker is helping Dunnellon win games on the gridiron with her leg and did it in walk-off style Friday night.

“This is definitely right up there,” Bynum said about best wins as a head coach. “I put it right up there with the Frostproof playoff win when we went down there when I was with Wildwood. This is up there as one or two biggest wins I’ve ever had as a head coach. It’s going to stay up there for a long time.”

How to Follow Florida High School Football

For Florida high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Sunshine State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Florida.