By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
During the past three years, Brownsville Veterans Memorial has relied on Marcus Castillo at quarterback.
The senior has continued to get better each season and hopes to lead his team to the postseason during his final year.
“He has developed as a quarterback. He’s really taken his game to another level,” Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu said. “I’m proud of all the work Marcus has put in.”
The quarterback is always a dual-threat on the field. Castillo has run for 999 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he has thrown for 1,082 and 12 more scores.
But during the spring, there was a little bit of competition at quarterback. There was a possibility that Castillo might move to a receiver position. Instead of complaining, though, the senior worked harder to make sure he kept the job because he knew that’s where he could best help the team.
“As a coach, you feel proud for the student-athlete for having perseverance and having the right attitude,” Cantu said.
The Chargers seem to go as Castillo goes, and he knows that. After a pair of losses, the senior is driven to respond.
“We just have to stay positive during the whole game,” Castillo said. “We have to stay positive and get the job done. It’s about my teammates, I play for them. We play for each other, and I’m glad that we have that bond.”
The Chargers’ coach agreed.
“I think Marcus cherishes that,” Cantu said. “Making his teammates happy, bringing joy to his teammates and to his family.”
Castillo accepts the role of quarterback and all that comes with it, good and bad.
“To be the quarterback and understand (that) with that comes, when you win, way too much credit, but when you lose, way too much blame,” Cantu said. “You have to accept that and he does, he gets it, he has thick skin. I’m super proud (of) the way he’s grown as a person and as a football player. It took a lot of hard work on his part.”
Cantu always has seen Castillo as a leader. The senior can lead by example or be outspoken when he needs to be.
“His attitude and his mental approach to our games is so important for the whole team,” Cantu said.
Castillo knows he must carry that weight on his shoulders for his teammates, especially those with injuries.
“They see if I’m positive, they need to respond,” he said. “If I’m down, I have to remind myself to stay positive, to keep going. We play for our teammates that aren’t on the field. They wish they could be out here (with us). I try to stay humble and be positive for my teammates.”
Castillo has elevated his game when the game is on the line and played through pain when has team needed him the most this season.
Cantu is most proud of the way Castillo has developed as a teammate.
“Marcus is an awesome team player, he really puts the team ahead of himself,” the Chargers coach said. “His joy comes from seeing other people have joy and happiness. He doesn’t want to let anybody down. He is a proud player that really represents our school the right way. He’s very humble and has a great future ahead of him as a person, because he’s really matured (on the football field).”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.