(Courtesy photo/Hector Avila)
BY ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
HARLINGEN, TX—The San Benito Greyhounds took advantage of multiple Harlingen Cardinal fumbles to help San Benito win the annual Battle of the Arroyo for the second consecutive year, this time at Boggus Stadium, Friday night.
The 22-14 victory earned the Greyhounds a 2-8 overall record, while their foes finished at 5-5 on the regular season. San Benito finished with a 2-2 record in District 32-6A, and Harlingen 1-3.
Both teams qualified for the postseason, which begins this weekend.
The Cardinals had six fumbles in the game, costing them dearly as the ‘Hounds eventually scored twice on Francisco Barrientos field goals.
The last Harlingen fumble came with a mere minute remaining in the fourth quarter. The ‘Hounds then ran the clock out in a game they never trailed.
In fact, after the San Benito defense forced Harlingen to punt on the game’s opening drive, the team returned the favor by scoring on its first offensive drive with 6:14 remaining in the first quarter. It took the ‘Hounds six plays to get on the scoreboard with a Victor Rodriguez one-yard run. Barrientos kicked the point after attempt for a 7-0 lead.
At the 3:26 mark of the second quarter, San Benito’s Kian Jones scored on a 24-yard run for a 13-0 advantage.
Harlingen twice scored to close in on the San Benito leads. The first TD came in the second quarter on a 19-yard play for a 13-7 halftime deficit. In the third quarter, after San Benito received the opening second half kick, Barrientos eventually made good on a 32-yard field goal.
Harlingen again scored on a run to close within two points (trailing 16-14). San Benito’s last scores in the fourth quarter came off two Harlingen turnovers. Barrientos had a memorable night scoring on field goals of 25 and 21 yards, respectively.
San Benito will face Weslaco in Weslaco for the Bi-District Championship on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 2 p.m.
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