Arroyo's Steven Rivera
Welcome to Awards Season.
The career of Steven Rivera is easy to celebrate; accounting for over 100 touchdowns in a four year varsity career has a way of doing that. In fact the argument has been forwarded by some that he may be the best player in Mission Valley League history, but for now lets just talk about 2011.
In the literal Rivera accounted for 48 touchdowns this fall: Passing for 38, rushing 9, and returning another for a score. From his safety spot he was in on 131 tackles, forced seven fumbles, recovered five fumbles, had six passes defended, and registered four interceptions while also dropping 10 punts inside opponents 20-yard line.
That’s enough, but what the numbers don’t show is Rivera’s will and continuous effort. It doesn’t show the countless times he rallied his team on both offense and defense. When it made sense over the course of Arroyo’s 10-2 season to pick against them, it didn’t make sense to pick against Rivera.
On football sidelines over the last four years one refrain has been heard, but that refrain beat like a drum in 2011 as the guy wearing number 10 for the Knights made the impossible possible. Sometimes they said it with a shake of the head, sometimes they said it with jaw-dropping disbelief, but they always said it with a smile. They said; “Rivera.”
For that effort and results Rivera is Mid Valley Sports, Mid-Valley Division Most Valuable Player in 2011.
(Mid-Valley Division Offensive Assistant of the Year: Arroyo’s Chris MacMillan)
(Southeast Division Offensive Assistant of the Year: Pasadena’s Mike McKay)
(Mid-Valley Division Defensive Assistant of the Year: Monrovia’s Craig Schuster)
(Southeast Division Defensive Assistant of the Year: West Covina’s Jason Heilman)
(Mid-Valley Division Newcomer of the Year: El Monte’s Brandon Martinez)
(Southeast Division Newcomer of the Year: La Serna’s Frankie Palmer)
(Mid-Valley Division Coach of the Year: San Gabriel’s Jude Oliva)
(Southeast Division Coach of the Year: Los Altos’ Dale Ziola)
(Mid-Valley Division Player of the Year: San Gabriel’s Alex Villalobos)
(Southeast Division Player of the Year: Burroughs’ Zander Anding)
(Mid-Valley Division Most Valuable Player: Arroyo’s Steven Rivera)
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