Luna, Cagle named Heritage High Athletes of Month

Football star Javier Luna and volleyball player Madison Cagle were named the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month at Heritage High School.

Luna did it all for the Patriots football team, which finished the season 11-1 after a loss to San Clemente Friday in the second round of the CIF playoffs. The senior once again excelled at running back, but for the first time he also played linebacker and handled kicking chores.

Luna rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense. On defense, he loomed much bigger at linebacker than his 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame would suggest, making nearly 70 total tackles.

As the Patriots marched through the regular season undefeated, beating teams by several touchdowns each night, Luna said he knew they would have to be tough for the playoffs. Even in the loss to San Clemente, he ran for 148 yards and a touchdown and was everyone on defense.

"I'd say linebacker was my favorite position," Luna said. "Maybe because it's new. I'd never played it before. One day coach just called me into his office and told me. I was a little surprised, because I don't really have the linebacker type body. But we play a lot of spread teams, fast teams. I guess I'm fast enough to keep up with them."

"At first, I didn't think I would do very well. I thought I was going to get blown up by all these big linemen, but it turned our pretty well. My motto is 'heart over height.' I like to live by that and play my heart out."

Cagle was a standout for the girls volleyball team, which finished 7-3 in league and 20-10 overall under first-year coach Adonis Vailuu.

The senior was consistent all year in helping the Patriots earn a berth in the CIF playoffs. There, Heritage swept Barstow in the first round before losing a close match to Beaumont in the second round.