During a football game at Merrill Gainer Field last September, Patrick Henry senior Sam Dowdy set up behind the line of scrimmage and kicked a remarkable 46-yard field goal on a rainy night against perennial powerhouse Salem.
That feat, along with a high efficiency splitting the uprights throughout the season, caught the attention of ODAC schools, along with several Division II programs. Combine that with attention from colleges for his skills on the golf course and his already well-known prowess on the soccer pitch, and Dowdy was suddenly being recruited for three different sports.
The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder welcomed every and all opportunities, but said he ultimately stuck to his first love, the sport that has had the largest impact on his life.
Patrick Henry鈥檚 Sam Dowdy looks over the soccer field at the start of Tuesday鈥檚 home game. Dowdy has committed to playing soccer at VMI next year.
That sport was soccer, and with it, an offer to play at the Division I level at VMI.
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鈥淚t was the first sport I ever really interacted with and got into really competitively,鈥 Dowdy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always had a special place in my heart. It鈥檚 just always what I knew I wanted to do. I definitely found joy in golf and football 鈥 I loved every minute, loved every teammate I鈥檝e been with 鈥 but I think soccer has always had a deep connection with me.鈥
During his recruiting journey, Dowdy had the assistance of his father, Chris Dowdy, who has developed numerous Division I players over his 20 years as head coach of the Patrick Henry High School boys soccer team.
His son marks No. 18.
鈥淪am has obviously been in the program since he was born, and has seen those guys grow up and wanted it for himself,鈥 Chris Dowdy said. 鈥淚 know he wanted to play in college, he expressed that years ago, and for it to be Division I, I think it is just the icing on the cake, especially with how hard it is to get recruited at that level these days.鈥
Patrick Henry midfielder Sam Dowdy leads a team huddle during a home game on Tuesday. Dowdy has committed to playing soccer at VMI next year.
Sam Dowdy, a midfielder, garnered the majority of his top-tier interest for soccer, receiving attention from Division I programs like ETSU, Longwood, Campbell and even a bit from Temple. But it was after a visit to VMI that he decided on his future.
At the conclusion of the VMI visit, after returning to their car, Chris Dowdy said he wanted to get a raw emotion and reaction from his son about the experience. Sam Dowdy replied that he loved it, and after a few days he decided that he was done searching around and having other discussions.
鈥淭he end goal in recruiting for me as a coach, and as a dad for Sam, is to really go where you feel like you鈥檙e wanted,鈥 Chris Dowdy said. 鈥淲here you can make an impact and make a difference, and people see you as a part of building that program and not just adding a number. That was kind of the kicker for VMI.鈥
Patrick Henry鈥檚 Sam Dowdy (left) competes against visiting Pulaski County on Tuesday.
Sam Dowdy, who this season became the Patriots鈥 all-time leader in career assists at more than 40 and has eclipsed 20 goals for his high school career, said Keydets head coach Nick Regan made him feel wanted. His visit was also different from others he had attended as he met a pair of junior captains on the team, including the one who would serve as his mentor next year, as is standard at VMI.
鈥淚 really enjoyed speaking with (Regan),鈥 Sam Dowdy said. 鈥淵ou could tell his desire, like he really made me feel like I belonged there, really wanted me there. (The captains) really made me feel valued, too. Coach has a really good connection with his players, and he talked to them about me before. He was like 鈥楬ey, we really want this guy, make him feel at home,鈥 and I really felt that when I got there.鈥
Sam Dowdy has been an impact player in all three of his sports, and credits time spent in each for his progress as an overall athlete. He has received first team all-district selections in all three sports, competed on the varsity squad all four years in all three and has never missed a game or tournament.
He looked at the possibility of becoming a dual-sport athlete at the next level, but seeing as collegiate soccer is a fall sport and would conflict with football, and golf essentially taking place year-round, that was quickly shut down.
Patrick Henry鈥檚 Sam Dowdy makes a shot on goal against Pulaski County on Tuesday. Dowdy has committed to playing soccer at VMI.
Still, fully committing to the football and golf seasons have allowed him to avoid burnout in soccer, and he鈥檚 even taken valuable lessons from both onto the pitch.
鈥淣ow in this day and age, I think kids do get too focused on one sport,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think the training, like the mental challenge of golf and the high-pressure moments of kicking a football, those things affect your game and it鈥檚 definitely been beneficial to my soccer game. I think it鈥檚 a huge part of how I鈥檝e developed as a player.鈥
Sam Dowdy said Regan admired his position as an attacking midfielder, and as a left-footed player could even be used this fall on the defensive end as a left back. Either way, he鈥檒l be ready to do his part as a Division I footballer.
鈥淚鈥檓 definitely really looking forward to the challenge,鈥 he said. 鈥淲herever I can fight for minutes is definitely my goal and whatever it takes for us to get wins and win the SoCon and make it to the tournament.鈥
