San Benito Greyhound running back Arturo Coronado is seen running the ball during Friday’s game against the Weslaco Panthers. Also pictured is quarterback Dylan Castillo. (Photos by Vince Galvan and T.J. Tijerina)
By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS
Although the Greyhounds won’t be heading to the playoffs this year, they made sure their Homecoming game was a memorable one. Led by a bevy of talented seniors, the ’Hounds ended the regular season by killing any hope the Weslaco Panthers had at a co-district championship by grinding out a 21-14 victory over the Panthers.
Running back Arturo Coronado finished up one of the best seasons a Greyhound running back has had in years with a 108 yard, two touchdown performance while making it all seem easy. “I just wanted to have a good game to give momentum and confidence to next year’s seniors,” said Coronado, “even though this season didn’t end how we wanted it to and we didn’t make the playoffs we still wanted to fight to show that hard work pays off in the end.”
San Benito wasted no time showing that they still had the desire to win as quarterback Dylan Castillo ran in the first score of the game from three yards out on the first possession for the Greyhounds. Weslaco, however, didn’t have nearly as much juice as the Greyhounds did to start the game, going three and out on their first three possessions. With the Greyhound defense shutting down the usually high powered Panther attack, San Benito was able to chip away at the Weslaco defense, driving their way down field by way of a 47-yard bomb from Castillo to Jonathan Guzman to place the Hounds just three yards away from another score.
On what looked like a sure touchdown play, Weslaco managed to strip the ball from the Greyhound ball carrier denying any points San Benito had in mind. While hanging on to the seven point lead, Coronado broke free from tacklers in the backfield to scamper his way to a 43-yard score. Right before halftime, it looked as if San Benito was about to take a stranglehold on the game with another score until a turnover ended the half with the ’Hounds holding their 14-point lead.
Weslaco came out in the second half again stymied by the Greyhound D, managing only a few first downs throughout the third quarter. The Panthers managed to catch a break, though, when a pass by Castillo was picked off and returned 65 yards for the Panthers first score of the game.
The score must have got Weslaco going because their next offensive possession almost resulted in another touchdown – “almost” being the keyword. After being chased around by senior Adrian “Sackman” Zuniga, the Panther quarterback lobbed a Hail Mary into the endzone only to get intercepted by a waiting Josh Alonzo. The interception, late in the fourth quarter, led to another Coronado TD to basically seal the game.
Weslaco did manage a late score but with only 34 seconds left, the game was already in hand for San Benito.
Despite this not being a playoff propelling win, Greyhound Head Coach Spencer Gantt was optimistic about what the win means for the future. “I think anytime you come out and beat a team that’s headed to the playoffs, it shows how much potential our team really has,” said Gantt. “We were 16 points away from being an undefeated team this year but we just didn’t get the job done. Ending the season with a win does help our team going into the offseason though and I’m glad we showed how good we can be lookin on to next year.”
Read this story in the Nov. 11 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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I would like this message to get to whoever is responsible for reporting sports for high school kids. Before they use to write small articles from other grade levels playing football or any other sport. If we are ALL ONE school/district they should be able to write alittle something from every grade level playing a sport especially if A STUDENT is representing the SAN BENITO GREYHOUND VARSITY/JUNOIR VARSITY: FOOTBALL TEAM, TRACK, CROSS COUNTRY, WRESTLEING, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, TENNIS, BAND and anything our kids give there time to out of school participation.
PLEASE DON’T FORGET OUR KIDS THAT ARE IN SPORTS!!!!
Excellent point Amanda, this should have been covered right up there with our Band’s accomplishment. I agree with u 100%, & these are our Future Hounds!!!
Thanks Alot SBCISD for waiting for the last .37 seconds left in the game to annouced about the JV HOUNDS DISTRICT CHAMP!!!! Why couldn’t they have done it thru out the game or at least at halftime before or after….Not only does the school personnal leave them out and now at the last game it couldn’t have been announced earlier in the game. Remember this is our next football team/players for 2013-2014 season. THANKS ALOT SAN BENITO CISD!
**********GREAT JOB JV HOUNDS FOR WINNING DISTRICT!***************
Should I just mention these boys (some) they have been winning DISTRICT CHAMPS since they were in 7th grade. Some came from Miller Jordan, Berta Cabaza and Riverside.
Proud Mom of THE SAN BENITO JV HOUNDS TEAM!
It looks like Harlingen Cardinals HC Manny Gomez was right all along. It’s all about the big picture. It’s not how you start, but how you finish. Greyhounds started 2-0 but didn’t make the playoffs. Cardinals started 0-2 but made the playoffs.
thats ok john you no why we need NEW COACH TO MAKE IT NEXT YEAR
John im upset that the hounds didn’t make the postseason but if there’s a game being played at the stadium other than the hounds im going to be there to support
Good way to end the season Hounds!
Better Luck next year!
On the bright side I believe they announced that our JV squad were district champs!! Hopefully that traslates to a good season next year!
We’ll see. GO HOUNDS!!!
Way to go Hounds on a great season but Bobby Morrow Stadium wnt be empty next Friday when Port Isabel plays Lyford at 7:30pm spread the word
Your so optomistic Rick, the Hounds just blew there season and your thinking of other teams. Good luck at the game Rick “The number one Fan”.