Methling gets a kick out of LZ's big day

Max Methling, with both a playoff football game and state championship soccer match on his mind, approached what might rank as the best day of his life one kick at a time.

The Lake Zurich senior tried a 36-yard field goal in the first quarter, and his kick was good.

Just before halftime, Methling smacked a field-goal try from a career-long 45 yards out. The football started off-target, hooked left, banged off the crossbar near the right post and bounced ... forward. Barely. The ball fell softly to the ground.

It wasn't Max's max, however.

"In practice he's hit at least a 53-yarder," punter Kevin Looff said.

With host Lake Zurich and Crystal Lake South all tied at 21-21 in their Class 7A second-round state playoff game last Saturday, Methling booted a field-goal attempt from 27 yards out.

He made it easily, with 3:32 left in the game.

Take a deep breath, Max.

When the game ended at close to 3:30 p.m., with his 3 field goals helping Lake Zurich overcome a fourth-quarter deficit to win 30-28, Methling celebrated briefly with fellow Bears. He then sprinted to the locker room to change into his Lake Zurich soccer uniform and grab his gear.

A bus that would transport Lake Zurich's soccer players to North Central College in Naperville for that night's Class 3A state title match was scheduled to leave Lake Zurich's parking lot at 3:45 p.m.

Like that 45-yard field goal, Methling barely made it.

Take another deep breath, Mighty Max.

"It's a good thing (the football game) didn't go into overtime," Methling said. "That would have been kind of nerve-racking."

Oh, it was anyway.

During the game, Methling, not wanting to miss his soccer team's bus or a date with history, kept asking the team trainer, who was wearing a watch, for the time.

Truth be told, if Methling was distracted, that was probably a good thing.

"What they say for kicking is that you don't really want to pay attention to the game because you don't want the mood of the game to affect you," said Looff, who, besides punting, also kicks off and holds on Methling field-goal and PAT kicks. Looff also happens to be a soccer player (JV) and good friend of Methling.

Methling's date with history was foiled that night when Lyons Township's soccer team scored in overtime to beat Lake Zurich 2-1.

Had a bounce gone the Bears' way again, Methling would have made school history by becoming the first Lake Zurich athlete to win games in two different sports on the same day with one of those victories being a state championship.

"During the (football) game, all the football players on the sidelines were joking around saying that if the soccer team ends up winning, it's going to be the happiest day of Max's life," said Looff, laughing.

You know what?

The day was still cool for the kid with ice water in his veins.

And how cool would it have been if Methling had scored the game-winning goal, say with a shot off the post?

"It would have been nuts," Methling said. "It's still up there as one of the top days of my life. It would have been probably No. 1 if we had won."

He has no idea what's No. 1 on his list of best days. He doesn't even have a list.

Certainly, the last three months have to be the best of Methling's sports career. And along side the whole time has been Looff.

The kickers know both when to give each other an occasional kick or a pat on the back of the jersey.

Methling supports Looff, Looff supports Methling.

"He definitely should have been on the (varsity soccer) team with us," Methling said. "We were all upset about that. We would have used his defending (skills). He's so tall (6 feet 3). He's got good clearing ability and he's able to win balls out of the air all the time."

Lake Zurich football coach Bryan Stortz is glad both soccer players are on his 8-3 team, which plays at Wheaton North on Saturday night in the state quarterfinals.

"We wouldn't be where we are without them," Stortz said.

At North Central College last Saturday night, Methling kicked a ball that he aimed toward a post. This time, unlike earlier in the day, his accuracy was off.

"I took a very bad shot," Methling with a sheepish laugh. "I wasn't sure if I should shoot it or pass it, so I did like a side-of-the-foot lobber, and it was not successful."

Another time, Methling heard a ball clang off metal again.

"I almost had an assist," Methling said. "I hit a cross to, I think it was (Tim) Kreutz, and he volleyed it off the cross bar."

He laughed.

"I would have had my first stat in soccer this year," he said.

It's all good, kicker.