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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cory Woodroof

UFL kicker Jake Bates made football history with jaw-dropping 64-yard FG, his first since high school

Former Arkansas kicker Jake Bates made his first field goal since high school as a member of the UFL. Lucky for him, the attempt also made history.

The Michigan Panthers kicker nailed a mind-boggling 64-yard kick to lift his team over the St. Louis Battlehawks, 18-16, on Saturday at Ford Field, making UFL history on its first day of gameday operation.

Bates joins elite company. Only two kickers in NFL history have ever hit an attempt from 64 yards or more: Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (66 yards, 2021, also at Ford Field) and former Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater (64 yards, 2013).

It was also the second of two attempts made from 64 yards out for Bates, who got iced on his first attempt and still made the game-winning kick from that far out, per CBS Sports’ John Breech.

We’re guessing Bates is going to get a call up to the NFL pretty soon, as he’s already accomplished something few kickers ever have in professional football. Not bad for your first make since high school.

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