He is of Brazilian heritage, and when you look at Chris Mattos you could easily picture him as a fleet-footed soccer player, which is the sport most often associated with the South American country.

ERIC SUCAR staff Monroe's Chris Mattos kicks off during the first quarter of Friday's game against J.P. Stevens. Mattos had a field goal and five extra points in the 40-0 victory. Oh, Chris Mattos can use his feet, all right. But it's on the football field. That's where the senior place-kicker and punter excels for the Monroe Township High School Falcons. Whether he's kicking off, converting points after touchdowns, or just plain old punting, Mattos has established himself as one of the best in the GMC, and perhaps the state.

"We have some pretty good players on our team," says Chris Beagan, coach of the 5-1 Falcons, "and I'm often asked who the best is. What I tell them is the one with the best chance to succeed as a major college player is our kicker. Chris has that kind of ability."

For the season, Mattos has 25 points (second on the team), 19 coming on conversions after touchdowns and six as the result of two modest field goal attempts. However, his value far exceeds what he brings to his team in terms of scoring.

To be certain, Chris Mattos has gone to great lengths to perfect his craft. He has gone to kicking schools and has competed against his peers in regional combines, including another outstanding area kicker, East Brunswick's Tyler Yonchuik. In fact, Mattos will head to Florida in January to compete in a national kicking contest, having won state and regional competitions. But when asked how he is able to get the distance he does on his kickoffs, punt the ball high and long, and nail field goals with consistent accuracy, Mattos shrugs his shoulders.

"I guess it comes naturally," he says.

Natural ability or not, Chris Mattos impacts a game in a big way. You first notice him when he kicks off to begin a game or after the Falcons score. With a slow, deliberate approach, he suddenly explodes with his right foot, arching the ball toward the end zone. When it lands, the official's whistle blows, downing the ball. In high school football, when a kick lands or is caught in the end zone, it is an automatic touchback with the ball placed on the 20-yard line.

Through five games, Mattos booted 15 of 20 kicks in the end zone. Of those that didn't make it, four came during the North Brunswick game played on a muddy grass field, conditions more conducive to rugby than football.

It was the senior's most recent game against J.P. Stevens, however, that demonstrated how valuable his technique is in helpingMonroemaximize field position. With the high loft on his kickoffs, Mattos repeatedly booted the ball close to the end zone, but not in it, forcing the receiver to catch the ball and run upfield. Meanwhile, Monroe's fleet kick- off team raced downfield, making tackles inside the 20. In effect, Mattos' kickoffs were better than touchbacks.

"That's something I practice a lot," he says. "I get a lot of satisfaction helping the team gain field position. That, and scoring points."

Thus far, Mattos hasn't been put in a positionwhere he's attempted a field goal or point after touchdown with the game on the line. However, his coach has no doubt his kicker will come through in the clutch.

"Chris isn't fazed by pressure," said Beagan. "The way he explains it to me, he gets a mental picture of the ball going through the uprights and goes out and executes."

It wasn't surprising that Mattos' initial venture into kicking was on the soccer field as a 4-year-old participating in the township recreation league. However, because of his strong foot, friends and members of the Monroe Wolverines football organization encouraged him to kick for the Pop Warner football team.

"I was kicking them inside the 10-yard line," Mattos said. "I knew I could get better if I stayed with it."

He did play soccer as a freshman once he entered Monroe Township High School, but switched to football as a sophomore. Since then, Mattos has steadily improved to where he is recognized, even by college coaches, as a viable prospect.

Beagan says Mattos has received a lot of letters from coaches, but because the season is not completed, he hasn't sorted them out. It is also common knowledge that kickers do not receive the recruiting attention that other players do. Most, in fact, walk on, even at major colleges.

"He's an average student," says Beagan, "and can still improve in that area. Chris knows he has an opportunity to make it to the next level."

What is most important to Mattos now is what his team wants to accomplish, and that's defending the GMC White Division title and qualifying for the Central Jersey Group III playoffs.

"We're pretty close on this team," Mattos said about his teammates. "I like the fact they depend on me. I want them to know that when the game is on the line, I'll come through."