Chayden Johnston jogged onto the Rice-Eccles Stadium field to attempt a 45-yard field goal in Utah’s season opener vs. North Dakota, wearing bright orange shoes and having won the job over the country’s best kicker.
Johnston’s kick sailed wide left, but not by much. “Maybe a foot,” he said more than three months later, managing to smile. “Maybe.”
The former Bingham High School star launched the first place-kick of a Ute season that would end with Matt Gay receiving the Lou Groza Award and being named a consensus All-American. The year started with Gay telling several friends not to bother coming to the game, because he wouldn’t be kicking.