MidValleySports.Com

By George Hernandez

(Alta Loma) – I sat down with Alta Loma freshman quarterback Maximus Fierro who led the Lions to an 8-3 record and league title last season. Alta Loma had victories over San Dimas, Northview and Baldwin Park as Fierro threw for 1,643-yards, 20-touchdowns with only nine interceptions. He also added seven rushing touchdowns. Fierro looks to continue his and the team’s success this upcoming season. 

Q: What’s up kid, how’s it going?

A: It’s going good. I feel blessed to be in this stage of football. I appreciate you asking me to do this.  Thank you.

Q: How were you ready as a freshman to come in and do so well at the quarterback position?

A: I would say around 7th grade I made it a goal of mine to get mentally and physically ready to come in and compete at the varsity level as a freshman. I’ve been lucky enough to have trainers and coaches who believed that was possible and pushed me to that level of expectation years before I entered high school.  I didn’t want to be known as “good for a freshman”. I wanted to be good compared at any varsity level.

Q: How long have you been playing football?

A:  I think I was 4 years old when I started. I remember still being in a car seat on the way to practices.

Q: Who do you model your game after?

A: Probably Josh Allen or Baker Mayfield. I love the big passes, the completions in tight windows, but I also enjoy tucking the ball and running with it if I need to. And like those players I don’t mind dropping my shoulder to gain extra yards. At the end of the day those guys are competitors in whatever way the team needs them to be to win the game and that’s how I try to approach every play.

Q: How would your teammates and coaches describe you?

A: I would hope they would say I’m a hard worker, good leader, good teammate.

Q: What is your goal for the team and you personally this upcoming season?

A: I would love for us to go undefeated in regular season, be back-to-back league title winners, and be able to put a CIF banner up at the school. I know those are high goals, but in May that should be every one’s goal. Personally, I would like to continue my growth at the quarterback position and put up some stats and highlights that catch recruiters’ attention. I would also love to show what I’m capable of on the defensive side of the ball.

Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned from football so far? 

A: The biggest lesson I’ve learned in football is that you will get nothing that you don’t work for. Success in fall is earned during spring and summer.

Q: How do you handle the pressure of playing in high-stakes games?

A: I think pressure is amplified when you’re not prepared and the more you prepare the quieter and less noticeable pressure feels. I just try to stay as prepared as possible. Knowing the level of talented teammates and coaches we have on our side helps a lot to feel confident going into any game.

Q: You’re only a sophomore but what are your plans with football after high school?

A: I’m really enjoying the high school football experience, but I don’t want this to be the last stop in my football journey. I definitely want to play college football.

Q: Anything else you would like to say or want us to know?

A: I would like to thank God. I know I’m not who I am as a person or a player without him. I would like to give a shout out to my coaches at Alta Loma (the Perri brothers, Hills, Dean, CA, Evan, Kettle, Simon, BG) and thank them for believing in a freshman quarterback to lead their offense. My quarterback trainers, Mike Esquivel, Danny Hernandez and Dennis Hester. Trainers that have helped me with defense, coach Cal, Uko from TPA and JC from Trench Dawgs. And my youth coaches that have been with me since day one and are still around coaching me, Nick, Warren, Fierro, Alvizo, Avila, Biggers. I definitely have to shout out our team trainer James. He keeps my arm going all season and off season.