He Gets a Leg Up on the Competition : Football: Mt. San Antonio’s Andy Norell has become one of the nation’s best community college kickers.

Only once before his career at Mt. San Antonio College is over, Andy Norell would like the opportunity to make a kicker’s dream come true.

The Mounties will be trailing by two points with only seconds remaining. They will be 35 yards from the end zone, a field goal by Norell their only hope for victory.

“Nothing like a nice 45-yarder to win it,” Norell said. “I would love to have the chance.”

And chances are better than good that Norell would send the kick through the uprights.

The 6-1, 175-pound sophomore from Upland led the nation’s community college kickers in field-goal percentage last season when he converted 13 of 15 attempts. He also ranked first in extra points, converting 31 of 32.

This season, Norell has made nine of 10 field-goal attempts, including a 50-yarder, and 14 of 15 conversions. His play has helped the Mounties compile a 4-1 record entering Saturday’s game against Southwestern College of San Diego.

“He’s the best kicker I’ve ever had,” said Bill Fisk, who is in his sixth season as Mt. SAC’s coach and has been associated with the program since 1966.

Norell transferred to Mt. SAC last season after attending USC for two years. Norell, who graduated from Upland in 1989, walked on for the Trojans and redshirted his freshman season. In 1990, he kicked for the scout team and enthusiastically observed starter Quin Rodriguez.

Norell said he left USC and transferred to Mt. SAC for academic reasons. But he also was looking for a chance to play.

Norell began his kicking career as a freshman at Upland after an older friend who was kicker suggested he give it a try. Norell was a receiver on the freshman team until he kicked a 38-yard field goal during a game.

“After that, the coach said, ‘Don’t run another pattern. You’re kicking for the rest of your life,’ ” Norell said.

Norell went on to become an All-Southern Section kicker and was invited to walk on by several Division I schools. The choice came down to UCLA and USC.

“UCLA already had some kickers,” Norell said. “USC had the tradition and I got all wrapped up in it.”

Norell transferred to Mt. SAC because it was close to home and the Mounties needed a kicker.

Norell was selected second-team All-American last season and was a preseason All-American choice this year. His presence has allowed Fisk to modify his offensive approach.

“Once we’re inside the 35, we know we’re going to get at least three points, so you don’t want to do anything stupid,” Fisk said.

Norell’s daily regimen includes work with the field goal and kickoff units, some running and some light weightlifting.

“Andy works hard at what he does, but he’s not one of those kickers that’s going to kick 100 balls in practice every day,” Fisk said.

Norell has one season of eligibility remaining and is hoping to parlay his success into a scholarship to a four-year school. He is intent on helping the Mounties make it through the Mission Conference into a postseason bowl game.

“Playing in a bowl would be great exposure for everyone on our team,” Norell said. “Right now, our defense is playing incredible and our offense is scoring points. If we can keep it up once we start playing the teams in our division, we have a chance to get there.”