JEFFERSON TWP — Kevin Wood knows more than one way to get his kicks.

The Knoch senior has scored 20 goals and added 17 assists over the past two years as a soccer player for the Knights. He's produced six field goals over the past three seasons as the football team's kicker.

His father is Knoch boys soccer coach Doug Wood, a former football player and coach in his own right.

"I didn't start coaching soccer until my boys started playing travel soccer when they were 8 or 9," the elder Wood said. "My background had been football."

A running back at Deer Lakes, Wood served as an assistant under head football coaches Larry Kunselman and Paul Giesey at Knoch. Current Knights coach Mike King was on the same staff.

"I've known Doug for a long time," King said. "For years, I've gotten a senior soccer player to be our kicker. I figured if I could get his son to kick for us as a sophomore, we'd be set for three years."

When Coach Wood asked his son if he'd be interested, there was no hesitation.

"He was all over it," Coach Wood said.

Kevin Wood said playing football was something "I've always dreamed about doing."

"I knew I could help the football team," he said. "My dad was a football player and I thought he'd be proud of that."

So the two-sport career began. Younger brother Kory, a sophomore, quickly followed suit. He's kicking for Knoch's junior varsity football team, booting a 43-yard field goal this season, and figures to be Knoch's varsity kicker for the next two years.

With the soccer team playing games Tuesdays and Thursdays each week, the Woods practice with the football team Mondays and Wednesdays. Soccer practice ends at 5 p.m. and football practice doesn't end until 5:45.

"Our soccer locker room is near the football practice field, so I stow my football gear in there and change right after soccer practice," Kevin Wood said.

"Coach King waits until the end of practice before working on special teams when those guys get there," Coach Wood said. "It works out perfectly."

"I have a lot of respect for those kids," King said. "They're putting in a lot of time and a lot of work. It's tough playing two sports during the same season."

King has used a soccer player as a kicker since Mark Klabnik handled the duties in 2002.

Kevin Wood has been playing soccer all his life. He's choosing football as his sport of choice in college. Slippery Rock University and Westminster are his early considerations.

"I've met (SRU kicker) C.J. Bahr and being able to work with him for a year would be incredible," he said. "Kicking football is a way of life for he and his family. "

Wood also attended the Pitt specialist camp and kicking camps at Neville Island earlier this year.

"When Kevin and Kory went on a vacation to Ocean City, they took a football, found a high school field and practiced kicking," King said. "Those kids kick a football hundreds of times on their own time."

So what is making Wood choose football over soccer in college?

"I have a blast playing soccer and I'm still considering options, but the idea of winning a game for your team in the final three seconds is pretty exciting," he said.

He got a taste of that last Friday night, booting a 30-yard field goal with four minutes left for the deciding points in a 10-7 win over Hampton.

In previous weeks, lopsided scores prevented Wood from being a factor.

"That's the life of a kicker," King said. "You never know when you're going to be needed, when you're going to be called on.

"That was a rainy night, a muddy field — and such a big kick for our season."

"I'm used to that mud pit," Wood said, laughing. "Nothing can describe that feeling. As a kicker, you relish the opportunity. I can't wait for it to come around again."

Four days later, Wood had a goal and four assists in a 5-0 soccer victory over Freeport.

"Kevin's always been successful in soccer," his father said. "What he's doing in football gives him more options for down the road."