SAN ANTONIO — As the Southwest Legacy High School football team enters its second year of varsity play, head coach John Tarvin is starting to see progress.
"It's been exciting," Tarvin said. "You have three wins and you didn't have any last year. It's a great feeling."
To build a program, you need leaders. Someone who can speak up and stand out. Someone like R-Tavius Gonzales.
"I play linebacker, the whole (offensive) line and (defensive) line," Gonzales said.
Gonzales, known as R.T. by many, does not take too many plays off.
"It's fun. I like being in the trenches," the senior, Gonzales, said.
Tarvin added, "I think it's good to have a R.T. in your program because you can point to him when we ask other kids to make moves."
R.T. was part of the first crop of students to trickle over to the Titans. He's been setting the example on-and-off the field ever since. "On the outside, I'm quiet. I'm smart. I'm shy," Gonzales said. "It's different on the football field. I turn into an animal."
R.T. knows this school is heading in the right direction. "I don't want it to end. I want to keep playing," he said with a laugh.
His head coach also knows a legacy like his is exactly what this program needed to get Southwest Legacy off the ground.
"When (teammates) can look at him and see how selfless he is and see what he'll do for the team, that's a great role model. Not only for the players we have right now, but for our younger players coming up," Tarvin said.
If you're looking for more coverage of high school football in San Antonio, you're in the right place. We have a comprehensive preview of the 2019 season, as well as highlights and photos every week. We also have a new podcast, Friday Night Football Replay.
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