WOLFFORTH — Life as a high school athlete can be busy. Just ask Austin Olivas.
Between football and his studies, the Seminole senior has quite the loaded schedule. He takes both seriously, and that dedication will soon pay off in both arenas.
Olivas is set to join the Harvard football program after graduation. Attending an Ivy League school was a dream. Getting to continue playing the sport he loves was a cherry on top.
“God blessed me with the ability to play this game,” Olivas said. “I’m gonna use my abilities that he’s blessed me with to further my education. That degree will help me in life and the future, whether it be jobs or connecting with people.”
Olivas showed his abilities in Seminole’s 77-38 win over Levelland to start the playoffs last week. His 76-yard kickoff-return touchdown sparked an avalanche that helped his team pull away at Peoples Bank Stadium. Seminole led 42-30 before Olivas’ sprint to the end zone to open the second half.
The senior had an inkling he would be getting the kick, assuming the Lobos would avoid the deep returners as most teams have this season.
“My teammates knew they were going to kick it to me,” Olivas said. “They were telling me, ‘Hey, you get the ball, go score a touchdown.’ I just followed my blockers and I had a wide-open gap, so all credit to them. I just had to run, and they made it easy for me.”
Olivas is a hard-nosed safety, too. He led the team with 66 tackles through the regular season and added three against Levelland. Seminole bounced back to hold the Lobos to eight points in the second half.
“It’s definitely a physical position,” Olivas said. “Every play you got to just come in and lay the nail. You’re gonna either be the hammer or the nail. I try to be the hammer every play.”
Seminole coach Greg Poynor has become accustomed to seeing Olivas lay the wood. He has complete trust in the safety to lead the back end of the defense.
“He’s been a special player for us for two years now,” Poynor said. “I tell him all the time, I’m very thankful that he’s on our team.”
At last check, Olivas was 12th in his graduating class with a 4.3 GPA. He said balancing sports and academics became easier over time.
“As a young kid, my parents always had me in honors classes,” Olivas said. “I was kind of used to coming home after practice, doing homework, you know, getting in a routine. After a while, it just becomes a routine for you. You get home, do your work, get it done and you’ll be OK.”
Seminole (8-3) heads into an area-round matchup against Glen Rose (6-5) on Friday. It’s the third postseason in a row the teams have met, with the Tigers winning the previous two. That includes a 52-50 decision in triple overtime last season. Olivas said that one especially “hurt,” and he’s excited for another chance at them.
He’s trying to extend his final season at Seminole as long as he can before heading off to a world-class education.
“He’s going to play football at Harvard and probably make a million dollars,” Poynor said. “So, I told him someday come back and buy something at the fieldhouse. He’s just such a smart kid and such a good football player. It’s hard to say enough things about him.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Meet Austin Olivas, the future Harvard football player from Seminole
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
