The San Benito Greyhounds fell Friday evening to the McAllen Nikki Rowe Warriors in a hardfought 34-28 loss. The ’Hounds played in McAllen, the location of their only other loss against the Memorial Mustangs earlier this season. (Photo by Vince Galvan)
By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS
McALLEN – For the second time in as many tries, the San Benito Greyhounds left McAllen Friday with the bitter taste of defeat heavy in their mouth.
This time, the ’Hounds dropped a heartbreaking 34-28 nailbiter to the Nikki Rowe Warriors when their attempt to overcome a 13-point fourth quarter deficit ended with a fumble.
The ’Hounds wasted little time putting points on the board as Arturo Coronado, back after missing last week’s game, took the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. The Warriors were just as willing to open up the scoring early, recording a touchdown on their first drive. With the game knotted up at 7 apiece and the Warriors just five yards away from adding another touchdown to their first quarter points, Adrian Zuniga stripped the ball and ran it 20 yards out. Unfortunately for San Benito, the Greyhounds were unable to capitalize, turning the ball over on downs.
Nikki Rowe, however, connected on a 52-yard bomb for a score the very next play. Coronado, by far the most consistent offensive player of the night, added a rushing touchdown to tie the game at 14. The Warriors converted several fourth downs on the night, perhaps none bigger than the fourth down touchdown they scored just minutes before the end of the half.
The usually suffocating defense of the Greyhounds continued to get shredded by the pass game to start the second half as Nikki Rowe marched it 75 yards down the field on their opening drive of the third quarter, but a missed extra point made it a 27-14 ballgame. One more third quarter touchdown made it a 34-14 game before the final quarter started.
The Greyhound defense, despite giving up over 400 yards of offense, made some key plays to help San Benito get back in the game. Jamail Garza made the play that got the comeback started, intercepting a Nikki Rowe pass and taking it down to the three-yard line, resulting in a three yard Jesse Jimenez touchdown. The next defensive play, a huge third down stop got the ’Hounds the ball back trailing by 13. San Benito wouldn’t let this opportunity slip through their hands as the drive culminated in a 9-yard Raul Luna score, making just a six point game at 34-28 with five minutes left.
The improbable comeback finally looked probable when San Benito took control of the ball with just four minutes in the game and about 80-yards away from a touchdown. The offense started what looked like the best drive of the night, getting all the way down to the Warrior 40 yardline before a mishandled snap let Nikki Rowe off the hook, ending the valiant efforts of the Greyhounds.
San Benito now falls to a 1-2 district hole as they continue to hold out hope of a 31-5A crown.
Read this story in the September 30 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
16 comments
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We are one! Lets eveybody do the WAVE!
I agree with you Laura! Many of these fans/parents think their son is the star of the team whey in fact they are not! We should support all our players equally and cheer them on not criticize them or jaunt them. Coach Gantt and his staff deserve our respect. Didn’t the team already beat the Cardinals? Isn’t that what everybody wanted. Let’s all show up with are purple and gold shirts on Friday to cheer our boys not put them down. If not, stay home! GO HOUNDS GO! BEAT THE RAIDERS!!!
OMG-change the quarterback! These are 16-17 yrs old boys working their butts off everyday for their SEASON.. Its a shame when you hear fans speak badly about these players during the game, but I bet if fans were talking about their sons or daughters things would be different. BE GREYHOUND FANS AND SUPPORT…..Its not a professional game PEOPLE… and you know what I do have a nephew that plays for that team SO I DO KNOW how these boys work extremely hard everyday……
YOU MISSED THE WHOLE POINT JOHN COOK AND SHELLY: The atmosphere of the game should be of “support” and “pride” not about all the negative comments coming from the stands. These ugly comments only affect the team more because they hear them at the game and then at home by their parents. Instead, we should all rally behind the team and coaches….not boo them and yell at them. That is plain ugly and rude!! …and unprofessional. Coaching little league does not compare to coaching a high school team. Common sense! A head high school coach has a Bachelors Degree in coaching including exercise and sports science, physiology, kinesiology, nutrition and fitness, physical education, and sports medicine. It’s not just about calling plays. And many times it’s up to the players to execute, and that is not the coaches fault. Why is it the the coaches fault if the receivers don’t catch the ball? Why is it the coaches fault if the quarterback fumbles the ball? It’s all about execution. TO JOHN COOK: I will continue attending the games regardles of what you say. I just hope you are not one of thos coach wanabees in the stands making fools out of themselves. And no JOHN COOK, attending a U.I.L is a priviledge not a right. We need true fans in the stands, not little coaches wanting to be coaches!
need new Qb agree
Way too many coach wannabees! Every game we have all these parent coaches in the stands who think they can coach yelling obscenities. The worst part is that they yell out at the coaches and without knowing it they are bringing our kids down. These coach wannabees need to learn to keep their mouth shut!! We need to support our team and coaches in the good and in the bad…no matter what! I guarantee you that if these coach wannabees would get to coach the Hounds for one day they would learn that its not that easy. I for one think Coach Gantt has taken our team a long way compared to three years ago. So please people learn how to truly support our Hounds. Oh and please don’t leave early. That is considered rude! GO HOUNDS!!!
What ever lady. We pay for our tickets and have a right to our opinion. Who are you to tell people what to do.
Lizzy if you don’t like the atmosphere, don’t go to the games. People have a right to do whatever they want.
Those “wannabe” coaches were not “wannabe” coaches when they were coaching their boys on the sidelines not too many years ago. I can understand their frustration, since they know these boys better than we do, especially their potential. All I can say is, you win like a team, you lose like a team. We believe in you Hounds!
we dont need qb change what we need is NEW COACHES NEW PLAYS
I totally agree!!!
If pro Qb that make millions make mistakes … These 16 and 17 year olds that play for love of it…of course will make mistakes…enjoy the game… Give our kids a break!
So much for Nike Rowe. I mean Nikki Rowe. Switch everyone that would be fun. It’s only a game. Get a defensive end to run as ruing back. I remember back in the good days and player would go up to his coach and say “Give Me The Ball Coach! as he followed the coach up and down the sidelines. Or another player say Coach! “Throw me he ball Coach! I”ll get open! Today it’sjust Fumbleing the ball. Penalties, Droped passes, not blocking, hitting the ball carrier instead of tackeling,to may mistakes….Basic…..Mistakes….and why not swich he QB? will is the team mature enough t handle it?
Coach Gantt needs to switch QB’S from Himenez to Castillo if the hounds want to win next friday himenez is a good qb but when the game comes dwn to the wire he freezes up
GREAT job Turi!!! We’re so proud of you! The amount of tenacity and brazen effort you put into every game shows, and that’s why you’re a Greyhound! Although this game was lost, I just know the hounds will come back with a vengeance! GOOOOOOOOOO HOUNDS!!!!
Point blank switch your quarterback San Benito