Fargas Flourishes in Tailback Role

Perhaps it’s too soon to talk about rushing records at Notre Dame High. Then again, the way Justin Fargas has bolted from the gate, perhaps it’s not.

Fargas, a junior tailback for the Knights, has rushed for 484 yards and five touchdowns in two games and ranks second to Dante Clay of North Hollywood among area rushing leaders.

Fargas (6 feet, 184 pounds), who ran for more than 200 yards in victories over Alemany and Burroughs, is averaging 11.8 yards a carry entering Friday night’s game against Beverly Hills.

Even if his pace slows, Fargas stands a chance of eclipsing Notre Dame’s single-season mark of 1,235 yards set by Errol Small in 1989. Having rushed for 532 yards as a fullback last season, Fargas seems certain to break the school mark of 1,936 yards in a career by Lei Malieitulua from 1991-93.

Not that records matter.

“I just want to win and make the best of the opportunity,” Fargas said. “I’m not really surprised because our offensive line has been blowing the defenses back. When you get a good push like that, it makes it easy.”

Such has been the hallmark of Notre Dame. Traditionally a strong running team, the Knights lead teams in the region with 773 rushing yards and have produced a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the past two seasons.

Fargas, a standout tailback on the freshman team, was waiting for the chance to take his turn at tailback with the varsity.

“Since I was the fullback, usually, when we got far ahead, we put somebody else in at tailback,” Fargas said. “But I definitely wanted to play the tail.”