KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
District 32-6A will kickoff with a bang in The Valley Morning Star’s Game of the Week when Harlingen High hosts San Benito in 89th edition of the Battle of the Arroyo, slated for 7:30 p.m. tonight at Boggus Stadium.
Both teams are coming off a bye in Week 6, with San Benito (2-3) looking to snap a two game losing streak after a 63-12 loss at Midland Lee.
Meanwhile, Harlingen is (4-1) and have won two straight. The Cardinals only loss came at Converse Judson (39-0) in Week 3. The Cardinals beat Weslaco East and Midland High two weeks ago and are entering Friday night with some confidence.
“Football is football; it is about blocking and tackling,” Harlingen coach Manny Gomez said. “What they posses is a very shifty quarterback and if we can tackle him, we will have a chance. At the same time, he is elusive and is a great player. They also have great receivers.”
Across the board, both Harlignen and San Benito posses strong quarterback play. The Cards’ offense runs through senior Jaime Galvan, who has put together a strong senior year thus far. This will be Galvan’s third Battle and he has come up short in his first two attempts.
“When I look back at it, it makes me mad,” Galvan said. “I never wanted to lose to San Benito; I don’t like it but I’m using it as motivation for this year and I’m ready.”
Galvan will look to Rayden Berry out of the backfield, and through the air, Galvan will lean on his brother Justin Galvan. Defensively, the Cards will look to their playmakers ,Gabriel Martinez, Ezvyn Zuniga and Will Herring.
On the ground, Galvan has run wild for 473 yards on 57 attempts and eight scores. Through the air, Galvan has five touchdowns and has thrown five scores. Berry has been a force in the running game and in the passing game, rushing for 604 yards on 112 carries and six touchdowns and has hauled in nine catches for 184 yards and two more scores.
On the flip side, senior signal caller Smiley Silva will get his first start against Harlingen. Silva, who is dangerous with his legs, will look to junior running back Kyler Castilleja (43-266, 2 TDS). On the ground Silva has rushed for 670 yards on 84 carries and has scored eight times.
Through the air, Silva has found chemistry with senior wide out Juan Constante. Constante leads the team in receiving with 316 yards on 20 catches with four touchdowns.
The Greyhounds have won back to back Battles. Harlingen last win against San Benito was in 2016.
“We are talented on the offensive side of the ball,” Gomez said. “We have a talented quarterback, running back and receivers and our offensive line is getting better and they play physical. It sounds like a cliché, but whoever can block and tackle better in this game will come out victorious. The game is going to be physical and that is the intangible of this game. The past few years, the Battle of the Arroyo has been physical.”