Aubrey Rogers senior linebacker Darian Alvarez- Garcia is all over the football field on Friday nights. He’s the third-leading tackler for the Patriots’ defense, where his relentless effort helps him make plenty of plays.

But while his teammates are taking a breather and receiving halftime instructions, Alvarez-Garcia is still playing … the saxophone.

Alvarez-Garcia is a key member of the Aubrey Rogers marching band, giving him leadership roles in two first-year programs.

“This is something I’m going to remember for the rest of my life,” Alvarez-Garcia said. “It’s been an honor to come to this school. There’s a real sense of family here. To be among the first group of students to graduate from this school, to have that letterman’s jacket and this news coverage—it’s something I’ll be able to show off to my children one day.”

To say Alvarez-Garcia likes to stay involved might be a grand understatement. In addition to his full slate of football games, band performances and practices, he’s also the student government president at Aubrey Rogers. He was largely in charge of organizing the homecoming festivities. He also started a card-playing club at the school as a way of further socializing with his classmates. And if that weren’t enough, he takes aviation lessons twice a week and is working on earning his pilot’s license.

“I like to stay busy,” Alvarez-Garcia said. “I sleep maybe four or five hours a night but that’s plenty for me.”

Patriots coach JJ Everage said he’s in awe of Alvarez- Garcia and he doesn’t mind him missing halftime preparations to play in the band.

“I’m the type of coach that wants our kids to get the most out of high school … because you never get these years back,” Everage said. “Darian is a kid who enjoys life and he certainly gets the most out of it. The thing I don’t understand is how he has enough stamina to do all this stuff. He’s out there chasing ball carriers around and then he has to go march and play an instrument. It’s an amazing thing when you think about it. He never takes a break.”

It certainly helps having a band director and football coach who have worked closely in the past. Aubrey Rogers band director Jason Jones previously worked at Lely, where Everage first had a football player who also participated in band.

“It’s pretty amazing to have this unique opportunity,” Alvarez-Garcia said. “The communication between everyone is what makes it work.”

Alvarez-Garcia previously played JV football on Thursdays for Naples High and in the band on Friday nights. He’s happy he’s attending Aubrey Rogers as a senior, where the opportunity was there to do both on Fridays. And not only is he doing both, he’s serving in a leadership capacity.

“I try to exert my leadership by being a great example of what a football player or band member should be like,” he said. “When you’re out there wearing those uniforms, you’re representing the school. You have to be a respectable group and show everyone that this is a school kids should want to attend. There’s a lot of pride here, which is amazing since it’s a first-year school.”

Although he starts at linebacker, Alvarez-Garcia is willing to play other positions. The Patriots have had issues keeping players healthy throughout the season due to injuries and a recent rash of staph infection breaking out.

“You know Murphy’s Law? That seems to be happening on this team this year,” Everage said. “So it’s nice having kids like Darian who are willing to play everywhere.”

Like anything else he does, playing a different position just provides Alvarez-Garcia with a new challenge. He’s played running back and defensive tackle along with linebacker.

“I’ll play wherever they need me to play,” he said. “Whatever is best for the team, I’ll do it.”

Not surprisingly, Alvarez-Garcia has big plans for his future. He said he plans on attending the University of Florida, unless he can get scholarship money to play football somewhere. He wants to become an anesthesiologist, and knows he’ll need several years of schooling to achieve that goal.

“Just another challenge I plan to take on,” he said. “Doing all these things in high school should help me in college. I already know how to manage my time pretty well.”