When you sit down to watch The Long Game, it doesn't take long to realize this isn't just another generic sports flick. It’s gritty. It feels like South Texas in the 1950s—dusty, hot, and thick with the tension of a world that didn't want to let Mexican American kids onto its pristine greens. But honestly, the heart of the movie isn't just the golf; it’s the faces. The cast of the Long Game film had a massive job: they had to portray real-life heroes from Del Rio who literally built their own golf course in the desert because the local country club wouldn't let them in.
You've probably seen some of these actors before, but maybe not like this.
The Lead: Jay Hernandez as JB Peña
Jay Hernandez carries this movie. You might know him from Magnum P.I. or as El Diablo in Suicide Squad, but here, he’s JB Peña. JB is a war veteran and the new superintendent of the San Felipe school district. He’s a guy caught between two worlds. He wants to assimilate, he wants to belong to the all-white Del Rio Country Club, but he keeps getting doors slammed in his face.
Hernandez plays Peña with this quiet, simmering frustration. It’s a nuanced performance. He’s not just a coach; he’s a man trying to prove his worth in a system designed to ignore him. When he sees a group of high school kids—who happen to be caddies—hitting golf balls in the dirt, he realizes that his path to the country club might actually be through them.
The Supporting Heavyweights: Dennis Quaid and Cheech Marin
Every underdog story needs a grizzled mentor, and who better than Dennis Quaid? Quaid plays Frank Mitchell, a fellow veteran and a golf pro who helps JB coach the team. Quaid has a history with these roles—remember The Rookie? Fun fact: Jay Hernandez actually played one of Quaid's students in The Rookie back in 2002. Now, they’re peers. Quaid doesn’t overdo it here. He’s the backup, the guy who knows the technical side of the game but also understands the racial dynamics that JB is fighting against.
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Then there’s Cheech Marin.
He plays Pollo, the sage groundskeeper at the country club. If you’re a golf movie nerd, you’ll remember Cheech from Tin Cup. In The Long Game, he’s sort of the spiritual guide for the boys. He’s seen it all. He knows the "rules" of the club, both written and unwritten, and he provides a lot of the soul (and a bit of the humor) that keeps the story from getting too heavy.
The San Felipe Mustangs: The Five Young Stars
The "Mustangs" are the real pulse of the film. These aren't just characters; they are based on the real-life 1957 Texas State Champions.
Julian Works as Joe Treviño
Julian Works (from 9-1-1: Lone Star) plays Joe Treviño, the hotheaded but incredibly talented leader of the group. Joe is the rebel. He’s the one who’s most fed up with the racism they face. Works brings a lot of intensity to the role—you can see the chip on his shoulder in every swing. In real life, Treviño was a legend in Del Rio, and Works does a great job capturing that "nothing to lose" attitude.
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The Rest of the Team
The chemistry between the boys is what makes the long segments of practice feel real.
- Miguel Angel Garcia plays Felipe Romero.
- Gregory Diaz IV plays Gene Vasquez (the "nerdy" one who finds his confidence).
- Christian Gallegos plays Mario Lomas.
- José Julián plays Lupe Felan.
These actors had to do more than just act; they had to look like they could actually play 1950s-era golf. That means no modern stances or high-tech swings. They spent a lot of time learning the mechanics of the era to keep things authentic.
The Antagonists and the Family
You can't have a 1950s South Texas drama without some serious friction. Brett Cullen plays Judge Milton Cox, the primary antagonist. He’s the gatekeeper of the Del Rio Country Club and represents everything standing in the Mustangs' way. He’s the guy you’re going to love to hate.
On the other side of the coin, we have the women who ground the story. Jaina Lee Ortiz plays Lucy Peña, JB’s wife. She’s the emotional anchor, reminding JB why he’s doing this in the first place. Paulina Chávez plays Daniela Torres, Joe’s love interest, who represents the future and the idea of moving beyond the borders of their small town.
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A Quick Glance at the Key Players
- JB Peña: Jay Hernandez
- Frank Mitchell: Dennis Quaid
- Pollo: Cheech Marin
- Joe Treviño: Julian Works
- Lucy Peña: Jaina Lee Ortiz
- Principal Guerra: Oscar Nuñez (Yes, from The Office!)
- Judge Milton Cox: Brett Cullen
Why the Cast Matters for the True Story
The film is based on the book Mustang Miracle by Humberto G. Garcia. When you're dealing with a true story that was forgotten for nearly 50 years, the casting has to be spot on. If the actors didn't feel like "local boys," the movie would have fallen flat.
Instead, the cast of the Long Game film managed to highlight a specific slice of American history. These kids didn't just win a trophy; they forced a segregated system to acknowledge them. They used makeshift clubs and hit balls into sand pits because they weren't allowed on the grass. Seeing Julian Works and Jay Hernandez portray that struggle adds a layer of weight that you don't get in a fictional sports movie.
Where to See Them Next
If you enjoyed the performances, keep an eye out for where these folks are headed. Jay Hernandez is constantly working on high-level TV and film projects, and Julian Works is a rising star who's likely to land more leading roles after this.
If you want to dive deeper into the real history, I'd highly recommend looking up the real San Felipe Mustangs. Most of the original team members went on to serve in the military or become educators, proving that the "long game" wasn't just about golf—it was about life.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Film: If you haven't seen it yet, The Long Game is available on several streaming platforms (it recently had a successful run on Netflix).
- Read the Source Material: Check out Mustang Miracle by Humberto G. Garcia to see how the movie compares to the actual events in Del Rio.
- Explore the History: Look up the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District’s archives if you're ever in South Texas; they have incredible records of this era.