SPANISH FORT, Ala. — They’re called special teams for a reason. Anyone who doubts the importance of the kicking game should review the 2013 Iron and Egg bowls.

In a close game the kicking phase can decide the outcome — not only with field goals and extra-point conversions, but with punts and kickoffs and of course proper coverage and blocking. Just ask Nick Saban or Gus Malzahn while it’s fresh on their minds.

Or ask Spanish Fort Toros head coach Mark Freeman and his senior kicker Alexander Theodore.

“A.T., is a huge part of this team,” Freeman said Friday night after the Toros defeated Saraland’s Spartans 24-14 in their Class 5A state semifinal to advance to their second consecutive state championship game.

“We depend on him and we know we can count on him,” Freeman added. “He works so hard and gives us all he’s got. He handles the pressure well. Most of the time he’s perfect, like tonight (35-yard field goal and 3-for-3 on extra points). But Alexander never let’s it (pressure) affect him like some kickers do. And he’s just a real team player. Wants to do whatever he can to help the team first. He’s such a smart kid, too. I think that helps. Great grades. Great kid. Great kicker. Somebody (college recruiters) needs to scoop him up.”

Theodore is hoping to play football in college, but only if the right academic program is available and any scholarship offers from interested schools meet his own needs.

“I’d love to keep playing,” he said. “I love the game. But getting the best education is the most important thing.”

Theodore has put his best foot forward on all of the kicking duties for the Toros’ varsity since his sophomore season. This year, because the Toros offense has been so dominant, he has not been called on for many field goals. In 2013 making 5-of-8 attempts, his longest has been a 38-yarder. His career mark is 43 yards.

But distance on kickoffs is also very important and with all of the Spanish Fort touchdowns scored the last two years, he has had a lot of work off the tee. In 2013 he has 68 touchbacks — kickoffs that travel into the opponent’s endzone. By high school rules that prevents a kickoff return and places the ball at the receiving team’s 20 yard line.

That’s important, Theodore said, because only 15 percent of high school teams starting at their own 20 complete the drive with a touchdown. On punts he combines traditional styles with a running rugby style—depending on the situation—and is averaging 37.4 yards per punt this season.

“I kind of fell in love with it (kicking) after I had played soccer for a while as a kid,” he said. And I liked it a lot. But in football I was way too small to play any other position except kicker back then. But my dad encouraged me to stick with it and helped me practice a lot. That did a lot for my confidence.”

SF kicking coach Rob Milam added that confidence and consistency are major keys to success at the position.

“Alexander came in with great talent and great technique already there,” Milam said. “It was really just a matter of refining it and honing in on getting perfect, which is very hard to do. But he has risen to the occasion. And especially with this pressure on him that comes from being on such a successful team, maintaining that focus has been extremely important.

“And it’s got a lot to do with his work habits. He works everyday for hours and hours on some part of it. Whether it be technique, kickoff, punt, P.A.T. (point after touchdown) or field goal, he’s just so dedicated and that’s what it takes. He’s such a great student, he applies that brain of his very well when it comes to the kicking game, too.”

Theodore said his own confidence has grown with each game largely due to his confidence in his field goal and extra point teammates, especially fellow seniors, place holder Sammy Harris and long snapper John Wesley Williamson.

“I couldn’t do it without all those guys,” he said. “But I think we’ve really been blessed because we have been working together for so long. I don’t know, but I doubt if many kickers get to have the same holder and snapper like I have since middle school. That’s when coach Vincent (former SF head coach Bryant Vincent) saw me kick about a 35-yard field goal in the eighth grade and he encouraged me to stick with it, too.”

The son of Philip and Jo Anne Theodore, Alexander plans to study economics and finance but also hopes to keep studying the art and science of making the pigskin fly.