BUFORD — Layers of white tape wrap around each of Nick Bernal’s wrists.
They carry a meaningful message for the Seckinger senior place-kicker. The right wrist pays homage to his family and girlfriend with a cross to honor his faith. The left wrist has his favorite verse written on it — Philippians 4:6.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” the New International Version of the verse reads.
For Bernal, these messages serve as his driving force each time he steps onto the turf. Through three games, in which Seckinger has won each of them, it has paid off.
“I keep looking at them,” Bernal said. “I feel motivated to stay calm and kick it.”
Bernal’s journey to his senior season as the do-it-all specialist for the Jaguars includes a setback along with the pleasure of strides of development. Bernal played his sophomore year as only a punter in his first year playing organized football. He didn’t know if he wanted to return to the sport after suffering a torn ACL. Once head coach and special teams guru Tony Lotti came along, however, Bernal jumped at the chance to return for a final campaign.
His senior year has played a more-than-significant role in Seckinger’s success. Bernal is 3-for-3 in field goal attempts on the season. He had key moments on kickoffs in Friday’s 45-10 win over Mountain View and a 34-27 win over Archer the week prior.
“He’s doing really well and becoming a weapon,” Lotti said. “His confidence is going up and gotten a lot better at his development.”
Bernal carries a quiet demeanor and flies under the radar as do most place-kickers. Those in his position practice off to the side and don’t see their name at the top of the highlight reels most of the time. At times, however, the senior has a joke or two up his sleeve.
Lotti said that quality makes Bernal a pleasure to be around, whether it be in serious or lighthearted situations.
Bernal’s decision to return to Seckinger came after the team went 3-7 in Lotti’s first year leading the program. The Jaguars started 0-5, much unlike its success in 2024, but Bernal saw the growth. He originally planned to halt his playing career, but then saw how the camaraderie and cohesiveness grew within the locker room. He returned to continue that sense of encouragement and lead others, a quality that his head coach deeply desires.
The senior has a soccer background, which helped him in punting and when his role extended to place-kicking. Against Mountain View, Bernal picked a prime angle on a squib kick which allowed Seckinger to recover it.
“I hope (I’ve helped him) a lot. I teach him about to pop the ball and take his angles to take a lot of stress out of the kick,” said Lotti, who has a slew of special teams packages ready to use. “I teach it based on the different ways we set up a kick, and hopefully that has made it easier for him when he needs to go in and kick it. He’s basically kicking it the same way.”
In order for Bernal to have success, Lotti also credited the work of long snapper Trey Nguyen. Nguyen, in his first season playing organized football, has made few (if any) errors for the Jaguars at his position. Lotti has had help from wide receivers coach Jordan Adams — a former long snapper at Tennessee Tech and player under Lotti at Union Grove — in Nguyen’s development.
That allows Bernal to go to work. He knows to “punch and square it,” as Lotti calls it. The term calls for Bernal to find his footing and align his shoulders to kick it through the goal posts with ease. Lotti believes it has allowed the specialists to find their niche.
For Bernal, he believes he wouldn’t be as much of an asset if he didn’t cross paths with Lotti.
“He’s taught me everything I know about kicking and punting today,” Bernal said.
Bernal, after leading Seckinger’s specialists, he could add another word to his taped wrists.
“It’s automatic,” said defensive back Grant Williams, who had two interceptions against Mountain View and pointed to the scoreboard to indicate Bernal’s work. “I already know.”
FEATURED PHOTO: Courtesy of Jordan Tran
