A vision to see the end result

“Vision is a very important part of being a running back,” he said. “I see blocks that happen before they happen. I read defenses and see where the hole is, and I bust it. It’s there one second and then it’s gone.”

The son of Maria and Mario Hernandez is so obsessed with vision, he plans to be an optometrist. 

“I’ve had it since I was little,” he said. 

He credits his dad for giving him a start in football.

“He showed me how to build character in the game,” he said. 

Mario Hernandez told his son that even if he’s not playing, he can still be positive for his teammates and encourage them.

“That’s what counts,” the running back said. “I bring heart to the game. In every game I know that without heart, you can’t win. You have to bring confidence to the team.”

Hernandez, a senior, said he would not change positions.

“I love running the ball,” he said. “Because it’s fun breaking tackles and scoring. I think it’s better to run and score a touchdown than to catch a ball.”

If the running game is clicking, Hernandez said the credit goes to the offensive line. The key is trusting the linemen, he said.

“We can’t do anything without the line,” the running back said.

One lineman he trusts explicitly is John Rodriguez, his closest friend on the squad.

“We like to compete with each other,” Hernandez said. “He’s a fun guy to hang around with.”

Hernandez reminds his teammates, especially his senior teammates, that time is running out, that they must have a vision for where they want to be and where they want to go.

“I think that motivates them a lot,” he said. 

He calls the team his family, which was tested in a 23-14 loss to Fredericksburg in the season opener.

“One of the things we gained was confidence and trust,” he said. “If one falls down, someone picks him up. This year we help each other out a lot.”

Head coach Cord Woerner said he has enjoyed having Hernandez on the team.

“He works hard,” he said. “He always has a good attitude. He’s a great teammate. Dario is not a selfish kid. He’s a team player. He does whatever is asked of him. I’m proud of the fact he’s here with us.”

A two-year letterman, Hernandez grins as he reflects on his favorite win of the season, a 40-30 victory against Burnet in September.

“Fifteen years has been a long time,” he said. 

The Mustangs scored five touchdowns in the first half and forced the Bulldogs into three interceptions. Marble Falls led, 34-13, at halftime. But Burnet scored three touchdowns in the second half compared to the Mustangs’ one. 

“The first half was just amazing,” Hernandez said. “We were dominating and having fun. We were doing our part of the job. When everyone does their job, it’s easy. The second half was a little scary.”

Following the win, the running back said the players were overjoyed in the locker room.

“It was pretty nice on the bus ride back to the locker room,” he said. “You couldn’t hear anything. It was amazing. There were tears and joy and different emotions.”