Mr. Clutch: Just call him “The Kermanator”


Above: Photo courtesy of Glendora athletics

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
When you think of how many close games the Glendora High School football team has been in this season, it sure helps to have a cool kicker to count on in the clutch.
Matt Kerman has been just that for the Tartans. It was his extra point that finished off a stunning, 91-yard scoring drive in the final minute and a half that gave the Tartans a 21-20 victory over Anaheim Canyon back in September. It was Kerman’s 22-yard field goal as time expired that gave the Tartans a 16-14 victory over Diamond Ranch on Oct. 2. “When you get in that situation, you realize how hard your team has worked to set you up,” Kerman said. “You don’t want to let them down. Besides, I couldn’t go to school the next day if I missed.”

On Friday, Kerman was at it again as he was asked to keep the Tartans’ Sierra League title and playoff hopes alive in the final minute against Chino Hills.

With just 49 seconds left, Kerman delivered by kicking a 37-yard field goal that gave the Tartans a dramatic 24-23 victory which left them in a four-way tie for first place in league.

“I felt my heartbeat getting faster and faster,” Kerman said. “The more you’re in that situation, the more comfortable you feel. I had a good week of practice and knew I had to get it done.

“It was a huge sigh of relief to watch it go through.”

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior is a luxury Glendora coach Mark Pasquarella doesn’t take for granted.

“He came out from soccer after his sophomore year and has gotten better and better,” Pasquarella said. “Last year he kicked off the ground. This year he’s using a short tee and he’s deadly with it. You can tell he has a lot of confidence in himself.”

Pasquarella said he didn’t watch Kerman’s game-winner against Chino Hills go through the uprights. He instead focused on Kerman.

“He has one of those personalities where nothing seems to bother him,” Pasquarella said. “It’s a lot of pressure, not just for the kicker but for his coach.

“You never know with kickers. When he lined it up, I stayed focused on his reaction. When I saw his arms go up and players racing at him, I knew he made it.”

It was a huge win considering the Tartans were without senior running back/defensive back Andre Holmes, who injured his right knee a week earlier in a 21-0 loss to Damien.

Holmes, who is wearing a knee brace, is visiting a knee specialist this week to determine the severity of his injury.

“The first doctor he saw wanted him to wait a couple weeks before taking an MRI,” Pasquarella said. “He still has a little limp. You just have to wait for the doctor’s results to come back and take it from there. We’re hopeful we can get him back at some point.”

fred.robledo@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2161

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email