By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — Rene Ortega is one of those athletes who has paid his dues at each level of the Los Fresnos football program.
No one is more aware and appreciative of that fact than Falcons coach Clint Finley.
“Rene was my freshman light quarterback, my junior varsity light quarterback, my JV dark quarterback, and now as a senior, he’s my starting quarterback (on the varsity), and he’s done a wonderful job,” Finley said. “He’s worked tremendously hard and paid his dues.
“He throws the ball really well, and he’s running the ball pretty good, too,” Finley added. “He’s grown so much with the mental part of the game. He knows a lot more about the offense now than he did Day 1, and he can get us in and out of bad plays by changing them. He’s having a great year, and I couldn’t be prouder of the job he’s done.”
Ortega, 5-foot-10 and 163 pounds, is making the most of his opportunity as a senior in guiding the Falcons to another successful season. He’ll have a chance to continue that role for the Falcons as the state playoffs begin this week.
District 32-6A tri-champion Los Fresnos (9-1) plays District 31-6A champion Weslaco High (8-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Weslaco’s Bobby Lackey Stadium in the Class 6A Division I bi-district round of the playoffs.
Since the beginning of the season, the Falcons have known they had quite a productive offense with Ortega as the signal caller.
Ortega has carried on the standout play demonstrated by past Los Fresnos QBs, including Pierce Ruiz last season. Ortega leads 32-6A in passing with 2,324 yards and 26 touchdowns. He’s completed 153 of 247 pass attempts (61.9 percent) with 10 interceptions. Ortega leads the Falcons in rushing with 533 yards and five TDs.
“It’s a good feeling (to be productive for the team),” Ortega said. “I’ve been waiting since I was a freshman to get my spot and be where I am now. Coach Finley’s right, I did pay my dues. I’ve gone through a lot to get to this point. It’s an amazing honor to be in the position I have now. I’m grateful that he gave me a chance to play the position.”
Becoming so effective at QB on the varsity has been a bit of a surprise for Ortega.
“At the beginning of the year I didn’t think I’d have the season that I’m having now,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d be as successful as I’ve been, and it’s an amazing feeling to see what I’ve done in (just) one year (as the varsity starter). I feel the team’s confidence in me from the offense and the defense. When I have a bad play, there are several people who pick me up so we can do what we’ve got to do (and move on).”
Finley said because he’s seen Ortega progress since he was a freshman, he’s not all that surprised about the standout season his QB is putting together as a senior.
“Rene showed some flashes of what he could do last year near the end of the season that really had us feeling good about what he could do on the varsity,” the Los Fresnos coach said. “We kind of had an idea of how he might turn out, and he’s become a nice, pleasant surprise for us. I wouldn’t say it’s an all-out surprise. He came up with the varsity last year during the playoffs, threw some passes and had some success. We definitely saw some things with him that we were excited about.
“He’s put in some time in the weight room, and he grew (and honed his body),” Finley added. “That was a big deal as to whether he was going to grow, gain some weight and be able to take the (physical) punishment of varsity ball, and he has. He’s grown, gotten faster and he’s making a big difference for us.”
More than anything, Ortega appreciates the chance he’s received to shine for the Falcons.
“It’s awesome to do what you (initially) didn’t think you could do on the varsity,” Ortega said. “Coach Finley and the coaching staff know how to motivate the players and keep us going (and I thank them).”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.