Bird hunt — Following a hard-fought victory over the Brownsville Veterans last week, the San Benito Greyhounds now target their arch-rivals, the Harlingen Cardinals, in the annual Battle of the Arroyo to conclude district play. (Courtesy photo/Hector Avila)
Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE, TX—The San Benito Greyhounds proved they weren’t just all bark, but bite too, as they held on to postseason aspirations and scored all of their points in the second half to defeat the Veterans Chargers, 28-24, at Sam’s Stadium on Halloween Night.
The San Benito (2-1 district, 2-7 season) comeback win came with 11 seconds remaining in a crucial District 32-6A game for both teams. It was the second time this season that the Chargers (1-3, 7-3) lost a district contest from inside the two-yard line, the last time three week ago against the Harlingen Cardinals in overtime.
To earn the San Benito victory, the Veterans received a lethal dose of senior running back Axel Hernandez and junior quarterback Albert Gonzalez as their combination plays moved the ball to their foe’s four-yard line.
Senior defensive captain Victor Rodriguez, who shares duties as a runner on some offensive plays, scored on his second rush with 11 seconds remaining. Rodriguez crossed the plane following some big help from his offensive line that pushed him forward.
Senior kicker Olvera connected on his fourth point after attempt to close out all scoring in the game. On that final offensive possession, San Benito was helped immensely by senior Kian Jones’ kickoff return to his team’s own 42-yard line.
On the ’Hounds’ first play following a Gonzalez pass to Jones, he crossed midfield but lost the football. Junior tackle Enrique Maldonado who was trailing him, jumped on the loose possession.
“It was amazing, awesome, but it took a couple of tries, I’m not going to lie,” Rodriguez said in a postgame interview. “(Veterans” had me outside the goal line, but I kept moving my feet, and my teammates behind me pushed me in and get that touchdown. That’s why we won. It wasn’t just me, it was the team.”
Despite trailing by two scores early in the second half, the ’Hounds continued to put pressure on the Chargers, who lost their district finale and have a bye this week. Veterans need the Los Fresnos Falcons (3-0, 9-0 season), who are in first place in the district, to beat the Brownsville Hanna Eagles (0-3, 2-7).
San Benito will play for second place in district when it battles the Harlingen Cardinals (2-1, 3-6), who lost at home last week to the Falcons by a 35-28 score in overtime.
To ensure the district victory, the San Benito defense did just enough against a high-powered Veterans team to give the offense more opportunities to score. It was never more apparent for the ’Hounds’ defense than in the second half.
Veterans led by a touchdown as it took the opening second-half drive for another score. But, it was a junior Peter Buenrostro tackle of a Calvin Trevillion 66-yard gain inside the ’Hounds’ 7-yard line that prevented the Chargers from going up by two TDs. Following a Veterans’ 24-yard field goal with 6:49 left in the third quarter, San Benito was able to work better with only a 10-0 deficit.
San Benito would go on to score on every four of its offensive drives in the second half with effective running and strategic passing schemes.
It started with its initial drive halfway through the third quarter. Running back Hernandez ate up a chunk of real estate to move into the Veterans’ side of the field. A 34-yard pass from quarterback Gonzalez to freshman receiver Sonny Ratliff who was all alone in the end zone would be the beginning of the ’Hounds’ offensive explosion. A point after attempt by kicker Olvera closed the gap to 10-7 at the 4:03 mark of the third.
Feeling the pressure to respond, the Veterans failed to gain a first down and it was forced to punt. San Benito’s Buenrostro returned the punt to near midfield. On San Benito’s first play, signal caller Gonzalez penetrated the Veterans’ interior and raced past the secondary untouched for a 56-yard TD. Olvera’s PAT gave San Benito a precarious 14-10 lead.
Junior Francisco Barrientos’ kickoff went deep into Veterans’ territory, which resulted in a short return. But on the Chargers’ second play from scrimmage, running back Trevillion toted the ball 80 yards for a score and following his team’s PAT took another lead, 17-14, with 1:03 showing in the third quarter.
The ’Hounds’ follow-up offensive drive ate up much of the fourth quarter clock. Head Coach Dan Gomez gambled with his offense, which was called for a couple of penalties, but still converted on third and fourth downs. It took San Benito nine plays, both courtesy of the run and pass to move on Veterans, highlighted by Hernandez’s TD score off shifty running. Olvera’s PAT put San Benito ahead 21-17 with 6:18 left in the game.
The Chargers had a couple of 1,000 yard rushers this season and they did what they do best, moving the ball, but were helped by a San Benito facemask call that moved their offensive possession to the ’Hounds’ 30-yard line. The Chargers, however, scored quickly on a 9-yard run, with just under two minutes to play – plenty of time for the ’Hounds to mount their comeback.
San Benito was helped immensely by Jones’ kickoff return to his team’s own 42-yard line. On the ’Hounds’ first offensive play following a pass to Jones, he crossed midfield but lost the football. Junior tackle Enrique Maldonado who was trailing him, jumped on the loose possession.
Veterans received a lethal dose of Hernandez and Gonzalez as their combination plays moved the ball to their foe’s 4-yard line. Senior defensive captain Victor Rodriguez, who shares duties as a runner on some offensive plays, scored on his second rush with 11 seconds remaining. Rodriguez crossed the plane following some big help from his offensive line that pushed him forward.
Olvera connected on his fourth PAT to close out all scoring.
The first half was anything like the final two quarters of the game due in large part to the defenses from both teams. San Benito defender Rodriguez was in on a tackle for a loss that forced Veterans into a third and long scenario. It also helped that San Benito punter Barrientos put his best foot forward and forced Veterans to begin drives deep in its own territory.
The Chargers’ lone first half touchdown drive started at their own 2-yard line. They were aided by key runs, including a big gain on third down and 18 from their own 9. Veterans would score on a Manny Escobedo 20-yard run with 2:08 before the half. San Benito responded with a drive that started at its own 7. The SBHS coaching staff designed four run and four pass plays that stalled at the Veterans’ 44-yard line.
On an earlier drive in the first quarter with less than seven minutes, San Benito’s Coach Gomez gambled on a fourth down and 4 play that resulted in a first down pass from quarterback Gonzalez to receiver Jones to the Veterans’ 39. But the ‘Hounds were forced to punt. But it would be a sign of things to come as the team began the second half with confidence.
The ’Hounds and Cardinals clash in the annual Battle of the Arroyo at Bobby Morrow Stadium, Friday at 7 p.m.
San Benito defeated Harlingen last year, 22-14, in a similar district finale. According to the greatamericanrivalry website, Harlingen owns a 68-24-10 record in matchups that began in 1923. San Benito, however, has won 14 of the last 23 games.
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