Albert Chavez named All-Valley Most Valuable Player

The one thing everybody could see from Albert Chavez during the 2009 season was his confidence. When he played, he walked in a different kind of way than any other player. When he got up after getting hit, it was with a slightly different posture than anybody else’s. And when he spoke… he said (and backed up) statements few in the Rio Grande Valley should mutter.

“He actually is a very humble kid away from the field. But he has that confidence on the field. He wants the ball in his hands,” Mercedes coach Michael Uribe said. “We’ve had several conversations and he says, ‘Coach, you think I can do this?’ or, ‘You really think I’m that good?’”

Of course, a player asking a coach those questions isn’t unusual. Doing much of what Chavez did, however, is more than slightly different. In 10 regular season games, Chavez passed for 2,143 yards, 23 touchdowns to only three interceptions while completing 136 of 226 attempts (60.1 percent). He also rushed for 1,181 yards and 13 scores and led the Tigers to the second round of the postseason and within one game of a District 32-4A championship.

For his efforts, Chavez was named the 2009 All-Valley Most Valuable Player. And, frankly, he had been the favorite for the award since doing something few have, albeit in a loss.

During the Tigers’ 50-48 Week 1 loss to Los Fresnos, Chavez accounted for 605 yards of total offense. In leading the Tigers back from a 38-10 halftime deficit to the brink of victory, Chavez passed for 287 yards and one score while running for 318 and two TDs.

“I think the most influential thing about that game was his desire to win that game,” Uribe said. “When we were down 28 points at half, most kids would have checked it in. But his desire to win the game… you saw that mentality hop from one person to the other.”

Though Chavez and the Tigers didn’t win that game, there were plenty of other higlights for Chavez. He led Mercedes to its first win over Edcouch-Elsa since 2002, throwing for 245 yards and four TDs. There was also the game at Weslaco East when he overcame three first-half turnovers to lead a rally over the previously-undefeated Wildcats by throwing for two scores and running for the game-winner in the fourth.

And during his run, Chavez became a player other teams targeted. The keys coming from opposing coaches never changed. It was to stop Chavez.

Most didn’t. And Chavez was sure they wouldn’t.

“It just got me a lot more confident, kind of pumped me up,” Chavez said. “I guess they knew after the game it was a team effort.”

Brian Sandalow covers District 32-4A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.

Albert Chavez, Mercedes

>> Position: Quarterback

>> Class: Senior

>> Height: 6-3

>> Weight: 210

>> Bio: Chavez was the unanimous District 32-4A offensive most valuable player. During the Tigers’ 50-48 loss to Los Fresnos, Chavez accounted for over 600 yards of total offense, leading Mercedes back from a 28-point halftime deficit. He also led Mercedes to its first win over Edcouch-Elsa since 2002 and led the Tigers to the second round of the playoffs. Overall, Chavez passed for 2,143 yards and 23 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions. He completed 136 of 226 passes (60.1 percent), while rushing for 1,181 and 13 TDs.

>> One thing fans don’t know about Chavez: His favorite sport is actually basketball.

>> When not playing football, Chavez is: Hanging out with his friends and family or playing basketball.