Sometimes the Go Roos posts are inspired by all y’all out there.
Former AC kicker Kyle Matlock wrote earlier today:
“So, the Cincinnati quarterback underthrows his receiver on a play that would have sealed their victory over Georgia. Then, the Cincinnati defensive back drops an easy interception that would have sealed the victory. Then, the Georgia kicker nails a 54-yard field goal to win the game. You tell me who’s the best athlete.”
Nobody from my years would argue with that. We all wanted Matlock on our IM teams back during our days in Sherman.
In that same thread, Matlock also said to Colin Dunnigan:“
I can’t imagine trying to kick a 54-yarder to win a bowl game on national television. Probably wouldn’t even be able to feel my legs.”
Now that’s a funny thing to read. Cause if you look up the longest AC field goals ever in the football book “100 Years, 100 Yards,” you’ll find something interesting. Gene Branum’s national championship kick comes in at #1 not surprisingly, and Branum owns #2 as well. But the third longest ever (at least as of the late 1990s)? That belongs to Kyle Matlock, who put one through in 1990 from a distance of…………54 yards.
As luck would have it, I’ve got a copy of that kick. Jason Johnson gave me a VHS of the 1990 season on a tennis court a while back. It’s digitized and ready to go when we tell the story of the 1990 season one of these days. The 1990 team went 8-2 in the regular season and earned an NAIA playoff berth.
For now though, enjoy these two kicks. A 54-yarder for Georgia to win the Peach Bowl today. And a 54-yarder from Kyle Matlock, who once heaved Marc a touchdown pass at Old Settler’s Park, way before that Georgia kicker was even born.
