Murray State transfer Matt Maldonado handles both kickoff and placekicking for Illinois State. The Yorkville High School graduate kicked three field goals in Saturday’s 38-36 double-overtime win at Hancock Stadium. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
NORMAL – Illinois State kicker Matt Maldonado is a man of faith. From the crosses drawn on his face in eye black to his postgame comments, the Yorkville High School graduate puts his beliefs out front.
Maldonado needed every bit of that faith in Saturday’s topsy-turvy, double-overtime 38-36 win that displayed the highs and lows of his position.
There were the highs of a career-long 51-yarder as well as a 38-yarder that allowed ISU to reach the second overtime.
“For me personally, it just comes down to my faith,” Maldonado said. “I knew whether I made or missed the kick that the ultimate victory is what Jesus did on the cross for us. Having that faith and knowing that He already won means that we can just go out and play free.”
There are also lows.
Maldonado pushed a third quarter, 28-yard attempt wide for his first miss of the year. There was also the potential 39-yard game-winner near the end of regulation that North Alabama defensive lineman Kaleb Brown blocked.
“I give all the credit to North Alabama. They fought the entire game in all three phases. In that scenario, I felt like they did a really good job,” Maldonado said.
Asked if he kicked the ball too low or if Brown simply rose to get his hand on it, Maldonado said he wasn’t sure without seeing the video replay.
“It happened so fast I couldn’t tell,” he said.
Maldonado, who transferred to ISU from Murray State this past offseason, has made six of his eight field goal attempts this season. He added three Saturday as No. 4/6 Illinois State avoided being upset by unranked North Alabama.
His 51-yarder bested his previous career-long by two yards and pushed ISU to a six-point lead with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve been talking to Coach (Brock) Spack (from) right when I got here. I hadn’t attempted anything from 50-plus in my career. Seeing all these kickers in the NFL kicking 60-yarders, I feel like 60 is the new 50, so I’ve been pretty much begging him to let me kick something long,” Maldonado said.
Spack gave Maldonado his opportunity knowing full well that a miss would have given North Alabama prime field position in the game’s waning minutes.
“I looked him in the eye and said, ‘Can you make it from here (51 yards)?’” Spack explained. “He said, ‘Yep,’ and went out and banged it through.
“I trust him, and I think he likes the fact that our team trusts him too.”
Then came the 38-yarder, which sent the game to its second overtime and set the stage for the Redbirds’ third straight victory.
Knowing if he failed meant an ISU loss, Maldonado fell back on his faith as well as his past.
“Not a lot of people know this, but in high school I didn’t start until my senior year. I only played six games. In my third game ever, I kicked a game-winning field goal. I felt like there was more pressure in that scenario because I hadn’t done it before,” he said.
Through ISU’s first four games, the Redbird coaches and players have developed their faith in Maldonado.
“Huge,” Spack said of the field goals. “He’s been a good player here. I really like him a lot. He’s been a nice addition, solid, steady. Very even keeled, doesn’t get too high or too low.”
“I feel like I earned the respect of the guys on the team,” Maldonado said. “Just having that trust from the staff and from the team really means the world to me.”
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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