BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
PHARR — As the fumbled football fell to the ground, PSJA North quarterback Darren Fuentes dove after it with such ferociousness that his chinstrap unbuckled as he careened into the grass.
No big deal. A turnover is more costly than equipment. Fuentes knew that. He also knew it was just practice, but he didn’t care. He prepared like he played and recovered the ball.
“We were just working on handoffs, and they missed it,” North coach Jorge Peña said. “And he just went after it. He didn’t care if it wasn’t a game. Not a lot of kids would do that. Seeing that kind of stuff made me realize the kids would follow someone like that.”
At the time, Fuentes was a backup to starter George Olivarez, an all-district selection as a junior last season. But Peña says he was searching for more in his QB than understanding of Xs and Os. He was looking for a leader, a spark for a team in need of answers — and he’d found it.
And so it was that Peña made the switch on September 28. Out went Olivarez’s 1,105 yards of scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns, and in came the untested Fuentes, who attempted just four passes up to that point.
The decision wasn’t without a price. Olivarez quit the team and left the school that same day, transferring to Edinburg Vela. The Raiders were without their bell cow athlete on the heels of a four-game losing streak, including a dispiriting 56-7 loss to Weslaco High.
Fuentes, however, prepared as he always did for a must-win game against Edinburg North.
“All week, I had to step up and do what my teammates expected of me,” Fuentes said. “Come game time, I wasn’t nervous. I just went out there and played the game.”
Fuentes’ stat line was modest. He completed 4-of-9 passing attempts for 73 yards and an interception while gaining 84 yards on the ground. But his presence helped solidify a team that was growing discordant and restless. Peña says that sense of togetherness is what led his team to a 42-25 win.
“The kids just responded to him,” he said. “The linemen were hugging him after plays, and everyone responded to his unselfishness. It was an element we had been missing in our game.”
Aside from missing elements, the Raiders were missing 11 starters to injuries, including center Vicente Palacios, whom Peña describes as the best center he’s ever coached.
Though North’s offense looked inconsistent during the early going due to heavy roster turnover, the team rediscovered its spark in the second half and played with a level of intensity not seen since the beginning of the season.
“It was a season-saving win,” receiver Brandon Villarreal said. “We had to take care of that game to get back on the right track and stay in the playoff chase.”
Villarreal was the most instrumental Raider in the win, rushing for 301 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries.
Peña says he was criticized for the change under center, but took it in stride as part of his duties as coach. Still, he can’t help but feel vindicated after notching a must-win game to save his team’s post-season aspirations.
“I’ve never felt more sure of myself with a decision as I was with this one about Darren,” he said.