Wareham High School Senior Darien Fernandez is going to have a tough time choosing a college, said Principal Scott Palladino.

"It's a tough dilemma for an 18-year-old: 'What school should I go to for free? Let me see…" said Palladino with a laugh.

Fernandez, a 5'-7" football and basketball star at Wareham High, was named the Division 3 Player of the Year his junior year. He was also named the South Coast Conference All-Star in both football and basketball the same year.

There are many more awards to list, but for a recent example of Fernandez's athletic prowess, do not look further than September 7.

Fernandez scored six touchdowns in the Vikings' opening day 51-14 win against Falmouth. He ran 247 yards on just 11 carries.

"He works hard in practice, but when he gets to the game, he's an extreme competitor," said varsity football Head Coach Dan Nault. "Kids are falling down over here, and Darien is over there," he added, dramatizing a player avoiding getting tackled.

Nault, like Palladino, sees football scholarships coming Fernandez's way. He's hopeful Fernandez will keep football in mind, but acknowledges that the 18-year-old's true love is basketball.

"Football. He likes it. But it's not his true love," Nault said.

Fernandez played Pop Warner youth football as a child. When he was in sixth grade, he broke his clavicle, and he couldn't play football anymore. The young athlete, who played in the Wareham JBA basketball league growing up, eventually started drifting toward that sport.

"I would go to the Y every day and do drills," Fernandez recalled.

When Fernandez was able to return to the field, he realized he had found a new love.

"I don't know what happened," he said. "I just fell in love with basketball."

Fernandez said he would like to play basketball in college. He acknowledges that his height could be a barrier, however, and said he wants to keep his options open.

"A free education is good," he noted.

In addition to continually improving his athletic abilities, Fernandes is working on making sure his academics are in tip-top shape this year.

"He's working hard to get to the academic standards he needs to get into almost any school that he wants," said Palladino. "He has the potential to go to schools for free down the road."

Fernandez's accomplishments lie in the school corridors as much as on the football field and basketball court, Palladino said.

"He's really a gentleman," said Palladino, who talks to Fernandez at least once a week. "Almost all the male students look up to him. He's a leader in the school, and everyone follows him in the hallway."

"We've asked him to take a few of the younger, immature kids under his wing. He's able to do that," Palladino added.

Nault sees another side of Fernandez.

"He's goofy. He's still a kid. He can be immature at times, but never in a malicious way," Nault said. "He's still sensitive," he added. "He's not going to lie to you. And when he does, he's not good at it."

Fernandez credits his family for being a positive influence on him. He lives in Wareham with his aunt and grandmother, and says his grandmother is his biggest role model.

"She's just always been there for me," he said. "She's just hardworking. I'm trying to make it for her."

Want to see Fernandez in action? The Vikings will take on Case High School at home on Friday, September 14, at 4 p.m.

Coach Nault says the word on the street is that Case may have the best player in the league -- quarterback Taylor Furtado.

On his way to football practice on Tuesday, Nault said simply: "I think I've got the best player."