ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Antonio Vargas

Ocoee Knights senior linebacker Antonio Vargas scored the winning touchdown during Ocoee’s Sept. 25 28-8 victory over East Ridge — an important district victory for the Knights. Vargas blocked a punt, scooped the ball and ran for a touchdown. It was his second recovery in as many weeks.

What was going through your mind during that touchdown?

Picking it up, scooping and scoring, like coach (Ben Bullock) was always dogging on us, saying we got to scoop and score, the defense got to step it up. We got to do it.

How did you feel after, knowing that was the winning touchdown?

It felt good. It was like we’d been practicing every day for it. Practicing punt blocks and everything. It was just our hard practice.

The Ocoee defense has played well of late. What are your hopes for the defense going forward?

Hopefully, we keep on doing it. We have been making progress every day, every practice. We’ve been coming out here early practicing really hard. We have that bond together. 

What are your hopes for the team, overall, during the rest of this season?

I hope — well, I won’t say I hope — we are going to the playoffs. We’re going to work twice as hard; we’re going to practice harder. We’re going to come out here every day, work hard and be successful.

What are your post-high school plans?

I want to go to college. I’m trying to put my name out there in the papers and go from there. 

Do you have any dream schools?

UF. I’d definitely go to UF.

What’s your favorite thing about being a linebacker?

You can read everything. You can come down and hit. That’s what I like — I like to hit. 

Why did you decide to play football?

My parents, they were like, I got to do some sports. I decided to follow in my brother’s footsteps. And then he got me into it more. Every day, he’d be practicing with me.

Do you play any other sports besides football?

No. I played baseball my freshman year.

How long ago did you start playing football?

Way back, when I was in Pop Warner. I was 6 or 7.

What’s your favorite sport to support at Ocoee?

I like to support the soccer team. They’ve been practicing really hard. I see them out here in the heat, running.

In your spare time, what do you like to do?

Usually I go home and watch Hudl. I watch my players and the other school’s players.

What do you hope to study in college?

Business. I would like to start my own business. 

What kind of business would you like to start?

Construction — like a whole lot of house-building. 

How do you pump up for a game?

I do a little speech with my brothers. We get them together, start watching Hudl. We come together. 

What’s your favorite subject to study in school?

Marine Honors. I like that class. It’s all about animals in the ocean. People haven’t figured out what’s down in the ocean. There’s more creatures out there than (known) before.