Fargas’ Fourth-Quarter Injury Delivers Blow to Notre Dame

In the end, it wasn’t Justin Fargas’ left knee that hurt so much. It was his pride.

Fargas, Notre Dame High’s electrifying junior tailback, choked back tears while being consoled by friends and family after Camarillo’s 20-14 victory over the Knights in the Southern Section Division III final Friday night at Camarillo High.

Fargas rushed for 201 yards in 31 carries and had two one-yard touchdown runs to finish his surprising season with 2,945 yards and 34 touchdowns. It was the 10th game this season in which Fargas topped the 200-yard plateau.

More important, Fargas’ second score in the opening minute of the fourth quarter cut Camarillo’s lead to 20-14 and appeared to give Notre Dame the momentum after the Knights rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit.

However, Fargas injured his left knee on the play in a violent collision with nose guard Charles Sandlin and linebacker Eugene Jackson. Fargas limped from the field and didn’t appear to have the same spring in his step thereafter.

“I just got hit, that’s all,” Fargas said. “I’ll be all right. I gave it all I had, it just wasn’t enough.”

Sandlin, who said the Scorpions spent the week studying how to stop Fargas, said the running back let out an audible cry of pain after the play.

Fargas remained on the ground for several seconds, clutching his knee, before being helped to his feet.

“He was crying right there on the ground,” said Sandlin, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior. “Bubba [Jackson] hit him high and I hit him low, right at the knee.

“He’s a hell of a ballplayer, I’ll give him that. I tried to arm-tackle him and that didn’t work at all. We had to wrap him up, give him everything we’ve got.”

Defensive end Tim Davis labeled the play a turning point.

“We knew he was hurt,” Davis said. “He was wincing in pain.”

Fargas remained in the game, carrying six more times for 26 yards. He also attempted an option pass that fell incomplete near the Camarillo goal line. But he appeared to no longer have the same quickness in his step.

Quarterback Jorge Piedra took over the offensive reins, scrambling for a first down on the Knights’ next series.

But Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said Fargas’ condition didn’t affect his team’s attack.

“He obviously is a big factor in our offense,” Rooney said. “But he’s not the entire show.”

Camarillo senior tackle Joe Hallowell said Fargas, who accounted for most of his yards while breaking tackles, was the best running back the Scorpions had faced.

“He was hard to bring down,” Hallowell said. “He’ll have a great season next year.”