DeKalb | When football is in a high-pressure situation or has a game on the line there is never any panic on the sideline.

The Huskies have all the confidence in the world senior kicker Mathew Sims will rise to the occasion as he has done his whole career at NIU.

That was the scenario for Sims and the Huskies in their week one, 30-27 victory over the Hawkeyes. With the game tied at 27, Sims calmly lined up for the 36-yard field goal attempt and drilled it.

“Whenever he goes out on the field, we’ve always had confidence in him,” said senior punter Tyler Wedel. “Not only do I have all the confidence in the world that he’s going to make every kick that he needs to make in any pressure situation, but the whole team thinks he’s going to make it. Not a single person at Iowa thought he was missing that kick because he’s made so many of those kicks in his career.”

This was nothing new for Sims as he lives for big moments like that. Throughout his career at NIU, Sims has come up clutch with three game-winning field goals. Perhaps no kick has been bigger in Sims’ career than his 40-yard game-tying field goal in overtime of the MAC Championship game last season.

“It’s just my job,” Sims said. “If it happens, it happens and thankfully I’ve been able to come up big for my team. I just have to treat every kick the same, can’t look at any kick any differently, and that’s how I approach every kick.”

Special teams coach Kevin Kane has been impressed by Sims’ ability to remain calm and collected during high-pressure situations.

“He’s a kid that can really focus in on the situation at that time,” Kane said. “So he blocks out a lot of different aspects of the game when he needs to, and that’s why he’s so good. It’s kind of funny. Every day at practice I go and try to get in his head, and he’s been pretty spot on, so hopefully that works and hopefully it helps him focus on gameday.”

Wedel took over as Sims’ new holder this season and has taken notice of Sims’ mindset and demeanor before stepping into a stressful environment.

“I think he doesn’t get worked up and he doesn’t overthink it,” Wedel said. “… I hold for him now and when I look up at him, because he gives me the OK to snap it, he always says a little something to himself. I don’t know exactly what it is but he does a little routine there that gets him calm, cool and collected and focused on making the kick always.”

Sims enjoys the high-pressure situations, especially when he delivers for his team.

“It’s fun, obviously,” Sims said. “It’s my job so I enjoy making my kicks…. So it’s just like anybody else making a big play for their team. It’s just fun. It’s our job.”