Magic cleats: Heimbach's boot golden for 'Burg football
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In the game of football, there have been many notable individuals who have gone on to productive careers in the NFL as either kickers or punters — the most notable of which include Morten Andersen, Jan Stenerud and Ray Guy, the lone three individuals to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame solely on their kicking (Andersen, Stenerud) or punting (Guy) abilities.
Without question, Wheelersburg senior placekicker Cooper Heimbach is the closest thing that many around high school athletics in Southern Ohio will ever see to those three figures up close and in person.
Heimbach’s incredible place kicking, which has seen the senior drill 14 out of his 17 field goal tries with seven makes from 40 or more yards away and three from 50 yards or more out, along with 42 touchbacks on kickoffs, has the Ohio commit as arguably the most heralded kicker to come out of the area since West’s Drew Cassidy back in the late 2010s.
For Heimbach, the opportunity to be, as of Friday morning, on the doorstep of a state championship is, without question, a thrill that he simply credits his Lord and Savior for.
“First off, it cannot happen without the Lord,” Heimbach said. “He is my rock and has blessed me with many gifts. It means a lot. I’ve dreamed of going to state, and to finally make it happen my senior year is a dream come true. There has been a lot of hard work that’s led me to be where I am. I’m just happy that I can help out my team.”
Enjoying what is arguably the most prolific season for a kicker in the history of the immediate Southern Ohio area, Heimbach began it with bang.
In the season-opener against KIPP Columbus, Heimbach’s very first attempt of the year, a 51-yard field goal, sailed through to break the school record for the longest made field goal attempt in the history of the program.
However, Heimbach wasn’t done.
Later in the same game, Heimbach topped himself with a 53-yard boomer — breaking the record for the second time just mere minutes apart.
Heimbach’s performance not only set the stage for a dominating 43-8 win over KIPP Columbus, but a dominating season and playoff run where the senior has only added to his legendary exploits.
In Wheelersburg’s OHSAA Division V, Region 19 Championship victory over Nelsonville-York, Heimbach drilled a 50-yarder, then followed that up with a 41-yard bomb. The senior also added in an onside kick that Wheelersburg pounced on in yet another gem of a performance.
Heimbach says that his personal success, however, wouldn’t be possible without those blocking for him up front on the field goal and extra point units, his coverage team on kickoffs, and especially the efforts of two very critical individuals in particular — Wheelersburg long snapper Gabe Campbell and Wheelersburg holder Brycen Longfellow, who have each been as critical in doing their jobs by setting the table for Heimbach to do his as effectively as he has.
“This season has been great,” Heimbach said. “Special teams has been something that has set us apart from other teams. Our whole unit has been amazing this season. I couldn’t have my success without my coverage team and without my snapper and holder. It has been so much fun. I’ve played with these guys my whole life, and to see that we’re just a game away from going to a state championship (as of Friday morning) means a lot for our coaches and our community.”
With Heimbach’s commitment to Ohio, which officially took place on Nov. 19, the senior will attempt to add to the Bobcats’ success. A program that began its ascent under former head coach Tim Albin before Albin departed for the open head coaching position at Charlotte, Ohio has continued its success under first-year head coach Brian Smith.
In 2025, Ohio, who has gone 38-14 over the last four seasons as of Friday morning with a MAC Championship in 2024, presently sits 7-4 overall and is right in the thick of the MAC battle once again.
Regardless of how it finishes in 2025, Ohio will look for Heimbach to make an immediate impact in 2026.
Sure-footed placekicker Gianni Spetic’s transfer to Memphis following the 2024 season has left the job open for competition in 2025, with the placekicking combination of David Dellenbach and Brack Peacock combining to go 5-for-9 on field goal attempts with one make beyond 40 yards between them so far over the 2025 season to date as of Friday morning.
From a punting standpoint, Magnus Haines has been a sure-footed boot for Ohio, but Haines is a graduate student whose eligibility clock will expire following the 2025 season, leaving a void to be filled in that area, as well.
“Ohio showed the most love,” Heimbach said. “While I had a good amount of other schools interested, Ohio showed so much interest and showed me a ton of hospitality.”
Along with his opportunity to kick at the collegiate level, Heimbach will look to help Wheelersburg make another deep playoff run from a baseball standpoint.
The Pirates advanced to the OHSAA Division III, Region 11 Championship Game in Heimbach’s freshman season and have played in back-to-back OHSAA District Championship Games in 2024 (Division III) and 2025 (Division V) under the leadership of head coach and Wheelersburg alum Derek Moore.
Before those tasks commence, however, Heimbach’s focus is trying to help represent the Wheelersburg football program as much as he can before the season concludes. “It’s meant a lot to be a Wheelersburg Pirate,” Heimbach said before Friday. “It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication, but it means so much to this community and that, along with the thought that we can possibly win the whole thing soon, fuels us.”
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