McKendry moves in different match

Rick Devereux

Estancia High running back Bryce McKendry may be a senior in the eyes

of the school, but Coach Craig Fertig thinks of him as much younger.

“He’s really only a sophomore on the football field,” Fertig said.

The second-year coach said McKendry’s decision to not play

football his junior year has him a little bit behind than other

players who have played all four years.

“I was sick of [football],” McKendry said of his decision to not

try out for the team last year. “It wasn’t fun for me anymore.”

The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder put all of his energy into his tennis

game, but the void during the fall months ate at him.

“I missed football a lot last year,” he said.

The former defensive end talked to Fertig and the other coaches

and recognized it was a different program with a different attitude.

“He has faith in the team, something I didn’t see in the

[previous] coaches,” McKendry said.

Fertig had enough faith in McKendry to hand him the ball 17 times

for 188 rushing yards and four touchdowns last Thursday in

Estancia’s, 33-26, victory over Magnolia to earn Daily Pilot Athlete

of the Week honors.

“Not bad for a tennis player,” Fertig said following the game.

McKendry is used to being teased for lacing up tennis shoes and

smacking a racket instead of lacing up football cleats and smacking

opponents.

“[The team] is always giving me a hard time about playing tennis,

but it’s all in good fun,” he said.

Leading the team in rushing with 234 yards and five touchdowns

this year lessens the sting of the ribbings, as does the fact

McKendry’s output against Magnolia was the most productive day for an

Eagle running back since Andy Romo gained 217 yards against Santa Ana

Valley in 2000, a span of 37 games.

While Feritg says he tried to motivate McKendry with a catchy

phrase -- “You’ve got to pay the price to tackle Bryce” -- the

running back claims a sense of lost time has him pushing to be the

best.

“I regret [not playing last year] a ton. That’s my biggest regret

in high school,” he said. “I’m just pumped up to play every game

because this is my last year to play football and I want to do the

best I can.”

He may be pumped up at the beginning of a game, but adrenaline

wears off and fatigue can creep in, especially if you’re the starting

running back, middle linebacker and long snapper.

“It can get really tiring because I do a lot on special teams,”

McKendry said. “It’s fun and it’s enjoyable, though.”

McKendry said he enjoys running with the ball and getting

touchdowns, but his real passion lies in taking out his aggression on

the other team as a linebacker

“But you can punish some people on runs [as a running back],” he

said.