LAGUNA-ACOMA - The young man who earned the title of star quarterback doesn't stop working once he's off the practice field. After changing to jeans and a t-shirt he darts to his uncle's ranch for chores. Once home, the garden of watermelon and various vegetables needs tending. When dusk settles to night, he goes inside to help with dinner. After dinner, a stack of homework awaits. There is no game console. No distraction of an intricate computer with high speed internet. A small tv plays an old movie in the background, but 'Boots' finishes his homework.

Justin “Boots” Gallegos shows off some ranching skills before dusk settles at his home in Laguna. The nickname “Boots” came from a play on words, but sticks with him now with all the different work he accomplishes. BEACON / TESHIMA

    Then he gets up and does it again.

    Justin 'Boots' Gallegos has lived in Laguna his whole life and it suits him well.

His love of sports began when he was six or so when little league baseball season started. He was too young to play, but after a parental waiver was signed he got his wish, to play ball with his brothers.

At nine, he picked up a football in the youth football league. Even at the young age, his talent was apparent.

“When we found out about football he was very interested, once he knew how good he was he really excelled,” said Daniel Gallegos, Justin's dad.

    Once a youngster in the family picks up a ball, the whole family supports them.

    “We make our boys go and support whatever they're involved in,” said Dad. “There's time they finished their homework at ten or eleven at night.”

    Boots continued to grow in sports until he hit a wall in the eighth grade. There wasn't a football program outside of the high school.

    The Gallegos family transferred the youngster so he could play sports.

    One of Boot's favorite memories came from that year.

    “We went to state my first year (in baseball),” said Justin. “I did better then some of the seniors and beat out Isaac Herrera for the (starting pitching) job. We lost to Estancia, but I had fun. I got to hang with all the seniors.”

    His hard work, instilled by his family, pushed him to be a top candidate for quarterback last year.

With blazing speed and a crushing delivery of hits, it's possible his presence as a safety is the most important on defense.

    “I like being a safety better, I get to nail everybody,” said Justin. And he does. He's in on every play, except special teams.

    “There's nobody that works harder than Boots. He never complains,” said his Coach Trent Spencer.     “He has a legitimate shot at starting for a D Two (Division Two) school.”

Boots said his favorite football game was his first start as quarterback against Crownpoint. He threw a couple TDs, ran a punt back for a TD, had an interception on defense and rushed for an insurmountable number of yards.

    That same year, Capitan enjoyed its all-state receiver making huge plays against other schools. Against Boots, the young star didn't catch a pass all night.

    But working hard in the classroom is always a priority. A 3.5 grade point average and top three class ranking makes him eligible for college anywhere in the state, outside of his skills on a team.

As serious as Boots takes sports and homework he enjoys the light side of life. He has been known to crack jokes and keep the mood fun at practice.

    Boots said outside of high school he wants to pursue a career in the outdoors he loves, probably in wildlife management. When asked if local fans would ever see him in a suit and tie he grinned, “probably not.”