Kolano Sticks With Football, Saves Pacifica With Field Goal

GARDEN GROVE —  Nathan Kolano planned to take advantage of the Thanksgiving weekend by playing in a soccer tournament in San Diego. Pacifica Coach Bill Craven talked him out of it, so Kolano was available to kick the winning field goal in the Mariners’ 15-13 playoff victory Friday night.

Kolano’s kick, a 25-yarder with 19 seconds left, got Pacifica past Lakewood Mayfair in the second round of the Southern Section Division VIII playoffs at Bolsa Grande.

“I thought that I had better make it,” Kolano said.

The Mariners (9-3) will play Garden Grove League-rival Rancho Alamitos, a 21-0 winner over Sunny Hills, in the semifinals next Saturday.

Pacifica led 12-7 until the fourth quarter. Freshman Mike Williams caught an 89-yard touchdown pass from Mike Harrison to give Mayfair (10-2) a 13-12 lead with 7 minutes 31 seconds to play.

With less than three minutes left, Mayfair’s Victor Palacios intercepted a J.D. Stern pass to put the Monsoons in apparent control.

But the Mariners stopped Mayfair on five plays and the Monsoons set up to punt. The snap was short, Mayfair punter Nick Horney fell on the ball and Pacifica took over turn possession on downs on the Mayfair 45-yard line.

Pacifica struggled and was faced with fourth and five. Stern completed an 11-yard pass to Paul Tessier to keep the drive going. Stern hooked up with Tessier again for eight yards on second down to set up Kolano’s field goal.