Lucas Moraes moved here from Brazil a year ago and spent last fall on Stamford High School’s freshmen soccer team. Then, in what has become a growing trend throughout the state, Moraes showed up for spring football to try out as the Black Knights’ kicker.
Moraes was not recruited by Kevin Jones, Stamford’s football coach, to make the switch. Moraes said he watched football on TV, studied other kickers, was caught up by the emotion of the sport and liked the cheerleaders.
Moraes had his shining moment last night, kicking a 25-yard field goal with seven seconds left to lift Stamford to a 15-14 win over Trumbull.
A six-yard run by quarterback Jalen Holmes put the Black Knights on the Trumbull 9-yard line with 30 seconds left. It was windy and rainy, and Stamford had one timeout left. Jones decided to let the clock run down before using it with seven seconds left, much to the consternation of some of his assistants and many of the fans in the stands.
“I had confidence in Luke,” Jones said.
Jones hit a low line drive that sailed through the uprights and was mobbed by his teammates. After the game ended on the following kickoff, Moraes was lifted on the shoulders of his teammates, who sang, “Ole, ole,” a chant usually heard up top on the school’s soccer field.
In the team’s locker room after the game, Moraes was approached by a reporter. The other Black Knight players gathered around to listen.
Asked how he felt, Moraes responded with an expletive, then asked, “Can I say that for the paper?” The Stamford players roared.
Moraes still has a little to learn.
