All Drew Slikker wanted was another chance.

Earlier, Sheridan's junior kicker had missed field-goal attempts from 55 yards -- off the right crossbar -- and 51 yards -- partially blocked -- and, worst of all, an extra point.

All three misses loomed large as Kelly Walsh led 7-6 late in the Class 4A semifinal game Friday at Homer Scott Field in Sheridan.

"I was really disappointed when I missed [the extra point]," Slikker said. "I pulled my head and that tilted my body ... and I didn't hit it right.

"And on the 55-yarder, I was aiming for the far [right] post because of the wind, but I just overcompensated."

So when the Broncs took over at their own 23-yard line with 2 minutes, 12 seconds remaining, Slikker watched nervously from the sidelines.

Sheridan coach Don Julian was a little calmer.

"We work the two-minute drill a lot in practice, plus we had all three timeouts," he said. "I knew we had a good chance to get in field-goal range, so I just told the guys to go make plays."

The Broncs did just that, gaining 16 yards on a hook-and-lateral on third down and 44 yards on a fourth-down pass from Austin Woodward to Kody Williams that put the ball at the KW 15.

Sheridan ran three more plays to put the ball in position for Slikker, and Julian sent the California transplant onto the field with 9.2 seconds remaining and a berth in the state championship game at stake.

His 28-yard field goal drifted slightly right but was good, with plenty of room to spare.

"As soon as I stepped on the field I prayed that I would make it," Slikker said. "I just visualized kicking it through the uprights.

"I made sure to keep my head down, and when I felt my foot hit [the ball] on the sweet spot, I knew it was good."

"Everybody gets a chance to redeem himself ... that was my chance."

It was an opportunity Slikker almost didn't have.

A soccer player in Mission Viejo, Calif., Slikker moved to Sheridan last July with his sister and mom, Cathy, who talked him into trying out for the football team.

"I was kind of a loner," Slikker said. "So my mom made me go out for football.

"I had played soccer all my life, but last year was the first time I ever tried out as a kicker.

"I had to fight for my position, but about halfway through last year, I took over as the starter."

And with one kick on Friday, he lifted Sheridan into the state championship game for the first time since 1997.

Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.

Slikker Trakker

FRIDAY: Class 4A semifinals, Sheridan 9, Kelly Walsh 7.

RECORDS: Broncs (10-1); Trojans (6-5).

REDEMPTION: The Broncs' Drew Slikker, who missed two long field goals and an extra point earlier in the game, hit a 28-yard field goal with 9.2 seconds remaining to end KW's season and send Sheridan to the state championship game.

HE SAID IT: "I made sure to keep my head down and when I felt my foot hit [the ball] on the sweet spot I knew it was good." -- Slikker.