Purple Thunder defense keys victory for ‘Hounds

By PETE BANDA   
Reporter
Reporter@sbnewspaper.com

They were undefeated with one of the highest powered offenses in the Valley. They had scored 28 touchdowns in their first six games, with a combined 2,190 yards of offense (365 per game.) Plain and simple, anybody who thought the Greyhounds would win this game was thinking it would have to be a shootout. They were almost right.

At the start of the game, it looked like we would have a repeat of last year’s wild 67-57 scoring fiesta as both teams came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. The San Benito defense made sure that didn’t happen.

To put things into perspective, the score at halftime was 24-14 with San Benito hitting a late field goal to push their lead to 10. The Chargers had put at least 40 points on every team they played this year, so the Greyhounds knew they had to come out strong in the second half.

“We knew that they have the talent to score on any play if we give them a chance,” said junior linebacker Richard Moreno. “All week we knew that we had to play our best against them and I’m so proud of my teammates for stepping up like this.”

The stepping up Moreno was talking about had to do with only allowing one touchdown and forcing three turnovers in the second half. Two of those came off of interceptions from cornerback Juan Gonzalez who said there wasn’t any way he wasn’t coming away with the two jump balls late in the game. “I saw it in the air and the only thing I could think of was that ball was mine,” said Gonzalez. “Anything I can do to help this defense is what I’m going to do.”

In total, this defense forced four turnovers, including two inside the Chargers five yard line. “Turnovers can win or lose a game for you… we just work harder at getting them and it showed today,” added Moreno.