On a field of giants,  titans and behemoths, a diminutive figure floats off and on the Friday night gridiron after every Becker Bulldog touchdown this season.

That diminutive figure is Emma Domka, a senior girl wearing small-sized pants, pads and a #43 jersey. Her helmet may not fit all that snug, but her acceptance on a team of physically superior boys is cozy and welcoming.

“The guys have been great and they treat me like I’m their little sister,” said Domka.  “All of the coaches have been so supportive.  I feel like I was supposed to be part of the team.  Coach Lundeen told the team that if I missed a kick, they would have to do push-ups.”

Domka — a superstar soccer player for Arnold Changamire’s team — had never considered trying out as a kicker for the Bulldogs until Defensive Coordinator Hokan Bengtson asked her to come to practice and give it a shot. Bengtson was holding a leadership meeting when he opened the door to Domka and her ability to kick soccer balls from great distances.

Now, Domka has been juggling playing soccer, playing football, attending practices and keeping up with her schoolwork the first trimester of the school year.

“It’s really not that difficult playing two sports during the same season,” she says. “It is actually pretty fun playing both at the same time.” 

However, Domka’s biggest challenge has been staying healthy.

“The hardest part has been the comeback from ACL surgery,” she says.  “I had ACL surgery Sept. 25 of last year.” 

Following her surgery, Emma worked out six days a week for nine months to get back in time for soccer.  

“Heather Saude (athletic trainer) pushed me pretty hard,” she said.  “I am grateful.  Playing soccer again and now football, is the payoff.”

With Domka’s strong leg, not only does Dwight Lundeen have a reliable extra point kicker, but he also has an option — should the team need it — to call upon Emma to kick a long field goal to win a game.

How far can she kick it through the uprights?

“If I am striking the ball well, I feel pretty good from 30 or so.”

Last week against Big Lake and against the wind, Domka nailed a 41-yarder during warmups.

Besides soccer and football, Emma rides her horse and is part of the Building Better Bulldogs (B3) leadership training group. Her goal after graduation is to attend college somewhere and study physical therapy or exercise science. She is the only child of Mike and Vicki Domka.

When Emma was younger, she and her dad used to attend Vikings training camp in Mankato every year.

“I’ve always been a football fan ever since I was little,” she said. “I played flag football when I was younger but when it came to  tackle football, my parents said I couldn’t play.”

And yet, here she is, standing amongst her Herculean classmates and wearing pads, cleats, a jersey and helmet.

“The hardest thing about being a kicker is that I have to make sure that I kick the ball with authority and make sure I don’t miss hit it,” she says. “I don’t want to let the team down.  I want them to believe in me.”

Never in his 50 years of coaching at Becker has Dwight Lundeen had a girl make his roster. It’s something Emma feels very honored and proud of.

“To play for a Hall of Fame coach as a girl means so much to me,” she says.  “I am humbled beyond words and I hope Coach Lundeen, the team, and the community is proud of me.”

How could they not?