BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Miguel Santos knows tonight could be last time he wears the charcoal black uniform for Weslaco East football. But fear of failure isn’t what motivates the senior linebacker to succeed on the field. On game day, Santos is consumed by a singular goal.
“Whenever I’m on the field, I tell myself ‘I have to get this tackle,’” Santos said. “It’s the only thing I think about when I’m out there. I just say, ‘This is my time.’”
Wildcat players and coaches alike preach of Santos’ value to the team. They won’t mention his stats, however. Instead they’ll describe his character with terms like toughness, determination and heart.
That’s not to say Santos’ numbers don’t impress. In seven games, he’s totaled 53 tackles — fourth highest on the Wildcats — on a defensive unit that’s improved from last year’s bunch.
Even more impressive, however, is the fact Santos’ senior season has been such a success despite appearing doomed before it ever began.
Santos had the usual expectations for his final year on varsity.
“You want to go all out every play,” he said. “It’s your last chance to play for your fans, your coaches, your teammates.”
But all that was jeopardized by an ACL injury suffered during a practice in May, when a lineman fell and inadvertently rolled onto Santos’ legs. Suddenly, thoughts of playing under the Friday night lights were as painful as his damaged ligament.
“It was hard,” Santos said. “I wasn’t going to get to do anything of the things I wanted to do.”
Unable to practice, Santos slipped out of football shape during the summer, all the while contemplating whether or not to have season-ending surgery. After discussions with his family, he decided to forgo an operation and attempt to play his senior year.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for his choice, because a lot of guys would not have played his senior year,” Weslaco East coach Mike Burget said. “And he’s played through it. I’m glad he’s as strong as he is, because he’s a special kid. He leads our team.”
Santos spent the offseason conditioning. He credits the team’s trainers for getting him on a workout routine and a running schedule that included plenty of treks up and down the bleachers.
During two-a-days, Santos performed light workouts and did not see game action until East’s 52-0 shutout of La Joya High on Sept. 17. Though Santos took the field on about 15 plays, he had to get used to playing hurt.
“At first I felt a lot of popping,” Santos said. “And now I don’t feel anything. I’m comfortable now. Coaches tell me I can’t play with fear. If I play with fear, I’m going to get hurt.”
Santos’ playing time increased game by game before receiving full snaps in the heart of the district season. Though East benefits from Santos’ leadership and tackling, Burget was cautiously optimistic about his linebacker’s production.
“A lot of kids couldn’t handle the injury he has,” Burget said. “For him to run, to cut, to tackle the way he does, it just shows you how strong and how much football means to him.”
Santos has at least one more chance to demonstrate his passion for the game tonight against Brownsville Veterans Memorial in a Class 6A Division II bi-district game at Bobby Lackey Stadium. Veterans enters with the best statistical offense in District 32-6A, averaging 413 yards per game.
Though East’s season is on the line, Santos is once again focused on getting stops and is at peace with whatever outcome occurs.
“I know there’s a lot of stuff about the injury, my senior year, the playoffs,” Santos said. “But given everything that’s happened to me and everything I’ve gone through, I’m happy to just be playing.”