By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — When asked what the term most valuable player means to him, Harlingen High senior Jaime Galvan pointed to the lockers all around him and took a moment.
“When you think about it it is great, but it is not just me,” he said. “I’m not the MVP. We had a whole team that made this work and made it happen. If it wasn’t for my offensive line, my receivers or my defense getting me the ball, there was no way I would have gotten this. I feel like I owe the team this award.”
Galvan’s dominant season earned him the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Football most valuable player award.
Galvan is a Harlingen boy through and through. He wears the Cardinals’ logo on his sleeve and is an example of what it means to be a player for Harlingen High. Galvan is a part of a big family, and he owes his we-before-me approach to them.
“It all comes from them,” he said. “I always treat others the way I want to be treated, and that translates to the team here. Just like I have a big family at home, I have a big family here with my team. You have to care about your teammates. You have to bring them up and not down.”
After a turbulent sophomore season in which Galvan saw little playing time under center, he was given the keys to the offense his junior year. The southpaw led the Cardinals to a 3-2 district record and finished with a 5-5 overall mark.
The Cardinals made the playoffs but were bounced out in the first round by Weslaco High.
While the pieces were in play for something special, there was just something missing.
Then came Galvan’s senior year. A team with high aspirations was eager to get the Cardinals back on the map. There were questions about who would lead the defense, and could Galvan lead the offense to a district title and a playoff run?
Galvan was the answer to the offense. While he also relied on his left arm, he was most dangerous when he used his legs. He ran for 1,144 yards and 17 touchdowns on 119 carries. Through the air, Galvan finished with 2,107 yards and 17 touchdowns.
“I felt comfortable coming into the season,” Galvan said. “Last year I gained experience, so this year I felt cool and calm, and I just kept playing and we got better each week. As a QB, I knew when and where to throw the ball, and when to take off.”
Galvan’s killer instinct was evident. The aggressive approach and fearless leadership helped restore order to the Cardinals’ program and re-established how to be a Harlingen High player. He led by example on and off the field, helping to fuel Big Red’s district title run.
“It meant the world to me to be a Cardinal,” he said. “At the end of the day, when I look back at the season, I have no regrets. I feel like I left everything on the field.”
2019 Valley Morning Star All-STAR Superlatives
Most Valuable Player: Jaime Galvan, Harlingen High
Offensive player of the year: Smiley Silva, San Benito
Defensive player of the year: Gabriel Martinez, Harlingen High
Newcomer of the year: Nathan Huerta, Harlingen High
Coach of the year: Israel Gracia, Santa Maria
First team
Offense
Quarterback: Dorian Hernandez, La Feria
Running Back: Avishai Dickerson, La Feria; Rayden Berry, Harlingen High
Offensive Line: Alex Yerena, La Feria; Israel Rodriguez, La Feria; Stephen Tovar, Raymondville; Chance Jennings,
Harlingen South; Rolando Zuniga, Rio Hondo
Wide receiver: Caleb Flores, La Feria; ZaRaivion Armendarez, Raymondville
Defense
Defensive Line: Zack Galvan, San Benito; Guillermo Vargas, La Feria; Dylan Ramirez, Raymondville; Noah Cruz,
Harlingen High
Linebacker: Joey Ortega, Rio Hondo; John Daniel Gonzales, San Benito; Ethan Gonzalez, Harlingen South; Jose Guajardo, Raymondville
Cornerback: Kike Alvarado, Harlingen South; Isiah Lizcano, Harlingen High; Ciro Munoz, San Benito
Safety: David Cortez, Harlingen South; Sam Villines, Rio Hondo
Kicker: Leo Torres, Harlingen South
Second team
Offense
Quarterback: Jayson Cantu, Raymondville
Running Back: Israel Vasquez, Harlingen South; Jesus Diaz-Mendez, Santa Rosa
Offensive Line: Humberto Valladarez, Rio Hondo; Andrew Cervantes, Raymondville; Juaquin Sosa, Santa Maria;
Manny Cepeda, Lyford; Ciro Munoz, San Benito
Wide Receiver: Justin Galvan, Harlingen High; Mike Bermea, Santa Rosa
Defense
Defensive Line: Aaron Vision, Harlingen South; Jayden Galvan, Raymondville; Joseph Garza, San Benito; Derek Castellanos
Linebacker: Levi Ince, Harlingen South; Bobby Saldivar, Santa Rosa; Aaron Reyes, San Benito
Cornerback: Evan Avila, La Feria; Jaden Torres, La Feria; Issac Rodriguez, Rio Hondo
Safety: Justin Smith, Raymondville; Will Herring, Harlingen High
Kicker: Saul Garcia, Raymondville