After going through a year full of growing pains, Monte Vista Christian junior Dominic Pierini was feeling vigorous and ready to take charge of the Mustangs football team in his first full season under center.
“I put in a lot of work, so I knew I was just confident in my abilities,” he said. “My mindset was just do what I got to do and stay confident, and the good things will come.”
Good things did come for the standout quarterback, who etched his name in the record books not once but thrice in 2023.
Pierini set the all-time Santa Cruz County record for most passing yards in a single season with 3,057 to go along with 32 touchdowns.
He surpassed former Watsonville High quarterback Jerry Alvarez who originally set the county record with 2,727 passing yards and 32 touchdowns in 2009.
Pierini also set the county record for most passing yards in a single game with 486 against Watsonville High on Oct. 27, breaking a previous mark of 439 set by former MVC quarterback Josh Blanton in 2006.
On that night, Pierini also surpassed Blanton’s single-season school record of 2,570 passing yards, also set in 2006.
“I didn’t really know those types of records were kept, so when I found out I did that I was pretty happy to be honest,” Pierini said. “Growing up in Santa Cruz, I have the Santa Cruz County records, it’s pretty cool.”
Pierini’s stellar performance was recognized with Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division North First Team Offense honors. He was a strong candidate for Offensive Player of the Year but Scotts Valley senior Quinn Turowski edged him out.
Turowski had 709 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns on just 19 receptions in 2023.
Scotts Valley senior Jess Ringel was named Defensive Player of the Year and senior Marshall Dodge was the Lineman of the Year, helping the Falcons sweep the Mission Division North’s top individual awards.
MVC head coach Spencer Ferrari-Wood said it was neat being able to watch how Pierini continued to progress throughout the season.
Ferrari-Wood told the Mustangs players that good teams play their best football at the end of the season heading into November.
“I think the same goes for a player,” he said.
Pierini had a couple of big games early on but MVC also went through a tough stretch after losing four straight in the middle of a challenging schedule.
However, the Mustangs closed out the regular season with three straight wins in PCAL Mission Division North action by scoring 152 points in that stretch. They finished tied for third alongside North Monterey County and Watsonville with a 3-3 record in league play and 6-4 overall.
“Dom was playing just out of his mind,” Ferrari-Wood said. “It’s a testament to him and his focus throughout the season to continue to mature and develop and grow through the season, and get better.”
Pierini got his chance to start on the varsity team as a sophomore in 2022.
During the offseason, he teamed up with quarterback trainer Jake Sotello—a former coach at Hartnell College—to work on motions, learning how to read the field and going through Pierini’s progressions.
“I basically fixed all my mechanic issues from last year,” Pierini said. “[Sotelo] really helped me through that. He really taught me a lot about just the game and how I can go through my progressions and stuff. I’d be a lot more comfortable and throw a lot more effortlessly.”
Pierini sure did look comfortable in the fall season. He completed 210-of-317 pass attempts with most of them going to fellow teammate and best friend Nico Downie.
The junior receiver hauled in a league-best 76 receptions for 1,287 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Mustangs in 2023.
“[Downie] just really impressed me and everyone just by the way he played and the way could run routes, catch, everything he did this year was really good,” Pierini said.
Ferrari-Wood called them brothers, in every sense of the word.
“They bicker and they argue, and they put their arm around one another and they work hard together,” Ferrari-Wood said. “Dom and Nico, they’ve made us look like really great coaches here just because they had that really special chemistry and connection.”
So much so, both Pierini and Downie this past Thanksgiving weekend were already on the field grinding together, running routes and working for next season.
“That’s just who they are,” Ferrari-Wood said.
MVC senior Luke DaRosa was the anchor on the offensive line as he earned all-league first team offense honors, while fellow teammate Connor Pallott earned all-league second team honors.
Pallott finished with 792 yards rushing on 130 carries and eight touchdowns, and 32 receptions for 482 yards and a pair of scores.
MVC juniors Max Torres and Gunner Sorensen both earned all-league first team and second team defense honors, respectively.
Ferrari-Wood believes Sorensen could probably be pound-for-pound one of the best tacklers in the PCAL.
“[Sorensen] loves football, he dedicates a lot to it,” Ferrari-Wood said. “He just has a knack for finding the football.”
Torres was the leading tackler for the Mustangs. Ferrari-Wood called him a tireless worker and the “baddest dude in the school.”
“Kind of one of those guys who will get the job done no matter what the cost,” Ferrari-Wood said. “[Torres is] just a football player and he finds ways such as Gunner to be around the football. To have two of our linebackers both earn all-league recognition and knowing both those guys are coming back next year definitely makes you feel good.”
Below is a complete list of PCAL all-league teams.
Pacific Coast Athletic League All-League teams
Gabilan Division
Most Valuable Player: Nolan Borel (Sr.), Salinas
Defensive Player of the Year: Justice Grauel-Tebong (Sr.), Soquel
Offensive Player of the Year: Logan Saldate (Sr.), Palma
First team offense
Thomas Nunes (Sr.), Palma
Preston White (Jr.), Monterey
Nolan Borel (Sr.), Salinas
Jordan Torres (Sr.), Aptos
Enobong Wirth (Jr.), Monterey
Logan Saldate (Sr.), Palma
Kavon Collins (Jr.), Monterey
Jordan McCord (Sr.), Soquel
Angelo Cimino (Sr.), Salinas
Jake Freitas (Sr.), Salinas
Thomas Ducker (Sr.), Palma
Logan Brantley (Jr.), Aptos
Aidan Ishimaru (Sr.), Salinas
Messiah Johnson (Sr.), Alvarez
First team defense
Justice Grauel-Tebong (Sr.), Soquel
Noah Orozco (Sr.), Palma
Soakai Funaki (Jr.), Monterey
Alex Sewell (Sr.), Salinas
Carmelo Arias (Jr.), Hollister
Malakai Ross-Graves (Sr.), Soquel
Thomas Ducker (Sr.), Palma
Josh Na (Jr.), Salinas
Christian Lujano (Jr.), Hollister
Cade Petersen (Sr.), Soquel
Isiah Bivins (Sr.), Monterey
Drew Molinari (Sr.), Palma
Luke Borel (Sr.), Salinas
Gabe Virgalitto (Jr.), Soquel
Second team offense
Noah Gonzales (Sr.), Salinas
Sam Whelan (So.), Soquel
Brayden Watkins (Sr.), Hollister
Roman Garcia (So.), Alvarez
Harold Lusk (Sr.), Hollister
Kain Holly (Sr.), Alvarez
Jake Yeater (Sr.), Salinas
Chineme Mbechi-Ezeri (Sr.), Hollister
Masen Coso (Jr.), Soquel
River Deschenes (Sr.), Monterey
Mander Miller (Jr.), Aptos
Luke Battey (Sr.), Soquel
Robert Holsten (Sr.), Hollister
Kai Vaughn (So.), Monterey
Second team defense
Chris Phillips (Sr.), Salinas
Caden Scherer (Jr.), Palma
Edgar Chavez (Jr.), Alvarez
Ben Palma (Jr.), Soquel
Isaac Barragan (Sr.), Hollister
Elijah Fisher (Jr.), Monterey
Asa Sagrero (Sr.), Salinas
Isaac Crivello (Sr.), Monterey
Isaiah Ramos (Sr.), Hollister
Nick Dominquez (Sr.), Palma
Nolan Borel (Sr.), Salinas
Isa Morin (Sr.), Hollister
Amani Lang (So.), Alvarez
Phoenix Ghilgione (Sr.), Aptos
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship
Jack Nolan, Salinas
Jackson Stevens, Soquel
Colven Morse, Monterey
Tobias Perkowski, Palma
Callum Dolan, Hollister
Matt Hood, Aptos
Ivan Chavez, Alvarez
Mission Division North
Offensive Player of the Year: Quinn Turowski (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Defensive Player of the Year: Jess Ringel (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Lineman of the Year: Marshall Dodge (Sr.), Scotts Valley
First team offense
Dominic Pierini (Jr.), Monte Vista Christian
Eli Velez (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Andrew Beal (Sr.), Seaside
Alex Arevalo (Jr.), Watsonville
Nico Downie (Jr.), MVC
Quinn Turowski (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Julius Escort (Jr.), Seaside
Luke DaRosa (Sr.), MVC
Ethan Yates (Sr.), North Monterey County
Arnulfo Jimenez (Jr.), NMC
Marshall Dodge (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Lorenzo Gonzales (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Jose De La Torre (Sr.), Watsonville
Taylor Rice (Sr.), Seaside
First team defense
Jesse Martinez (Sr.), NMC
Marshall Dodge (Sr.), Scotts Valley
James Bullock (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Jeremiah Laui (So.), Seaside
Ruben Mora (Sr.), Watsonville
Max Torres (Jr.), MVC
Jes Ringel (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Niko Iles (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Genghis Atalima (Sr.), Seaside
Adan Magana (Jr.), Watsonville
Damian Hernandez (Sr.), NMC
Brady Siechen (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Jamari Vaughns (Sr.), Seaside
Javier Fonseca (Jr.), St. Francis
Second team offense
Jamari Vaughns (Sr.), Seaside
Connor Pallott (Sr.), MVC
Chris Rasmussen (Jr.), NMC
Niko Iles (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Ryan Ruiz (Sr.), NMC
Pedro Ibarra (Sr.), St. Francis
Patrick Miller-Brown (Jr.), Watsonville
Hector Pantoja (Jr.), NMC
James Bullock (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Anthony Collins (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Keoni Riparip (Sr.), Seaside
Bladimir Mendoza (Sr.), Seaside
Marcus Gonzalez (Jr.), St. Francis
Markel Parker (Sr.), St. Francis
Second team defense
Kente Dorsey (Jr.), Santa Cruz
Imanol Cruz (Sr.), Seaside
Taylor Rice (Sr.), Seaside
Donovan Dominguez (Jr.), St. Francis
Guadalupe Rico (Sr.), Watsonville
Gunner Sorensen (Jr.), MVC
Alex Guzman (Sr.), NMC
RJ Bradfield (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Colton Dureson (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Ben Dewig (Sr.), St. Francis
Ayden Valdez (Sr.), NMC
Jacob Womack (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Keon Ealey (Jr.), Seaside
Issac Urbina (Sr.), Watsonville
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship team
Dylan Gowdy (Sr.), MVC
Isaiah Garife (Sr.), NMC
Matteo DeMarco (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Khaliel Milhouse (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Adam Chong (Sr.), Seaside
Gavin Valencia (Sr.), St. Francis
Jiovani Guerrero (Sr.), Watsonville
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship team
Santa Cruz
Mission Division South
Most Valuable Player: Ashton Rees, Carmel
Offensive Player of the Year: Damion Gonzales, Alisal
Defensive Player of the Year: Demajae Roberson, North Salinas
First team offense
Santiago Chaidez, Alisal
Hudson Rutherford, Carmel
Damion Gonzales, Alisal
Gideon Llantero, Pacific Grove
Justin Pascone, North Salinas
Julian Pineda, Rancho San Juan
Ty Arnold, Carmel
Simeon Brown, Carmel
Ramiro Orozco, North Salinas
Joshua Angel, Alisal
Oscar DeAlfaro, North Salinas
Jackson Lloyd, Carmel
Angel Lopez, Alisal
Oscar Weigel, Carmel
First team defense
Isaac Benavides, King City
Christian Campos, North Salinas
JT Maxon, Carmel
Nathan Ruiz, Alisal
Anjel Marquez, North Salinas
Noah Pacheco, King City
Brian Picazo, Alisal
Bode Stoddard, Carmel
Rocky Villanueva, King City
Rogelio Jacinto, Alisal
Matthew Maxon, Carmel
Ashton Rees, Carmel
Demajae Roberson, North Salinas
Ryder Scheid, Carmel
Second team offense
Kainoa Ceralde, North Salinas
Ivan Salcido, Soledad
Julio Camacho, Soledad
Sean Nimuan, North Salinas
Carson Tidwell, King City
Adrian Garcia, King City
Oliver Ottmar, Pacific Grove
Victor Ruano, Soledad
Pete Gamecho, Pacific Grove
Solo Kalemani, North Salinas
Jesus Maciel, Alisal
Julio Nunez, Alisal
Noah Pacheco, King City
Moises Villacana, Rancho San Juan
Second team defense
Chris Gaytan, King City
Ryton Harrison, Pacific Grove
Gideon Llantero, Pacific Grove
Danny Morales, Soledad
Robert Ward, Carmel
Axel Chicas, Rancho San Juan
Daniel Murguia, Alisal
Anthony Nimri, Pacific Grove
Anthony Trevino, Soledad
Dennis Uribe, Rancho San Juan
Christian Vaughn, Pacific Grove
Jesse Argueta, Soledad
Fabian Ceja, Rancho San Juan
John Klevan, Pacific Grove
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship team
Jonathan Martinez, Alisal
Carlos Rodezno, Rancho San Juan
Armando Villasenor, King City
Nathaniel Wade, Pacific Grove
Juan Ochoa, North Salinas
Chase Wittman, Soledad
Viliami Sime, Carmel
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship team
King City
Santa Lucia Division
Player of the Year: Adrian Perez (Sr.), Gonzales
Offensive Player of the Year: Misael Silva (Sr.), Greenfield
Defensive Player of the Year: Nathan Cox (Sr.), Greenfield
First team offense
JP Acosta Ayala (Sr.), Gonzales
Naythen Hernandez (Jr.), Greenfield
Gilbert Snyder IV (Sr.), Greenfield
Jeovanay Linaras (Sr.), Harbor
Ely Cisneros (Jr.), Gonzales
Julius Robinson (Sr.), Marina
Adrian Perez (Sr.), Gonzales
Izaak Ocampo (Jr.), Pajaro Valley
Jayden Lyman (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Bryan Ortega (Sr.), Greenfield
Amani Wilson (Sr.), Stevenson
Nathan Alvarez (Jr.), Gonzales
Misael Silva (Sr.), Greenfield
Angel Vega (Sr.), Greenfield
First team defense
Dom Chechi (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Adrian Perez (Sr.), Gonzales
Derrek Diniz (So.), Stevenson
Naythen Hernandez (Jr.), Greenfield
Amani Wilson (Sr.), Stevenson
Bryan Ortega (Sr.), Greenfield
Nisael Gonzalez (So.), Greenfield
Abel Villegas (Sr.), Gonzales
Haden Woolworth (Jr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Brian Flores (Jr.), Pajaro Valley
Elijah Guerrero (Sr.), Gonzales
Tommy Dayton (Jr.), Stevenson
Nathan Cox (Sr.), Greenfield
Special teams first team
Julias Robinson (Sr.), Marina
Second team offense
Justin Diniz (Sr.), Stevenson
Jack Dagen (Jr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Ray Blanco (Jr.), Gonzales
AJ Martinez (Jr.), Greenfield
Keegan Charupoon (Sr.), Stevenson
Manuel Perea (Sr.), Gonzales
Hector Garcia (Jr.), Greenfield
Ferris Vitali (Sr.), Harbor
Eduardo Valdez (Sr.), Gonzales
Andrew Airada (Sr.), Stevenson
Omar David (Sr.), Marina
Gabriel Espinoza (Sr.), Greenfield
Adrian Martinez (Sr.), Greenfield
Tony Garcia V (Jr.), Gonzales
Second Team Defense
Julias Robinson (Sr.), Marina
Ray Blanco (Jr.), Gonzales
Reggie Bell (So.), Stevenson
Hector Garcia (Jr.), Greenfield
Exodus Tuialuuluu (Sr.), Marina
Tony Garcia V (Jr.), Gonzales
Eduardo Mendoza (Jr.), Pajaro Valley
Vincent Pierre (So.), Stevenson
Genaro Anaya (Jr.), Greenfield
Donovan Maben (Jr.), Marina
Malcolm Deguara (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Mickey Ricigliano (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Ely Cisneros (Jr.), Gonzales
Special teams second team
Adrian Perez (Sr.), Gonzales
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship team
Robert Gutierrez (Sr.), Gonzales
Malcolm Deguara (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Aiden Higgins (Sr.), Harbor
Dominic Gnamm (Jr.), Stevenson
Jair Hernandez (Sr.), Greenfield
Omar David (Sr.), Marina
Jose Perez (Jr.), Pajaro Valley
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship team
San Lorenzo Valley
