All-Metro MVP Ramirez fulfilled lofty expectations

After a sudden arrival on the scene last year, there were some pretty lofty expectations this year for Eduardo Ramirez.

The Los Fresnos running back was expected to rack up yards, touchdowns and wins behind a stout offensive line and with his buddy Chris Galarza splitting carries in the backfield.

And you know what, sometimes things go according to plan.

After a season in which he carried the ball 158 times for 1,341 yards and 15 touchdowns and helped the Falcons to a 8-3 mark, Ramirez is The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Most Valuable Player.

“It’s great,” Ramirez said. “I feel like all the work I put into this year paid off.”

Ramirez started the season with a bang — 115 yards and the game-winning run in overtime to upset Austin Del Valle. He followed that up with 145 against PSJA High, 140 against McAllen Rowe and 241 against Weslaco High.

By that point, it wasn’t exactly a big secret. What Ramirez did in the offseason had certainly paid off.

“I knew that we had to be better this year than we were in 2010,” Ramirez said. “We practiced hard, I spent extra hours working my butt off.”

While Ramirez wound up second in District 32-5A in rushing and got the postseason award attention, it’s not like Galarza was left out in the wind.

He still had 1,027 yards and 12 TDs on 145 carries, good enough for fourth in the district.

In the end, that would be a 13-carry difference between the two.

“We were equal, we always said we were equal,” Ramirez said. “As long as we knew we gave it 100 percent on the field and in practice, we didn’t care who got the ball.”

The numbers were one thing, the wins another. But it’s that kind of unselfishness and that kind of mentality that will stay with Ramirez now that he’s finished putting on the pads.

That’s the type of thing he’ll take the most out of football.

“It made me a better person,” Ramirez said. “It made me a better player, too. I (know) I have to work hard to get what I want.”

Now that it’s all over, the only thing left to do is look back and reflect.

“It was a great memory, because these guys were like brothers to me,” Ramirez said. “I though it was a great experience.”

Todd Orodenker covers District 32-5A for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at torodenker@brownsvilleherald.com. Follow him on Twitter @ToddO243.

The Brownsville Herald’s 2011 All-Metro Team

Most Valuable Player

Eduardo Ramirez, Los Fresnos

Offensive Player of the Year

Mark Gonzalez, Porter

Defensive Player of the Year

Ubaldo Encinia, Pace

All-Purpose Player of the Year

Akeem Simien, Los Fresnos

Newcomer of the Year

Adrian Alejandro, Pace

Coach of the Year

Rene Medrano, Pace

First Team

Quarterback

Dustin Hernandez, Pace

Running Back

Chris Silva, Hanna; Jacquil Evans, Rivera

Fullback

Eliseo Morua, Pace

Wide Receiver

Jose Luis Barcenas, Porter; Angel Flores, Porter; Danny Munoz, Pace

Tight End

Abraham Quezada, Lopez

Offensive Tackle

Hiram Morales, Pace; Christian Rodriguez, Los Fresnos

Offensive Guard

Joe Rodriguez, Los Fresnos; Hector Orozco, Rivera

Center

Greg Uribe, Los Fresnos

Kicker

Edgar Vidal, Porter

Defensive End

Jesse Purata, Los Fresnos; Jacques Guillot, Port Isabel

Defensive Tackle

Mike Galvan, Rivera; Hector Gandara, Pace

Linebacker

Dustin Phillipp, St. Joseph; Luis Mendez, Pace; Joel Garza, Porter

Defensive Back

Christian Lozoya, Los Fresnos; Ricky Hernandez, Lopez; Kyle Carter, Pace; Victor Aguilar, Hanna

Punter

Noe Longoria, Lopez

Second team

Quarterback

Osiel Benavides, Rivera

Running Back

Brandon Olvera, St. Joseph; Chris Galarza, Los Fresnos

Fullback

Matt Martinez, Port Isabel

Wide Receiver

C.J. Arizmendi, Pace; Luis Garza, Porter; Daniel Gutierrez, St. Joseph

Tight End

Erick Trevino, Port Isabel

Offensive Tackle

Ivan Garza, Porter; Jesus Gallegos, Hanna

Offensive Guard

Sal Godinez, Lopez; Greg Zarco, Hanna

Center

Rick Silva, Lopez

Kicker

Victor Perez, Pace

Defensive End

Juvenal Torres, Rivera; Arnold Jimenez, Hanna

Defensive Tackle

Michael Picazo, Lopez; Felipe Cantu, Los Fresnos

Linebacker

Ben Hernandez, Pace; Manny Trevino, Rivera; Diego Najera, St. Joseph

Defensive Back

David Gutierrez, Rivera; Jacob Rodriguez, Pace; Edward Naranjo, Lopez; Hugo Martinez, Pace

Punter

Carlos Castillo, Rivera