KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN—-Senior cornerback Kike Alvarado is just about everything a coach would want in an athlete.
“Kike is athletic, he is long and makes plays,” South coach Brian Ricci said. “He is a good football player. You can just see him develop and him being able to recognize routes and being able to get a good jump on the ball. He is having a great year.”
The 6-foot-1 corner has had a solid career for Harlingen South and has been a mainstay for the Hawks defense over the last three seasons.
Alvarado started as a sophomore and broke on the scene with a two-interception game against McAllen High.
Since then, Alvarado has provided the Hawks secondary with stability and strong play.
Last season, Alvarado was a part of a deep secondary which featured Kaleb Solis and Issac Moreno. With Solis and Moreno lost to graduation, Alvarado has held his own. Alvarado’s game doesn’t stop on the football field. Earlier this year, Alvarado verbally committed to play baseball at Texas A&M International University in Laredo.
Alvarado is looking forward to his third Bird Bowl and hoping that the third time’s the charm for him and his Hawks.
“Three years went by so fast,” Alvarado said. “I’m already a senior, time flies,”
Alvarado’s first Bird Bowl came when he was a sophomore and, with two years under his belt, the corner feels the experience will help.
“It was just crazy,” he said. “I would go to the game as a kid and now, I’m playing in it. It is a dream come true. I remember watching my brother play in the Bird Bowl. The whole town is there it is a crazy atmosphere.”
Alvarado will have a tall order when he lines up against Harlingen’s Justin Galvan, creating a matchup that will be one to keep an eye on throughout the night.
“My sophomore year I was a twig,” Alvarado said. “Since then, I put some weight on about 15 pounds and I grew a few inches. I feel my footwork helps me out with my breaks.”