KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Cardinals are back in the playoffs and all is now right in the world. Big Red will meet a familiar opponent in the Weslaco Panthers tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Bobby Lackey Stadium in the Class 6A area round.
After a 0-2 start in district play, the Cardinals have found their footing and have the momentum they need by winning three straight heading into the playoffs.
“Every year is different, believe me, you have different episodes and different scenarios but every day is a blessing and we are ecstatic to be back in the playoffs,” said Harlingen coach Manny Gomez. “I think we have picked up some momentum and we are playing with confidence and the kids are having fun and that is the important thing and we are all up beat; I love it.”
The Cards and Panthers are well familiar with each other as the two were district opponents the last two years and the last time the two met in the postseason was in 2014 when the Panthers squeezed passed Harlingen 3-0.
“The game speed you can’t simulate that, as an ex-player I haven’t lost that feeling, it will take a few series to get caught up with the game speed,” Gomez said. “Early on I think that’s what it will be, both teams adjusting to the game speed and they (Weslaco) have gotten a lot better as a team and so has every team in the Valley and in the state, it is Week 11 and it is something every team prepares for.”
A key to Harlingen’s success this year has been the play of junior quarterback Jaime Galvan. In his first year under center, Galvan led the district in passing with 1,690 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The southpaw also has the ability to make defenders miss.
Along with the passing attack, Galvan ran for 491 yards on 111 carries and sniffed the end zone nine times.
“This is what we wanted, thought about, and worked for,” Galvan said. “Since last year when things didn’t go the way we wanted we got right to work.”
Galvan feels over the summer he fine-tuned his accuracy along with getting acclimated with his receivers through the summer 7on7 leagues and gained a stronger grasp of the offense.
“I learned my reads and learned to let the play develop rather than me rushing into a play,” said Galvan. “Here in practice this is where it happens, we game plan and prepare. We pay attention to coach and we go out there and do what we are taught.”
Galvan, who has his brothers Jesse and Justin on the team, all saw their older brother play for the Cardinals, it is something the Galvan’s have grown up loving and wanting to be a part of.
“The thing about the Galvan brothers is that they are all competitors,” Gomez said. “That is the thing about these kids is they compete and that is what you want and that is why they are able to compete. I guess they compete at home too, but it is a great brotherhood literally.”