Montwood’s Kieran Johnson lives out dream, scores TD for the Rams

Kieran Johnson has been one of Montwood’s biggest fans for years.

Thursday night, however, he stepped out of the stands and onto the field. But he didn’t stop there – he got into the end zone as well.

Johnson capped off a terrific senior night by scoring a planned touchdown in the second quarter of Montwood’s game against Socorro.

In a play the team had been practicing all week, Johnson ran to the right side of his line early in the second quarter and then found open field in front of him, sprinting toward the end zone.

“I knew it was easy, and I just had to run. And I got it, man!” said Johnson after his rushing touchdown.

Johnson was born with a genetic condition known as Williams syndrome. About one in every 10,000 people born worldwide is affected with Williams syndrome. That number drops to one in every 20-30,000 in the U.S.

But it’s never stopped Johnson nor has it interfered with his confidence.

“If I could take his confidence and his attitude and put it in some of our guys, shoot, we’d never lose a game,” said Montwood head coach Ariel Famaligi, who guided the Rams to a 68-38 win over Socorro.

Johnson has been a fixture at Montwood practices and games and had been hoping to have a moment like this during his senior year.

“He shared his dream with me about every week that he wants to get on the football field. So, it was a little bit of his idea and a little of us working to make it happen,” said Famaligi.

Johnson admitted after his touchdown run and a night filled with festivities honoring the seniors that he was a bit exhausted, but also elated.

“I don’t know how tired I’m going to be after tonight, man,” said Johnson. “But I’m good right now, so thank you!”