Arizona Christian Kicker Nestor 'Manuel' Higuera Is The Big Boy Kicker College Football Needs
Arizona Christian University kicker Nestor “Manuel” Higuera had one of those dream weekends that are turned into movies -- or at the very least, a segment on E:60. The 5'5, 285-pound (according to the ACU website) was called on in a 20-20 game against Southwestern Assemblies of God Univ to attempt a 46-yarder with :01 on the clock.
Higuera did what kickers with ice water running through their veins do. He unloaded a bomb right between the pipes, and the 8-1 ACU Firestorm celebrated a Sooner Athletic Conference championship. The all-conference kicker who's been an absolute machine for the NAIA school -- 35-of-35 PATs and 6-of-9 field goals -- made his season-long kick when the 46-yarder went through for the victory.
ACU has been playing football for just seven years
"I couldn’t do it without my guys and my family!!!! Glory to God for giving me this opportunity," Higuera wrote on Instagram about his big day.
The losers out there take one look at Higuera and think this is just some big boy who got a spot because nobody else was available and he got the job by default. Nonsense! After one year of varsity high school football, he rolls into ACU, redshirts in 2018 and then proceeds to make first-team all-conference.
What does he do to follow that up? He goes out with :01 on the clock and wins a conference championship for his school. The legend is born. College football is better when there's a big boy kicker prospering between the pipes, and Manuel Higuera is officially that one guy we can root for who's out there doing what he loves and finding success doing it.
"What an amazing game for the Firestorm typified our whole entire season, no quit attitude, trust in each other, and playing at the highest possible level. And with this amazing win we finish as SAC champs," head coach Jeff Bowen said about his team. "We want to make sure we finish up at Wayland Baptist on a high note, and then get ready for the national championship tournament- the first time in school history! I am so proud of our guys, players and coaches!"
That's right, we're not done with Higuera bombs this spring. There's more big boy football to come. Buckle up.