La Feria’s Hernandez inks last-minute intent to play football at CMU

By BILLY WATSON
RSL

The story continues to write itself for La Feria grad and three-year varsity quarterback Dorian Hernandez.

Hernandez, one of the Rio Grande Valley’s most prolific dual threat quarterbacks, finally found a home to play football this fall at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri.

“I’m beyond blessed to have gotten this offer,” Hernandez said. “Being able to continue my academics and play the sport I love at the next level just feels so surreal.”

La Feria’s back-to-back league most valuable players and shot caller Dorian Hernandez will join his close friends, Rio Hondo’s Jabez Villarreal and Port Isabel’s Daniel Rinza, who both signed their letters of intent to play basketball for the CMU Eagles.

The decision came last minute to Hernandez, but it was something he had been pondering on for some time.

“The decision was honestly last minute,” Hernandez said. “I was thinking about taking this offer for a long while and I just felt the urge to play again. It was a long thought process but, at the end of the day, I feel I made the right choice.”

Hernandez became the Lions’ starter his sophomore year and was unanimously named the District 16-4A Division I Newcomer of the Year.

Hernandez followed suit by leading the Lions back to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 when La Feria defeated a state-ranked Bandera team at the Alamodome. Hernandez then led the Lions through the air and the ground during his junior year in an area win over Needville and got the Lions back to the regional quarterfinals, eventually falling to La Vernia.

Hernandez’s senior year had many ups and downs, including getting injured in the final prep game before district against Rio Hondo, sidelining Hernandez for two weeks, which was much shorter than expected. He also got into a car accident midseason.

Despite all the distractions, Hernandez and his Lions posted an undefeated season and another outright district championship.

Although Hernandez was not able to play like the electrifying player he had been before, committing to play football at CMU is a testimony to his toughness and willingness to keep going.

“My senior year was a tough one,” Hernandez said. “From the start, there was so much adversity to overcome, and I wouldn’t have gotten through any of it if it weren’t for family and friends. Being able to continue playing this game, I believe, is a blessing and not something I had to overcome, but I do feel well-prepared and have a tougher mentality because of the events I went through.”

Hernandez plans to major in business management at CMU.

With the decision to return to the field, Hernandez feels good about the opportunity.

“I feel good to have the ability to step on a field again,” he said, “because the last time I was on one, I didn’t like the outcome to it, so I’ve got something to fuel me.”