DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

The turning point in Juan Garceslife came before high school and playing football.

Garces might have been a junior instead of a senior at Costa Mesa High this year.

Or maybe he might have been out of school altogether.

Garces almost flunked eighth grade and was heading down the wrong path. Guadalupe stepped in and laid it out for her younger brother.

“Even though you’re the funny kid,” she said, “you’ll always be known as the stupid kid.”

No one laughed.

The reason Garces was in Costa Mesa was because of his parents’ hard work and sacrifice. Maria and Eugenio immigrated to the United States from Mexico to give Garces and his two siblings a better life.

Those double jobs his parents held started to make sense to Garces.

Playing an organized sport for the first time helped Garces stay focused in school.

Football taught him to be disciplined his freshman year, on the field and in the classroom.

His parents understood the other futbol from their home country more. But Maria and Eugenio also understand the American sport is a major reason why their son is excelling in school.

This football player is no dummy.

Garces said he has a 3.5 grade-point average. He’s more than a center to Coach Jeremy Osso. Garces is a leader, a role model.

Osso said Garces plans to be the first from his family to graduate from a four-year university.

Three days before the Battle for the Bell game against crosstown rival Estancia last week, Osso needed someone to speak up. The entire team yearned to be motivated.

“One of the guys in the back said, ‘Gosh! We need Juan to really get us going,’ ” Osso said.

The next day, Garces, who at 5-foot-8, 205 pounds is the smallest starting lineman, rallied Costa Mesa.

In town, there’s no bigger game than the Battle for the Bell. Garces and the Mustangs were hungry for a victory.

So what did Costa Mesa’s offensive line do in the Orange Coast League opener for both schools at Jim Scott Stadium?

Chew. Chew. Chew.

The Mustangs ate a lot of time off the clock at the end to beat Estancia, 14-7, and snap a four-game losing streak to the Eagles.

Garces and the entire starting line, from left tackle Thomas Guzowski, to left guard Travis Whitlock, to right guard Camilo Enriquez, to right tackle Argenis Valencia, rang the bell.

They rang the opposition’s bell on the field, too.

“They just weren’t able to stop us,” said Garces, who helped pave the way for Costa Mesa’s running attack to gain 260 yards to Estancia’s 44. “Those [defensive linemen] were playing linebacker by the time the play was done.

“We didn’t even have to pass the ball [much].”

No reason for quarterback Todd Davis to attempt double-digit passes.

Not because Davis can’t throw the ball well, but because the line dominated Estancia.

Running back Antwon Byrd finished with 177 yards on 25 carries. It was the senior’s second straight 170-plus yard performance.

Byrd has been teammates with Garces since their freshmen year, when Garces said the lower-level Mustangs went undefeated in league play.

Since that season it is has been rough for the Mustangs. They went 3-7 in 2006 and 3-8 in 2007.

Costa Mesa started 0-5 this season. The Mustangs have won three straight games, a first in Osso’s three years as head coach.

Through it all, Byrd said his admiration for Garces has grown.

“He’s got probably the best attitude I have ever seen,” Byrd said.

Garces said he learned the positive outlook from his mother.

Garces said his younger brother, Josue, is struggling in the classroom. Garces is helping the sophomore get back on track, so that one day the skinny brother he jokes about not possessing any hands can play for the Mustangs.

“My mom is big on that,” said Garces of academics. “She does everything for us. She tries her hardest. Anything I accomplish it’s because of her.

“You don’t get anything without working for it.”

A teammate reminded Garces of that on a play during the Mustangs’ first possession resulting in a touchdown against Estancia.

“One of the nose guards said I was holding him,” Garces said. “Argenis Valencia said, ‘That’s not holding. That’s just good blocking.’

“I was laughing really hard.”

Garces could. To his sister and everyone in his life, he’s no longer that kid making silly comments.