Monte Vista Christian junior Julian Pizarro Jr. had a lot to celebrate on his birthday last week. But instead of receiving a bunch of gifts, he decided to give one to his team.
The Mustangs’ kicker knocked in a 34-yard field goal as time expired to help lift them past Scotts Valley, 25-23, in a thrilling Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission–North Division battle Oct. 11.
Pizarro’s teammates and coaches rushed the middle of the field to surround him just before they lifted their big hero as he pumped his fists toward the starry night sky.
“This is my best part of the day, made my day,” said Pizarro, who was celebrating his birthday along with his triplet siblings Jonathan and Sarah.
Prior to the big kick, MVC head coach Spencer Ferrari-Wood took Pizarro aside for a quick pep talk before hitting the field.
“I just said whether you make this or miss this, I’m gonna love you just the same. And he made it,” Ferrari-Wood said.
It was the first game-winning field goal for MVC since 2006 when Steven Sandoval made a 26-yarder to beat Stevenson, 16-14.
However, there was a lot more going into that kick than trying to pick up the Mustangs’ first league win of the season.
Pizarro’s father, Julian Pizarro Sr., was out jogging that same day when he was struck by a car, thrown in the air and landed on his head causing what doctors say is a very traumatic brain injury.
According to a GoFundMe page, Pizarro Sr.—who is the Mustangs’ boys’ soccer coach—has a long road to recovery and is still being treated for pneumonia. However, there was a glimmer of hope as the brain stopped swelling and his pupils were responsive as of Tuesday.
“A great and godly man who is a transformational coach,” MVC Athletic Director Matt Coleman said in a text message. “While he is passionate about soccer, his love for his players is greater and reaches outside the lines of the pitch. We are believing in and praying for a miracle.”
Pizarro Jr. had made a field goal from the same distance late in the third quarter, and scored all of MVC’s points in the second half.
“I just wanted to make my dad proud, kick as good as I could today,” he said.
During the final drive of the game, Pizarro had an inkling it would come down to him and his powerful leg. And it did. When his number was called, he lined up and launched the ball like a rocket through the goalpost in what he called a routine kick.
“We’ve been needing a win,” he said.
MVC senior quarterback Dominic Pierini orchestrated the game-winning drive. He finished with a game-best 414 passing yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s one of the best nights of my life, very happy. I wanted to say I’m very proud of Julian,” Pierini said. “Not everyone can just bounce back and come to a full football game after a circumstance like that. To have the mental capacity to hit two big field goals, that’s big time.”
Prior to the walk-off score, the Mustangs allowed the Falcons to climb back into the game. Senior running back Eli Velez scored three rushing touchdowns and a 2-point conversion attempt that gave Scotts Valley a 23-22 lead with just 52 seconds remaining in the game.
Pierini paced back and forth on the sideline, telling the offense to get prepared to march down the field.
“I told us we’re gonna score. I’m always confident. I saw in film they play back a lot when it’s time, so I knew we’re going to get yards,” he said.
The Mustangs’ star quarterback made some key throws late in the game, including one on the final drive to Nico Downie where he used his tippy toes to stay inbounds for the catch near Scotts Valley’s 40-yard line.
Downie got off to a rocky start by losing a fumble on MVC’s opening drive, yet he finished with a game-high 264 receiving yards and one touchdown on 13 receptions. He became the tri-county’s new leader in career receptions with 170, breaking former Palma standout receiver Logan Saldate’s record of 159.
“I gotta remind myself as an offensive play caller, it’s players, not plays,” Ferrari-Wood said. “We got to feed our beasts the ball and he’s our alpha male dude. We just try to find ways to get him the ball in space and let him be the athlete God created him to be. And he makes us look like good coaches sometimes.”
Pierni also had a record-setting night. He is now MVC’s and Santa Cruz County’s all-time leader in career passing touchdowns with 64, surpassing Taylor Cohan’s mark of 61 that he set in 2012.
“[Pierini] was lights-out again. Great all-around team effort,” Ferrari-Wood said.
Gunner Sorensen hauled in nine receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown along with 66 rushing yards on 14 carries for MVC. Fellow teammates Boston Ashe had five receptions for 42 yards and Jordan Ramirez caught six receptions for 22 yards.
Sorensen also had a big game on defense with 11 tackles and recorded one interception. Rykin Resurreccion finished with 11 tackles and forced a fumble, while Nic Colaprete was there to recover the loose ball.
“It was a great team win,” Ferrari-Wood said. “Offense needed to step up when they did, they did. Defense, when they needed to step up they did and special teams at the end. All three phases. Really proud of the kids. They played their tails off.”
MVC (3-4, 1-2) is currently on a bye week. They host North Monterey County (4-2, 2-0) on Homecoming night Oct. 25 at 7:30pm.
