ALVARADO — Four Alvarado High School graduates are going to be making a difference in the Southwest Conference next year for Sul Ross State University and Howard Payne University.

Thomas Head and Tristian Fuentes will head to Brownwood to play for the Yellow Jackets, while Rydge West and R.J. King will be heading Alpine to play for the Loboes.

Fuentes said playing for Howard Payne with a close friend alongside will be a special experience for him.

“We’re pretty good friends,” Fuentes said of Head. “I’m pretty excited. I’ve always dreamed of playing at the next level, and getting to play with one of my friends is even better.”

Fuentes said Howard Payne was the best fit for him.

“The lifestyle [was a factor],” Fuentes said. “The campus was nice and the coaches were nice. Everybody seemed really nice.”

The Indians’ 2008 season ended with a loss to eventual state champion Prosper in the area round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Fuentes said the loss still stings, but will play a role in his development as a collegiate athlete.

“It plays a pretty big role,” Fuentes said. “It was sad because we were all expecting that we could go further. We weren’t ready to have our season end.”

Head says he’s ready for the experiences of college and having a good friend alongside will make the journey even better.

“[Fuentes] moved to Alvarado his sophomore year,” Head said. “Since then, it just kind of happened that way. We both really liked it [at Howard Payne] and decided it was the place for us.

“We decided later on to be roommates. I’m real excited about it. I’m glad that I’m going to be rooming with someone I know. I feel more comfortable with him. I’m glad he’s going and he’s a pretty good friend. I’m glad I’ve got him with me.”

After leading the Indians from the quarterback position last year, Head said adapting to the college level will be a new experience in and of itself.

“It’s a whole new level of playing,” Head said. “It’s obviously exciting and something I’m really looking forward to. I feel I’m a pretty dedicated person and pretty hard working. It will take time to get used to a new level.

“I know the speed is going to be different. It’ll be a lot tougher, with better athletes, better skills and more serious. I know I need it, too.”

Facing his former teammates on the field in conference play will be an unfamiliar experience, Head said.

“I’m kind of looking forward to it,” Head said. “Not because we’re playing each other, but to get to see them, and see each other. It’s kind of exciting and sad at the same time. But, I think it’ll be kind of neat. R.J. and I have been teammates for a long time.

“We grew up playing in the Alvarado Youth Association in fourth grade and we’ve always been teammates. He won’t be on my team anymore.”

For West, playing alongside King will be a huge bonus as the two get ready for the fall.

“We’ve been friends since second or third grade,” West said. “I think it’s great. I get to do something with a friend I’ve had all my life and share an experience with someone that’s close to me.

“We kind of decided we wanted to go somewhere together. I guess it’s going to be a huge step. We’re not going to have all the people we know there to support us. We have to support us and we’ll have to work out all on our own. There’s no one there to do it for us. We’ll tell one another we have to go do this so we can get our motivation up to where me and him will get better for the new team.”

West says the date with Howard Payne on the calendar can’t come fast enough.

“I just want to start this season and I want to play Howard Payne as fast as we can,” West said. “I want to play them so we could go to Tristian and Thomas and tell them we got the better deal. We’re pretty close.”

King said Sul Ross stood out amongst the list of schools he visited from the beginning.

“It was a lot nicer than any of the other ones I visited,” King said. “They’re rebuilding, and I’ll have a chance to start all four years or at least play on the varsity.”

Playing alongside West was an added bonus, King said, as is the opportunity to get to play in college.

“He’s a really good friend of mine,” King said. “I’m glad I get to go that far, but I’m glad it’s with him.

“I didn’t really get to play my senior year and I’m lucky to have a second chance. I didn’t really think I’d get to play after my senior year. I’m very thankful for getting to be able to play at that level.”

In terms of the quartet facing each other on the field in the near future, King said he is anticipating the experience.

“Thomas and I have known each other since second or third grade,” King said. “I guess we’ll find out in August what it’s like. I might be going against them on the field at the same time because I might have a few opportunities on defense.”

If King finds Fuentes or Head in his crosshairs, he said he knows exactly what he’s going to do next.

“I’m going to hit them as hard as I can,” King said.