By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
For Gus Herebia, going from the Pace Vikings to playing football at the college level next school year is quite a blessing.
“Signing to play in college is a great experience,” said Herebia, a senior offensive lineman who put his signature on an athletic scholarship agreement before family, fellow students and school officials Thursday at the Pace auditorium. “I’m excited to show what I can do on the next level (playing for the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions of Waxahachie).
“I like that it’s a Christian school because I’m a Christian,” Herebia added. “They have good things to offer like my major, which is criminal justice.”
SAGU is an NAIA Division I school that plays in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Herebia came up through the Vikings’ football program during his four years at Pace. As a senior, he was the Vikings’ center on what was considered one of the biggest offensive lines, if not the biggest, in school history.
“It’s good to know that I was one of the group (in the offensive line) that sparked our playoff run,” Herebia said. “I’ve been playing here for four years, and I have a lot of Pace Viking pride.”
The Vikings finished second in District 32-5A Division I last season with a 7-2 record. They went 7-4 overall.
The 6-foot-2, 270-pounder is expected to move from center to guard in college.
“I think it will be a little easier playing guard and not much of a transition,” Herebia said. “I wouldn’t have to be snapping the ball.”
Pace coach Danny Pardo said Herebia earned second-team all-district honors as a senior.
“Gus is a guy who has made my job a lot easier, that’s for sure,” Pardo said. “He’s a great player who came along with the program. He’s gotten better, and eventually he earned his spot on the varsity.
“He’s a great kid who never gave us any problems of any kind,” Pardo added. “For him to get this opportunity, I think he’s going to enjoy it. The memories that he’s going to make at the next level are going to make the journey enjoyable.
“Gus was one of our program players who really proved himself over the years that he deserved a spot as a starter on the varsity. He didn’t start off on the varsity right off the bat. He earned his place there. He learned how to really work for things and earn them. I think that (character quality) will help him at the next level. His work ethic really has made him the football player he is now.”
Herebia appreciates all the support he has received from his family, his coaches, his teammates and friends.
“I expect nothing but the best playing at the next level,” Herebia said. “I don’t expect anything bad to come out of it. I’m just grateful for being able to get this opportunity.”