Daily Journal Athlete of the Week: Jefferson’s Gabriel Sorroza

Sorroza has earned Daily Journal Athlete of the Week honors by accounting for all of Jefferson’s points, booting three field goals, including a 28-yard game-winner in the waning seconds to give the Grizzlies their second win of the season in a thrilling comeback.

“The crowd was loud,” Sorroza said of trotting onto the field in enemy territory at Saratoga with six seconds remaining in the game. “They were booing the whole time. But it didn’t really affect me because I knew I was close. I knew I’d done this many times at practice. I really just zoned in … I did my regular routine, I took a deep breath … I looked back down, and I kicked the ball.”

It has been a harrowing season for the Grizzlies, who have been levied with troubles on and off the field. First-year head coach Imani Stewart took over a varsity program that saw five players transfer from last year’s squad, leaving him with only 17 players at the start of summer camp. The sage coach drew on his wealth of experience — as co-founder of the Daly City Titans Pop Warner team in 2002, and having spent stints coaching at Capuchino, Terra Nova and Serra — to bring as many Jefferson students into the football fold as he could.

Sorroza was one of the late recruits, joining the team after the season had already started with a 55-13 loss to Woodside. The senior showed up at the start of Week 2 practice and made an immediate impression on Stewart.

“He started kicking 30 yarders, he started kicking 40 yarders, so I was like: ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’” Stewart said.

Jefferson has also been struck by tragedy. Just over three weeks into the season, one of the Grizzlies’ senior players, Nathan Sanz, died by suicide Sunday, Sept. 17. Sanz and Sorroza were friends since their sixth-grade year at Pollicita Middle School. Sanz did not appear in a game this season, but had been cleared to play upon becoming academically eligible on Friday, Sept. 7, Stewart said.

The last time Sorroza saw him was while the two passed in the halls of Jefferson between classes. Sorroza asked his friend if he had indeed made grades, to which Sanz answered in the affirmative.

“I said: ‘Good! We’re about to play together soon,’” Sorroza said.

Since Sanz’s death, the Grizzlies have dedicated the season to him, making Friday’s win all the more special.

Sorroza said Sanz was one of the people who convinced him to play football this season.

“I joined a little bit late because I was still a little bit iffy if I wanted to join,” Sorroza said. “Once I joined, I just started practicing. It took me like a week or two to get used to it, because of [going] from soccer to football. And I had to learn a couple things because kicking a soccer ball is way different than kicking a football. But it was more of an easy transition than a difficult one.”

By Jefferson’s Week 2 game, the home opener against North Salinas, Sorroza was in uniform. He got off to an inauspicious start, misfiring on the first field goal attempt of his career during a 49-0 loss to North Salinas.

“But I always kept my confidence up,” Sorroza said. “I never put my head down.”

Sorroza wouldn’t miss again until last Friday, when he converted 3 for 4 field goal attempts. He hit his first two of 40 and 26 yards, before missing from approximately 40 yards away in the third quarter with the Grizzlies trailing 7-6. Once again, he kept his confidence up. And when he got another chance with the game on the line, he didn’t miss.

The trio of field goals accounted for all Jeff’s points.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that, ever, ever,” Stewart said.

After Sorroza missed his third-quarter attempt, the Grizzlies sustained two drives in the fourth. The first possession ended in a turnover. The second one saw Jeff take over on a punt at its own 42-yard line.

Sorroza was warmed and ready to kick and watched every play of the drive. The key play came on fourth down, when junior receiver Michael Slugher ran a fade route up the left sideline and outjumped a defender for a 30-yard reception, putting the Grizzlies in field-goal range. Jeff put its next two plays on the ground, getting Sorroza closer to the goalposts and centering the ball between the hashmarks.

The game-winner from 28 yards away was a mere chip shot for Sorroza, who has shown in practice to have range from as far out as 55 yards.

“Everybody was excited,” Sorroza said of the game-winner. “They all congratulated me at the game. I’m very thankful for them.”

The emotion of the moment far outweighed the kick itself, though.

“It boosts up the kids,” Stewart said. “The negativity we’ve been having out here and the sadness, just having that, it lifted up everybody. They did it for Nate. So, at the end of the game, that’s what they said. They did it for Nate.”

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.