Surry County LA Rams kicker plays Panthers during playoff game

FIRST PLAYOFF START AT HOME TOMORROW AGAINST THOSE RAMS. NOW SPEAKING OF THE RAMS, WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN’T TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL CONNECTIONS, RIGHT? THE RAMS JUST SO HAPPEN TO HAVE A PUNTER FROM NORTH SURRY. OUR SERRA SOWERS HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH HIS OLD COACH IS ETHAN EVANS, MAKES HIS RETURN TO BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM A SURRY COUNTY HOMETOWN HERO IS PLAYING IN THE PANTHERS PLAYOFF GAME, BUT NOT FOR CAROLINA, THE LA RAMS KICKERS FORMER COACH TELLS US THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS ON SATURDAY IS A WIN FOR ETHAN EVANS. FANS. SEEING HIS NAME COME ACROSS THE BOTTOM AS A SEVENTH ROUND SELECTION OF THE LA RAMS. SO OBVIOUSLY A DREAM COME TRUE FOR HIM. AND BIG NEWS FROM FOR OUR AREA. A KID FROM LOW NORTH CAROLINA MAKING IT TO THE NFL FROM THE NORTH SURRY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD TO BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM. A PIEDMONT ATHLETE WITH BIG DREAMS RETURNS TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS SEASON TO FACE THE PANTHERS. THERE’S 150 170 PLAYS IN A FOOTBALL GAME, AND A KICKER PUNTER MIGHT GET, YOU KNOW, NOT TO. THEY MIGHT GET 7 OR 8 SHOTS AT THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PRESSURE IN THOSE MOMENTS. ETHAN EVANS PLAYED FOR THE NORTH SURRY GREYHOUNDS UNDER COACH DANNY LYONS, WHO SAYS EVANS DEDICATION AND HARD WORK WERE NEVER IN QUESTION. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME HE WORKED OUT ON OUR PRACTICE FIELD. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ANY GOALS AND HE SAID IT WAS TO KICK IN COLLEGE, AND AT THAT TIME HE WAS PROBABLY FIVE, EIGHT, 120 POUNDS. NOW STANDING AT SIX THREE AND 253 POUNDS, EVANS IS THE FIRST PLAYER IN SURRY COUNTY HISTORY TO BE DRAFTED TO THE NFL IN THE LEAGUE’S MODERN ERA, HE WORKED THE HARDEST WHEN NOBODY WAS WATCHING AND IT GOT HIM TO WHERE HE’S AT TODAY AND HE’LL BE PUNTING FOR THE RAMS AT THE BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM WITH HIS PANTHERS FAN, FORMER COACH IN THE STANDS. I HOPE ETHAN PLAYS A LOT TOMORROW. THAT MEANS THE PANTHERS ARE GETTING THE BALL BACK. BUT NO, ALL JOKING ASIDE, I TOLD SOMEBODY JUST A WHILE AGO IT’S A WIN WIN FOR ME AS A FAN. WOULD LOVE TO SEE ETHAN IN THE RAMS MOVE ON. MAYBE HAVE A SHOT AT THE SUPER BOWL. I THINK THEY’RE ONE OF THE SUPER BOWL FAVORITES. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IF THE HOMETOWN PANTHERS WIN, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY IN THE CAROLINAS ARE HAPPY, LYONS SAYS. ONCE A GREYHOUND, ALWAYS GREYHOUND AND IS EXCITED TO SEE HOW EVA

Surry County native takes on Panthers for second time this season as kicker for LA Rams during playoff game

Updated: 8:35 PM EST Jan 9, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Surry County’s Ethan Evans returns to North Carolina for the second time this season as a Los Angeles Rams kicker in a playoff game. His former coach, Danny Lyons, said seeing him play in the NFL is a big deal for the entire community — which hasn’t seen a player go to the league in decades. The punter graduated from North Surry High School in 2018 after playing middle school, junior varsity and varsity football within the county. He went on to kick at Wingate University and was later drafted to the LA Rams in 2023.”I remember seeing his name come across the bottom as a 7th round selection of the LA Rams,” said Evans’ former coach, Danny Lyons. “Obviously, a dream come true for him, and big news for our area, a kid from Lowgap, North Carolina, making it to the NFL.”The Surry County native and kicker for the Los Angeles Rams is set to play in a playoff game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium Saturday, surrounded by fans and family members cheering him on.WXII Digital Extra: Full Interview with Ethan Evans’ former High School coach His journey from the high school football field to the NFL is a testament to his dedication and hard work, Lyons said.”There’s a 150-170 plays in a football game and a punter might only get 7 or 8 shots at that. So a lot of pressure in those moments,” he said.Evans’ commitment to his goals was evident from the start. Lyons said he remembered times when Evans would go to the field in the snow with his grandfather and stay later than other athletes just to get more repetition in.”I remember the first time we worked out on our practice field, I asked him if he had any goals and he said it was to kick in college. And at that time, he was probably 5’8″ and 120 pounds,” Lyons said. “By the time he was a junior, you know, that ball coming off his foot just had a different sound.”Now standing at 6 feet, 3 inches and 253 pounds, Evans is the first player in Surry County history to be drafted into the NFL in the league’s modern era.”He worked the hardest when nobody was watching, and it got him to where he is today,” Lyons said.Lyons is a proud Panthers fan, and always has been, but that’s not stopping him from rooting for Evans at the playoff game from the stands of Bank of America Stadium.”I hope Ethan plays a lot tomorrow. That means the Panthers are getting the ball back. But all joking aside, I told somebody it’s a win-win for me as a fan. Would love to see Ethan and the Rams move on, maybe have a shot at the Super Bowl. I think they are one of the Super Bowl favorites. And then obviously if the Panthers win, everyone in the Carolinas are happy,” Lyons said.More Panthers to the Playoffs News Stories from WXIIMore weather coverage: Weather Alerts | Closing and delays | Latest weather forecast | Post pictures to the uLocal North Carolina Facebook Group | Traffic information | Report closings and delays | SkyCams | Download the WXII12 News mobile app

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. —

The punter graduated from North Surry High School in 2018 after playing middle school, junior varsity and varsity football within the county. He went on to kick at Wingate University and was later drafted to the LA Rams in 2023.

“I remember seeing his name come across the bottom as a 7th round selection of the LA Rams,” said Evans’ former coach, Danny Lyons. “Obviously, a dream come true for him, and big news for our area, a kid from Lowgap, North Carolina, making it to the NFL.”

The Surry County native and kicker for the Los Angeles Rams is set to play in a playoff game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium Saturday, surrounded by fans and family members cheering him on.

WXII Digital Extra: Full Interview with Ethan Evans’ former High School coach

His journey from the high school football field to the NFL is a testament to his dedication and hard work, Lyons said.

“There’s a 150-170 plays in a football game and a punter might only get 7 or 8 shots at that. So a lot of pressure in those moments,” he said.

Evans’ commitment to his goals was evident from the start. Lyons said he remembered times when Evans would go to the field in the snow with his grandfather and stay later than other athletes just to get more repetition in.

“I remember the first time we worked out on our practice field, I asked him if he had any goals and he said it was to kick in college. And at that time, he was probably 5’8″ and 120 pounds,” Lyons said. “By the time he was a junior, you know, that ball coming off his foot just had a different sound.”

Now standing at 6 feet, 3 inches and 253 pounds, Evans is the first player in Surry County history to be drafted into the NFL in the league’s modern era.

“He worked the hardest when nobody was watching, and it got him to where he is today,” Lyons said.

Lyons is a proud Panthers fan, and always has been, but that’s not stopping him from rooting for Evans at the playoff game from the stands of Bank of America Stadium.

“I hope Ethan plays a lot tomorrow. That means the Panthers are getting the ball back. But all joking aside, I told somebody it’s a win-win for me as a fan. Would love to see Ethan and the Rams move on, maybe have a shot at the Super Bowl. I think they are one of the Super Bowl favorites. And then obviously if the Panthers win, everyone in the Carolinas are happy,” Lyons said.

More Panthers to the Playoffs News Stories from WXII

Surry County LA Rams kicker plays Panthers during playoff game

Tags: