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DONNA — Manny Moreno asked Fernando Sanchez where he wanted the spot.

The Donna kicker told his coach he wanted the ball between the hash marks so he could boot the kick right down the middle, win the game and send McAllen Memorial home for the season. Once Moreno gave Sanchez what he had asked for, one of the Rio Grande Valley’s best kickers took care of the rest. It was a 27-yarder, but with the game on the line in front of the home crowd, nothing is ever as easy as it looks.

“I knew I was going to make it, but I was worried about the snap,” Sanchez said of last week’s game-winner against Memorial. “I was happy about making it and winning the game. Coach Moreno told me he wouldn’t have any problems.”

Like many kickers, Sanchez has a soccer background with an efficient technique to go along with his athleticism.

He’s a normal student at Donna who dresses casually but loves to sport his black soccer shoes. The senior doesn’t use them on the field, but when he’s not on the gridiron, Sanchez still looks the part of a punter or place kicker.

That’s because, as it turns out, he does both.

On the football field, Sanchez has been a spark plug for the Redskins’ special teams unit. With a small frame bearing only about 140 pounds, Sanchez possesses one of the best legs in the Valley as Donna’s kicker and punter. Sanchez has succeeded despite trying to fill the huge void in the punting game left by the graduation of all-state standout Jesus Vargas.

“I think it’s because of soccer,” Sanchez said of his success in football.

Of his 10 field goals made, two of them have been good from 48 yards and he also has a 43-yarder to his credit.

The others have been in the 30-yard range along with a 28-yarder, two 27 yarders and a 21-yarder this season.

Sanchez is a perfect 10-for-10 in his FG attempts while his punting average is a solid 37.7 yards per kick with five downed inside the 20.

In practice, Sanchez has nailed a 58-yard field goal as his longest successful attempt and wouldn’t mind doing it in a game. Sanchez said his first 48-yarder was his favorite because he didn’t think he could make it.

“(It’s all) technique, I don’t even do weights,” Sanchez said. “It’s all about technique.”

Technique is one thing, but pressure is another.

Sanchez has shown consistency despite the various adverse situations he has faced.

As the wind howled during Week 6 on a Thursday night affair against McHi, Sanchez delivered three field goals in one quarter, including a 43-yarder as time expired in the first half to keep Donna within striking distance. The kicks weren’t the prettiest as gusts rose to 25 mph, but Sanchez’s technique proved it doesn’t matter how hard the wind is blowing.         

“I have no problem putting Fernando in,” Moreno said. “It always helps if you have enough confidence, your kid will kick it through the uprights and he’s proven it time and time again.”