Sal Tovar is our Mid Valley 2016 Most Valuable Player (Photo by Duane Barker)
Most Valuable Player: What does that mean? Where as Player of the Year may amount to big numbers, enormous talent and outstanding performances, MVP means who was the most valuable to his particular team.
Who is that one player that the team could simply not do without? Who is the difference between wins and losses. Who is the player that if he were to go down to injury, the season would be ruined. Sometimes a Player of the Year might be surrounded by so many other good players that the team could still succeed without him. Not so with the MVP.
In 2016 that player was South El Monte running back Sal Tovar. The Eagles lost only two games all year – both defeats were to CIF champions. Division 12 champ Arroyo beat South September 30 and Division 13 champ Rancho Christian knocked off the Eagles in the semi finals. Great season. But where would the Eagles have been without Tovar?
“Tangent Dreams: A High School Football Novel” is available for $16.99 thru Amazon.com
South El Monte had 4,935 yards total as a team and Tovar had 2,953 of them. The Eagles scored 66 touchdowns, Tovar had 39 of them. All 39 came on the ground as he rushed for 2,801 yards on 315 carries. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry and averaged just over 215 yards per game.
Three times Tovar rushed for over 300 yards including 308 in a 61-47 second round playoff win over Santa Clarita Christian. As a team South El Monte rushed for 53 touchdowns. Think about that, only 14 of the Eagles 53 rushing touchdowns were by somebody not named Sal Tovar.
South El Monte had a resurgence this year under Frank Gallardo, but its hard to imagine where they would have been without the junior running back.
Sal Tovar is our 2016 Most Valuable Player.
Individual Awards
Coach of the Year: Jim Singiser – Arroyo
Player of the Year: Bobby Cole – Sierra Canyon
Most Valuable Player: Sal Tovar – South El Monte
Buddy, what game were you watching?
You can’t be serious. It was 38-7 middle of the third man. This kid didn’t play half of the third and none of the fourth. Any offense vs South El Monte was during that portion of the game when the Frosh/Sophs lined up for the Eagles. Oh I get it you might’ve read the stats and figured hey my son out gained that Runningback, ha ha good one.
A little perspective is in order here. First, for those of us who attended their 1st round playoff game, it was obvious that Tovar got outplayed by a guy running behind an O-line averaging 170 lbs at best, with no passing game to speak of.
Second, maybe it was embarrassing to get caught from behind twice by a “F-ing white boy”, but that doesn’t make it right for you to refer to said ” white boy” in that manner.
Sal Tovar is not related to Andrew Tovar
Well deserved kid I know him personally he play’s hard & work’s hard comes from a good family, dad been involved in coaching him since he was young, I’m proud to say he comse from South El Monte, keep it up kid
Ibis would not have built a dynasty at South. Look what he did at Bonita, 0-5 in league first time ever by Bonita. SEM was a mess when he got fired from South.
Every kid on the Los Altos Roster, at those that actually contributed, attended middle school in HLPUSD…so no SEM kids. Tovar is a hell of a player though, and much deserving!
They are not related!
The butterfly effect!
Imagine if his big brother doesn’t go to Cathedral and stays at SEM? Aguilar doesn’t get fired and he’s probably coming off his third MVL title. Oh what could’ve been. Maybe those kids at Los Altos Arroyo Amat who’s home school is SEM would’ve stayed home, could’ve been a dynasty! Any congrats young Tovar looking forward to watching you a couple times next year
Congrats to Sal Tovar and the Entire SEM team. Great season. Great player. Throwing down the challenge right now lol you guys better be ready next year for the showdown congrats again kid. Truly deserve it
Tovar had big numbers. SEM had a remarkable year. Frank Gallardo validates his personnel moves and appointment as HC of SEM. Is this Tovar related to the Cathedral QB, Tovar?
A tremendous kid on a resurgent team. I’m guessing that Tovar had some help in the blocking department, which reflects well on the preparatory work put in by Gallardo and crew. Much credit to MVS for nailing these selections so far.