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Jonathan Kim's big night secures him a place in the Michigan State Spartans record book

Posted on by Kennedy
Jonathan Kim's big night secures him a place in the Michigan State Spartans record book

East Lansing – Michigan State had a lead over Iowa. This leg belongs to Jonathan Kim.

Kim, the graduate student's placekicker, had a record-setting night in the Spartans' 34-20 win over Iowa on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium. He made six field goals, breaking Michigan State's previous single-game record of five, previously made three times by Paul Edinger (twice) and John Langeloh.

The six field goals made are the most by a Big Ten kicker in a game this season and were one shy of the Football Bowl Subdivision record. Kim set the MSU record with a 55-yarder early in the fourth quarter and then broke the MSU record with a 46-yarder with 7 minutes, 34 seconds left in the game.

“I don't remember exactly when during the game, but someone came up to me and said, 'Hey, you just set the record,'” Kim said. “I thought, 'What record?' And then they ran away. So I thought, “Okay.”

“I’m just glad I can go out and help this team win. You know, it’s an honor to be able to set this record.”

Kim accounted for all the scoring in the first half, kicking four field goals as Michigan led 12-0. He scored from 42, 43, 36 and 29 yards and improved to 13 of 13 on field goals this season.

Michigan State redshirt senior linebacker Jordan Turner compared watching Kim kick to playing the video game NBA 2K. If the shutter button shows green, the shot is good. Kim keeps hitting green.

“That’s all I see on the sidelines,” Turner said to reporters’ laughter. “Thank God for Jonathan Kim.”

Kim, who doesn't play NBA 2K and therefore didn't receive Turner's reference, finally had his first miss of the season at the end of the first half, his 55-yarder narrowly missing.

That obviously didn't faze him.

“I try not to think about any failures,” Kim said. “I don’t want to think too much about a kick. It’s annoying because I know I can do that kick.”

He proved that last season when he made a 58-yarder against Iowa after transferring from North Carolina. And he proved it later Saturday night when he made another 55-yarder.

That 55-yard run, set up by Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams' 10-yard run on third-and-22, was Kim's longest throw of the season.

“It was just a blessing to be able to take advantage of so many opportunities,” said Kim, who admitted he had some trouble during kickoffs on Saturday, suppressing some and pushing others. Kickers, for you. They are perfectionists.

Kim has now made 15 of 16 field goals this season, including 7 of 8 from 40 yards or more. Last season, Kim was 13-for-18, including 7-for-12 from 40 yards or more.

Michigan State (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) scored on eight of 10 drives and didn't punt once in its win over Iowa (4-3, 2-2).

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