In the world of sports, legends are sometimes created in the blink of an eye.
Such was the case this past Labor Day when Carlos Davalos entered A&T’s contest against NCCU in relative anonymity, and later left the field on the shoulders of his adorning teammates. His 50-yard field goal as time expired helped complete one of the most miraculous comebacks in A&T history and it helped thrust the tiny placekicker from Homstead, Florida into Aggie folklore forever.
Once the celebration after the “Capital City Miracle” subsided, we finally sat down Davalos and found out how it felt to be A&T’s newest hero.
Bluedeathvalley.com: What was going through your mind when you lined up to take that last kick?
Davalos: Well, in my mind I was saying to myself that I knew it was going to come down to the field goal so basically I just had to make it. I mean, I’ve done it before with a couple seconds on the clock- I’ve won games in high schools- so I knew how to make it.
At what moment did you know it had a chance of being good?
Davalos: I knew it was good after it left my foot because I had enough power behind it and I knew I had good height on it. So, I just knew it was going to be good right after it left my foot.
Describe the euphoria that took place on the field once the official signaled that the kick had gone through the uprights.
Davalos: It felt real good. I was excited; I couldn’t have been more excited. That was probably the most exciting moment of my life. I mean, that’s the longest field goal I’ve ever kicked so as soon as the referee said it was good… I thought it was going be kind of short, so I was excited and I just took off running and everybody came right after me.
How has your life changed since that kick?
Davalos: I’ve gotten a lot more respect from some people. They know now that I can really kick. I mean, I’ve kicked some long field goals in practice but it’s not the same as kicking in a game.
You’ve gotten a lot of media attention this week also. How has that been?
Davalos: Yeah, I’ve got some media attention. I was on the news- some news interviews, the newspapers- I mean, that’s basically all of it.
Describe the type of mindset a kicker must have to be successful.
Davalos: You just got to know that you’ve been working hard and let everyone else know that you’ve been working hard. You’re a kicker so that’s what you’re here to do. That’s what I’m here to do. I’ve been kicking since high school. So you just have to make sure your mind isn’t anywhere else when you’re in the game.
So you must have really been focused when you attempted that game-winning kick?
Davalos: Oh yeah, I was real focused. Going into the kick I said to myself that I just had to put it through. I’ve done it in practice; this is just like practice. You just have a different opponent in front of you, so it’s the same, nothing new.
How do you prepare for those kinds of high-pressure situations?
Davalos: I just block everything out. I see myself making the kick in my head and just celebrating. That’s what I want, so in order to get that I must make the field goal.
Kickers are said to be the forgotten members of the team sometimes. You’re always off to the side during games and you don’t really even practice with the rest of the team. What is your relationship like with the other players?
Davalos: Well, in practice I kick and do my thing- before practice we have our chance to kick and everybody sees [me kick]. And then as soon as we break off into offense and defense I have to go do my own thing out over here. But with the players, we have a good relationship. I mean, everybody likes me. I’m the only Spanish kid so I get along good with everybody.
Do you have any superstitions or any type of special rituals that you go through before you attempt your kicks?
Davalos: No, not really. I just tell myself to see it going through [the uprights]. That’s the only thing I see.
How much has working with Yonnick Mathews, A&T’s record setting kicker from a year ago, helped your development?
Davalos: He’s helped me a lot in practice. I’ve helped him last year too, but this year I got a chance to work with him now, since he’s not kicking. So I get a lot of help from him: telling me to keep my head down, plant my foot, things like that.
In what way do you think you improved the most since last year?
Davalos: My kickoffs have gotten better, but field goals? I’ve improved in my accuracy and my range.
And what do you think that’s attributed to?
Davalos: I mean, I don’t lift hardly any weights. Everybody will tell you that. I just get all my power from kicking the ball.
When did you get you start at being a place kicker?
Davalos: My first start was in ninth grade. One of the coaches were looking for a kicker and I just decided to try out. I kicked about a 15-yard field goal- that’s the farthest I could kick it in ninth grade.
You mentioned that in your high school career you’re have other moments similar to the game-winning field goal in Raleigh?
Davalos: Yeah. My junior I kicked two game winners… triple overtime…the longest in high school was like a 48-yard field. I was all state in high school. I left Florida with the record for most field goals.
So what do you consider your kicking range to be now? I guess after this past Sunday its probably increased a little bit.
Davalos: My range now is probably about 45 to 55. Anywhere in there I can hit a field goal, up to 55 yards.
And lastly, now that you made that game-winning field goal, how do you think that will affect your confidence going through the rest of the season?
Davalos: It’s a great start to begin the season with a field goal that was 50 yards and especially to win the game, but this is just the first game. I’ve got ten more games in the regular season. There’s still a lot of games to be played. My confidence is great right now. I know I can make more kicks so [my confidence] is real good.
Well thank you for taking the time and good luck with the rest of the season.
Davalos: Thanks
