Mistakes are a part of football. Sometimes they are blatantly obvious, but many mistakes, like a missed tackle or bad throw, can be covered up by a teammate making a great play.

For Warhawks Eric Kindler and Zach Koch, however, every mistake made is magnified, and every success is merely expected. Together, with junior Kindler both place kicking and punting, and freshman Koch long-snapping, they are the specialists.

“There’s definitely a lot of pressure,” Kindler said, “knowing that if you don’t do your job correctly, the coach isn’t going to be happy with you. The team relies on you to do your job correctly every time.”

Special teams is the third, and often forgotten, facet of football.

Koch said Coach Lance Leipold, however, is very aware of the importance of special teams.

He said Leipold often describes football as a chess match, and although the winning blow is rarely dealt by special teams, it can play a large role in putting a football team in winning position.

“I wouldn’t say special teams is just as important as offense or defense, but it’s pretty important,” Koch said. “We are putting our defense and offense in the best positions to get stops and score points.”

Kindler came to the Warhawks from Germantown High School planning on being a place kicker. He was immediately named the starter his freshman year but got off to a rocky start.

“I missed four field goals in my first game here,” Kindler said. “I was inexperienced and started out very shaky my freshman year.”

In high school, Kindler had kicking and punting duties, but he was also the starting quarterback his junior and senior years. He excelled as the kicker and came to the ’Hawks expecting to continue that.

Koch, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to have long-snapping experience and stepped in for the injured sophomore Derek Patten.

“It gives me a chance to get on the field and contribute,” Koch said. “I never really pictured being on the field as a Whitewater football player, so I’m just happy to try to contribute any way I can.”

In many ways, long-snapping is similar to place kicking and punting—people only notice if you screw up. Koch, however, said he never feels like long-snapping is a thankless job.

“I feel like I’m part of the team, so when the team does well, that’s the thanks I get,” Koch said.

Kindler echoed Koch’s feelings, saying that the toughest aspect of kicking and punting is mental. Place kickers, punters and long-snappers only get one chance to do their job. It is a hit-or-miss business.

“At the beginning, it took me a while to figure out how to do it mentally,” Kindler said, “and of course winning the national championships helped my confidence.”

The key, Kindler said, is to find a balance of self-critique. He said being too hard on oneself for missing a kick or shanking a punt can break one’s confidence but added that taking mistakes too lightly can also be detrimental.

Koch said he and Kindler are both in high-pressure positions that require plenty of focus and mental toughness.

Both have been perfecting their crafts since middle school, both physically and mentally. For Kindler, pressure situations have become enjoyable.

“I enjoy the pressure,” he said. “A high-risk situation is the one I want to be in. Football means so much more every time you make a high risk play.”

Koch, on the other hand, said he tries to block out the pressure and all other distractions when he’s long-snapping.

“I just try to focus on keeping all my adrenaline and emotions in check so I can get my job done,” he said.

So, next time the ’Hawks win a football game, remember Leipold’s chess analogy. Remember who helped put the team in winning position.