Adam Griffith pulls one cleated foot back, the other planted firmly on the ground. A blend of both adrenaline and pure focus fills his eyes as he connects his foot with the ball with razor sharp precision.

Griffith, 16, is the young kicker for the Calhoun High School Yellow Jackets. He is only a sophomore, but he plays ball with the talent and confidence of a pro. During last week’s game against North Oconee High School, Griffith broke records by kicking a 50-yard field goal.

Griffith began on the soccer field, but was quickly recruited to play football after his coaches noticed he had a strong leg.

“He kicked a 40-yard field goal in tennis shoes,” said Griffith’s father Tom Griffith.

Griffith developed his strong leg playing soccer when he was six in his native country of Poland.

In October 2006, Tom and his wife Michelle adopted Griffith. Griffith was born in a small town in Poland called Stargard Szczcinski.

When Griffith came to the U.S. at age 13, he didn’t speak any English. Griffith says he struggled daily to perfect the language.

“I had to study everyday. Read books. I need help a lot,” Griffith said.

“He has come a long, long way,” Tom said.

Tom said that before playing the game for the first time Griffith had never seen a football game.

“We have been amazed since day one with how well he could kick,” said Tom.

But Griffith’s transition into football was not without struggle, he says he had to work to perfect his kick.

“When I tried out I had some competition,” Griffith said. “He was older than me, and I thought he was better than me at first. I kind of practiced harder and I got better than him. He made me work harder.”

He commonly listens to Eminiem’s famed theme from the movie 8 Mile. The song, “Lose Yourself” instructs listeners to own the moment.

The lyrics: “You better lose yourself in the music, the moment. You own it; you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime,” have inspired Griffith.

These are words Griffith has come to live by both during the game when he is breaking records and in practicing when he is kicking close to five hours a day. The team practices for more than an hour before school and then three hours after school. He also practices on his own with a kicking coach.

“I like practicing with the team, because we are all together and it makes a better playing of the team,” he said.

Griffith’s talent and drive have become evident to those around him, with coaches touting his ability.

“He is a special talent, there is no doubt about that,” said head football coach, Hal Lamb. “The future is bright for him if he continues to work hard.”

Griffith said his immediate plans are to win the playoffs and then begin training to become a punter. His long-term goal is to play at the University of Georgia, and if he stays on his current path of success that dream won’t be a far reach.

“I have seen how hard he works,” Tom said. “We are really proud.”