BEST FOOT FORWARD
Through almost three weeks of practice, Jose Duarte has connected for plenty of home runs and ground-rule doubles, which would be great if he were a baseball player.
But heâs a kicker and punter for Highland High.
Since practice started, Duarte has been relegated to practicing on the schoolâs softball field, where his punts soar over the outfield fence and his field goals fly into a kickerâs net.
Duarte doesnât seem to mind.
âI actually kind of like it better this way,â he said. âI just imagine the goal posts higher and longer. It doesnât take anything away from me.â
In this setting, itâs difficult to tell whether Duarte has improved, but Coach Lin Parker is more than willing to settle for the status quo.
âHe looks the same to me,â Parker said. âHeâs got the same goatee as last year, the same girlfriend and he pretty much looks the same, which is fine with me.â
Now, if he can duplicate last season.
As a junior, Duarte made 14 of 18 field-goal attempts, 19 of 22 point-after attempts and was named to all-state and The Timesâ All-Valley teams.
Successful kickers are nothing new at Highland.
Derek Brown, the starting kicker at Cal State Northridge, is a Highland graduate and former All-Valley selection.
Duarte broke Brownâs school record last season with a 54-yard field goal against Palmdale.
This season, Duarte thinks he can hit one from 60 yards.
âThatâs my goal,â said Duarte, who has kicked a 58-yard field goal in practice. âI think Iâm going to do it.â
Several colleges have expressed interest in Duarte, including Washington, Washington State, Idaho and Nevada Las Vegas.
Not bad for a kid who had never played football before high school.
Until then, Duarte thought of himself more as a soccer player. He has continued to play soccer, and should earn his fourth varsity letter in the sport this winter.
As a freshman, he didnât even own football cleats when he went out for the football team.
He tried out as a receiver.
âI figured Iâd go out, catch a few balls, have some fun,â Duarte said.
Then he looked around and saw 16 other guys trying out for the same position.
Nobody was interested in kicker, so Duarte gave it a shot.
He was a solid kicker as a freshman and a sophomore, when he was promoted to the varsity late in the season.
âBut nobody expected him to set records and be as good as he was last year,â said senior Matt Yriarte, Duarteâs holder since their freshman season. âLast year, something just clicked.â
Now, he has the complete confidence of his teammates and the coaching staff.
âWhenever we score six points, itâs almost a given that itâll be seven,â Yriarte said. âWhenever weâre inside the 40, itâs almost a sure thing it will be three [points].â
And it doesnât matter the situation. The more pressure, the better.
âWith six seconds on the clock and the game on the line is what I like,â Duarte said. âI like the pressure. I feel tingly and get pumped up in those situations.â
On Thursday, Duarte will get a chance to better prepare for the chance.
Thatâs when he and his teammates practice for the first time on their stadiumâs field, the only one on campus with goal posts.
âJose is mastering the art of Zen kicking,â Parker said. âHe has gotten quite adept at envisioning the goal posts.â
And Highland is envisioning another stellar season from its kicker.
After all, heâs the best in his field.
*
DIVISION III HIGH SCHOOL CAPSULES AND SCHEDULES ON PAGE 10
SEE KICKERS CHART ON PAGE 11
DIVISION IV HIGH SCHOOL CAPSULES AND SCHEDULES ON PAGE 11
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
HOW THEY RATE
A look at the top kickers in the region:
With comment by Eric Sondheimer
Rk: 1
Player: Jose Duarte
School: Highland
Ht.: 5-10
Wt.: 160
Yr.: Sr.
Made 14 of 18 field goals as a junior
*
Rk: 2
Player: Garret Marxen
School: Alemany
Ht.: 5-10
Wt.: 165
Yr.: Sr.
His kickoffs always land in the end zone
*
Rk: 3
Player: Josh Cummings
School: Hart
Ht.: 5-11
Wt.: 185
Yr.: Sr.
A valuable weapon with great ability
*
Rk: 4
Player: Cam Robinson
School: Canyon
Ht.: 6-1
Wt.: 175
Yr.: Sr.
Has the leg to kick at a major college
*
Rk: 5
Player: Bryan Borreson
School: Chaminade
Ht.: 6-0
Wt.: 180
Yr.: Sr.
Returning All-Mission League performer
*
Rk: 6
Player: Brett Savel
School: Notre Dame
Ht.: 5-10
Wt.: 160
Yr.: Sr.
Has been booming punts in practice
*
Rk: 7
Player: Tom Colley
School: Chatsworth
Ht.: 5-11
Wt.: 175
Yr.: Sr.
Could be key offensive player for Chancellors
*
Rk: 8
Player: Johan Colocho
School: Van Nuys
Ht.: 6-0
Wt.: 190
Yr.: Sr.
Will try to continue Wolvesâ kicking tradition
*
Rk: 9
Player: Monte McNair
School: Oak Park
Ht.: 6-0
Wt.: 172
Yr.: Jr.
Showed great potential as a sophomore
SNEAK PEEK
Last in a nine-part series.
Aug. 23: Quarterbacks. Kyle Matter of Hart
Aug. 25: Running backs. DeâAndre Scott of Alemany
Aug. 26: Offensive linemen. Philip Clark of Newbury Park
Aug. 27: Wide receivers. James Norris of Kennedy
Aug. 30: Tight ends. Nathan Terrazone of St. Francis
Friday: Defensive linemen. Kaelen Jakes of Valencia
Saturday: Linebackers. Josh Martin of Sylmar
Sunday: Defensive backs. Steve Smith of Taft
Today: Kickers. Jose Duarte of Highland
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