Written by Ben Cox – Sunday night, a lifelong dream came true for one former Brownwood Lion. Matt McCrane kicked the second half of the Arizona Cardinals preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, completing both his field goals in the 27 to 3 victory.

 

 

McCrane drilled his second longer-than-50-yard field goal of the pre-season, splitting the uprights from 54 yards after a Cowboys turn over. Phil Dawson, who McCrane is competing against for the spot, missed a field goal early in the game.

Warming up on the sidelines before a kick

McCrane’s father, local businessman Steven McCrane, said the experience was beyond anything he could have expected. “Surreal is the word, that fits it perfectly. To see him be able to do what so many said he would never do was amazing.”

Steven said the support from Brownwood fans has been great. “There were over 30 people there last night who normally wear blue all decked out in red!” Steven says the family has gone to AT&T stadium so much that he forgot for a second that we was wearing Cardinal Red until “I noticed I was getting all these looks and I realized I was wearing the enemy’s color!”

Kicking from 54 yards, McCrane completed his second 50+ yard kick of the pre-season. He kicked a 53 yard field goal against New Orleans last week.

Playing on that field has been a dream for McCrane since he was young, according to his dad. “To play in that stadium, he’s dreamed of that since he was a kid, dressing up in a Cowboys uniform for Halloween.”

The family has one more pre-season game to go before they know the outcome of all the hard work that has gotten him to this point. “I fly out for the game on Thursday against the Broncos, and then we will wait to find out whether he is on the team or cut. The 53 cut down is this weekend.”

Despite Al Michaels comments during the broadcast, Steven thinks Matt has a good chance to make the team. “He’s been great the whole time. His numbers during training camp have been excellent. But we are taking it one game at a a time, one kick at a time.”

An article in USA Today lists Matthew as one of seven players “whose stock went up after the win over the Cowboys.” Steven says that the family is eager to know the outcome of the coaches decision, but “we will just have to wait and find out.”

We will be waiting to hear along with you as well. Good luck Matthew, Brownwood is in your corner.