By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
While the Rivera Raiders’ offense took a few games to find its groove, the defense was solid from the beginning of the season.
The Raiders’ defense ranked near the top of District 32-6A all season but solidified its place as the best unit in the district with a stretch run to end the season. Rivera allowed 242 yards and 22 points per game, but during its five-game winning streak to end the regular season it allowed just 14 points per contest, including one shutout.
The heart of the Rivera defense was safety/linebacker Christopher Godoy. The senior finished the season with 67 tackles, four interceptions and scored two defensive touchdowns for the stingy Raiders defense.
For his efforts, Godoy has been named The Herald’s 2014 All-Metro Football Defensive Player of the Year.
“(Christopher) was another one of those guys that was like a coach on the field,” Rivera coach Tom Chavez said. “He knew where everybody was supposed to be, and he was our go-to guy. He would make the realignments, make the adjustments. He is very smart.”
Chavez, the long-time coach, never wavered in the belief of his team despite posting no wins through the first five games. The Raiders’ coach made the necessary adjustments on offense and his defense improved as the season progressed, leading to a seven-game winning streak and a postseason berth.
For the second straight year, Chavez has been named The Herald’s 2014 All-Metro Football Coach of the Year.
Chavez was humbled but gave the credit to his players and coaching staff.
“I appreciate all the accolades, but it’s not all about me,” he said. “I think it represents our football program. It represents the coaching staff and the hard work they do. It goes back to all our players. Our players did an amazing job for us this year.”
Chavez emphasized that Godoy would always watch hours of film, often finding tendencies of the week’s opponent and bringing the information to Chavez and the rest of the coaching staff. It was one of many things that Godoy did during the season to lead the top defense in the district.
But Godoy already had his sights set on the top defensive award during the offseason.
“I told myself, ‘I’m going to go extra hard this offseason and improve any way I can,’” he said. “I wanted my last year, my senior year to be a special one. Defensive MVP was a goal of mine. I had it posted in my locker as a reminder of what I was striving for (this season).”
Chavez feels like a father figure to his players, treating them like his own.
“I get after them, I’ll scream and holler and say a few words, I discipline them,” he said. “I’m tough on them. During practices I’m tough on them, but I also tell them I love them.”
Chavez and his players seem to bond together when it mattered the most.
“We overcame a lot. It’s not easy after those losses, the morale goes down. We just had to keep working,” he said. “I’ve been telling them we can play all year long and letting them know we still have a chance, this (wasn’t) over.
“I feel this group did a tremendous job, they just hung in there, nobody quit. I have to give a lot of credit to a lot of people that helped me get this award.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.