Fargas Steals Show Against Alemany, 41-7

MISSION HILLS —  Looks like the new tailback is going to work out fine. New quarterback isn’t bad, either.

The breakaway runs came--but from Justin Fargas of Notre Dame High, who stole the spotlight from Alemany’s Miguel Fletcher in the Knights’ 41-7 nonleague victory Friday night at Alemany.

Fargas rushed for 215 yards and two touchdowns in 21 carries before sitting out the fourth quarter. Fargas’ performance overshadowed the varsity debut of Fletcher, a junior speedster who rushed for 73 yards--including a two-yard touchdown run--in 18 carries.

“I knew my line would do the job,” Fargas said. “They made it easy for me. The rest was simple.”

Fargas, a junior who rushed for more than 500 yards as a fullback last season, did not surprise--or disappoint--Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney.

“We knew he was going to be a good player and he showed it tonight,” Rooney said. “He runs hard in practice every time he carries the ball. And there was pretty good blocking up front.”

Notre Dame senior quarterback Jorge Piedra also made the most of his first start. Piedra, a backup last season, completed seven of 10 passes--all in the first half--for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

Piedra also was in on several tackles in his role as a defensive back, which he played last season.

“I give it all my effort, wherever the team needs me,” Piedra said. “Running the option is nice. Last year, I was new to it.”

Piedra connected with Adam Boyd on second-quarter touchdown passes of 47 and 20 yards.

With less than a minute to play in the half, Piedra scrambled from a heavy pass rush and ran 14 yards for a touchdown to give Notre Dame a 28-0 lead.

Fargas amassed 89 rushing yards on the Knights’ opening drive, which ended with him diving three yards for a score.

Fargas had 10 runs of at least 10 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Fletcher, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore and is projected to blossom, showed flashes of explosiveness but largely was held in check by the Notre Dame defense.

Fletcher’s most-impressive effort went for nought when he took a swing pass and sped away from defenders for a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter. But the play was nullified by a clipping penalty.