High school kickers rarely attempt field goals as long as 57 yards, but Libertyville junior Jack Zaban didn’t hesitate.
All Zaban needed was a chance, which came during the Wildcats’ North Suburban Conference game against Mundelein last week.
“Some people would doubt whether a high school player could make something in that range,” he said. “But I was excited because it was my first opportunity to actually kick a long field goal.”
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Zaban, who had already set the team record with a 48-yard field goal in the season opener, drilled his 57-yard attempt right down the middle in Libertyville’s 17-7 win. It’s the fourth-longest field goal in Illinois High School Association history, and Zaban had room to spare.
“To be honest, missing it wasn’t really in my head,” he said. “I had done it so many times in practice, so I was confident, and I trusted everyone to do their jobs.
“Right off the foot, I knew it was going in. The crowd went pretty crazy, and my teammates got pretty fired up. It was an awesome moment.”
It was a moment that Zaban had long hoped to experience. He typically starts thinking that he may get an opportunity once the Wildcats (2-3, 1-2) cross midfield. He received a little extra nudging when a teammate approached him on third-and-15 inside Mundelein’s territory.
“I want us to score every single time, but I’ll always be ready if we don’t,” Zaban said.
Zaban has kicked 60-yarders during workouts and thinks he could make an even longer one with his adrenaline pumping during a game.
“It’s more of a feel thing, and there’s not really a set number,” he said of his maximum distance. “It’s been about the same the whole year.”
That range is higher than it was last season, when Zaban made his varsity debut. Largely due to Libertyville’s potent offense last season, he converted only three field goals. His long of 40 yards came during the Wildcats’ loss to Lake Forest in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.
But kicking is a year-round endeavor for Zaban, and he made significant strides during the offseason.
“I train like a track athlete, and I visualize every kick going right between the posts,” he said. “The coach I train with a lot is a big believer in being confident.”
Zaban’s confidence has never been higher. In Libertyville’s season-opening win over Lemont, he kicked a team-record three field goals, including the 48-yarder that broke Alvaro Castro’s team record set in 2007.
“He’s definitely a weapon,” Libertyville coach Tim Budge said. “We’re so fortunate to have a kicker like him with us. The field goal he made the other night was definitely one of those ‘wow’ moments, and that doesn’t even mention all of the touchbacks he kicks. It’s so valuable to make the other team always go 80 yards.”
Being such an impactful contributor isn’t common among kickers. But Zaban’s role has been in the works for many years. He has been kicking since he was in fifth grade and was aided initially by the fact that he played soccer. He remembers going to a nearby park with his father during halftime of Chicago Bears games and kicking on a soccer goal.
Zaban is also a good athlete. He’s one of the Wildcats’ fastest players, according to Budge, and played wide receiver until last season, when he focused solely on kicking for the first time.
“It was an easy decision because I knew this was the best way I could help the team,” Zaban said.
Ranked as the state’s top kicker and top punter in the Class of 2027 by Chris Sailer Kicking, Zaban gets valuable advice from other standouts in the Chicago area, including Hinsdale Central senior Micah Drescher, a Michigan commit, and Fenwick senior Noah Sur, a Northwestern commit.
Zaban also gets to work with one of the state’s top long snappers, Libertyville senior Jack Treutelaar.
“He has such a hardworking attitude, and he truly wants to be the best player he can be,” Treutelaar said. “Both of us are always asking to get extra work in. It’s relieving to have someone like him back there because if I get him a good snap, I know we’ll be in good shape.
“It’s such a big weight off the coaches’ shoulders knowing that Jack is on the sideline.”
College coaches will likely feel the same way in the future. Zaban made a game-day visit to Toledo recently, and more opportunities should come.
“That’s definitely a goal of mine,” he said. “For now, it just comes down to me being there for my teammates when they’re having a problem, and I’m grateful that the coaches trust me to get points on the board.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
