Central grad Emmendorfer to transfer

One of the top field-goal kickers in the history of high school football in Missouri has decided to leave Southeast Missouri State University's program.

Brian Emmendorfer, a Central High School graduate who was hampered by injuries during his sophomore season with the Indians, will likely transfer to a Division II school, although he has not yet decided where he'll go.

"I've visited Central Missouri State but I haven't made up my mind yet," Emmendorfer said.

Emmendorfer never attempted a field goal during his two-year Southeast career. He served as the Indians' kickoff specialist as a freshman in 2001, when he booted two extra points. He suffered a groin injury early last year and missed most of the second half of the season.

"It was frustrating," Emmendorfer said. "I went to a camp last summer and felt I was probably kicking the best I have since I've been in college, but the injury kind of set me back. After I pulled the groin, I'd stay off it two weeks, come back and I'd reinjure it. It never really got better."

At Central, Emmendorfer booted two of the three longest recorded field goals in state high school history, his 58-yarder and 57-yarder ranking second and third in the record book.

Emmendorfer, who said he is completely healthy now, has no hard feelings toward the Southeast program and he in fact was thrilled to be a part of last year's 8-4 squad that posted the school's best record since 1969. He simply feels it's better to go some place where he can be a full-time kicker instead of trying to wrest the job from fellow sophomore Derek Kutz, who has held the job the past two seasons.

"I had fun at SEMO. It was a great time and I was proud to be a part of last year's team," Emmendorfer said. "I told coach (Tim) Billings it was a tough decision, but he understood. I just wanted to go somewhere where I'd have a good chance at kicking."

Said Billings, "Brian is a really good kid and we wish him the best wherever he decides to go."