A new addition to Ceres High’s varsity football program, senior quarterback Isaac Vizcaino made an immediate impact during his debut with the Bulldogs last week.
Vizcaino missed the Bulldogs’ first four games to satisfy the CIF’s transfer rule.
“Finally getting the green light to play, I was excited,” said Vizcaino, formerly of Modesto High. “It was hard being away from the field on Friday nights. I was the cameraman for the team. I couldn’t react because I was recording.”
Vizcaino completed 8 of 14 passes for 174 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions during Ceres High’s 44-21 win over visiting Beyer in Western Athletic Conference play Friday night.
He also rushed for 39 yards and one score on eight carries.
“I hoped to give Ceres a spark,” Vizcaino said.
"He gives us confidence back there at quarterback. He has a swagger to him. You want to see that.”Coach Matt Chachere
“He was so eager to get back on the field and play,” Ceres High coach Matt Chachere said. “He did a really good job. He’s still learning. He gives us confidence back there at quarterback. He has a swagger to him. You want to see that.”
“I’m beyond proud of him,” Bulldogs’ senior running back/linebacker/emergency quarterback Felipe Martinez said. “I’m happy for him. He’s a Ceres kid. He grew up here.”
Vizcaino entered the game after missing Ceres High’s first offensive series.
“I was anxious to get on the field and show everybody what I’m capable of,” Vizcaino said.
“The energy level was completely different knowing Isaac was going to go in,” Martinez said. “Having him at quarterback opens our passing and running games. It gives us a dual-threat offense.”
Ceres High’s sideline erupted with joy after Vizcaino tossed a 65-yard touchdown pass to Angel Padilla midway through the second quarter.
Bulldog fans were equally as excited.
“It was a big adrenaline rush hearing the crowd like that,” he said.
Last Friday marked the first time Vizcaino competed at the varsity level either at Ceres High or Modesto High.
“It’s been a long time since my family’s watched me play football,” he said. “I hadn’t played since my sophomore year. Three knee surgeries set me back.”
Vizcaino suffered his first knee injury when he was 14 years old.
“I tore my meniscus in my left knee in the eighth grade,” said Vizcaino, who played youth football for the Ceres Seahawks. “My sophomore year, I tore my meniscus in my other knee. My doctor told me I wouldn’t be able to play football again. It was hard to take in because that was my passion at the time. Going through all of that gave me the mentality to never quit. I get a kick out of proving people wrong.”
