A LEG UP FOR HIGHLAND.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer

Derek Brown was the hero in Highland High School's dramatic, come-from-behind 22-20 football win over visiting Valencia last Friday.

Brown's school-record 48-yard field goal with just 43 seconds remaining - against the wind - lifted the Bulldogs to victory.

A clutch kick but according to teammates, routine.

``We pretty much knew he was going to make it,'' said Brandon McElvaine, Highland's leading rusher with 97 yards and a touchdown. ``Derek is dangerous. He's a game-breaker.''

Quarterback Camy Smith, Brown's holder, was equally confident.

``I knew it was going in,'' Smith said. ``As soon as he kicked it, I started celebrating. I picked him up, but he was still watching the ball. It was nice to have Derek when we needed him. Derek's the type of kicker that you don't have to second-guess whether you should try the field goal or not. We have complete faith in him. He's mastered it.''

Brown kicked a 42-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter to pull Highland close.

``Valencia called two straight timeouts before the last field goal, trying to `ice' my kicker,'' Highland coach Lin Parker said. ``I told Derek, `You show them you have ice water in your veins.' He just winked at me and said, `No problem.' It was really a clutch kick. He's quite a weapon.''

The 48-yarder broke Brown's own Highland record of 46 yards, set last year against Santa Monica.

``Derek gave us an important win,'' McElvaine said. ``We didn't want to lose our opener.''

Brown, a 5-foot-9, 140-pound senior, had seven field goals in 1996 and also punted for a 34.6 average.

``I think Derek has a shot at the NFL with a leg like his,'' McElvaine said.

``With Derek, we feel like every time we're on offense, we should score,'' Smith said. ``All we need is a few first downs and to get past the 40. I had one of my worst games against Valencia (13 of 27, 121 yards), but Derek made everything all right.''

Brown is serious about his craft. He went to three summer kicking camps - and was voted top kicker at all of them. At the High Desert football combine that attracted 47 college scouts last July at Quartz Hill, Brown kicked two 60-yard field goals.

``It was breezy that day,'' Parker said, ``but when isn't it?''

Brown is also an excellent student who is being recruited to play at Army next season.

Brown developed his leg strength on the soccer team, where he's a two-time All-Golden League player.