![(Photo by Edward Cruz) San Benito Greyhounds senior wide receiver R.J. Atkinson is seen hauling in a pass from QB Cristian Sierra during Saturday night's key 32-6A matchup against Brownsville Veterans at Sams Stadium.]()
(Photo by Edward Cruz)
San Benito Greyhounds senior wide receiver R.J. Atkinson is seen hauling in a pass from QB Cristian Sierra during Saturday night’s key 32-6A matchup against Brownsville Veterans at Sams Stadium.
By ARMANDO GARZA
Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE — As they walked behind the end zone toward their waiting bus on Saturday night, a couple of San Benito Greyhound players, visibly drained from the track meet they’d just run, had an earnest question for this reporter, who happened to be nearby.
“What was the score again, sir?”
Indeed, guys. Indeed.
It truly was difficult to comprehend and process what had just transpired on a windy night at Sams Stadium. It was a game in which defense was certainly on the optional side while each team scored points at breakneck speed. A true treat for the fans who packed the 61-year old stadium, while a hellish nightmare for defensive coaches on both sides.
After the dust settled, it went in the books as a 67-57 victory over Brownsville Veterans Memorial for San Benito, lifting the ’Hounds to 5-2 overall (4-0 in District 32-6A) and alone atop the Lower Valley big school standings.
But it was much, much more than that.
The numbers —which will surely vary depending on whose pen was fastest—are staggering: the 124 combined points in regulation are believed to be the most ever for a Rio Grande Valley high school football game.
On the night, San Benito cranked out an astounding 851 yards offensively (515 rushing, 336 passing).
Read that again: 851 yards. Afterward, San Benito offensive coordinator Gilbert Leal, in passing, was also awestruck when told the number.
“PlayStation,” Leal said simply. “And we needed every single one.”
One would be hard-pressed to pick a star out of the box on a night when San Benito had plenty of them. As he’s done all season, quarterback Cristian Sierra was masterful, throwing for the 336 yards and four TDs while rushing for 103 and another score. Don’t be afraid to throw in Gabriel Vasquez, the ultra-fast no. 14, who had the night of a lifetime with 337 yards and three big touchdowns.
But ’Hounds head coach Dan Gomez, quickly becoming a favorite in the Resaca City, put things into perspective as he always does.
“It’s a team win. Every coach knows that when one side’s down, it’s the other side’s job to pick em up and that’s what we did,” Gomez said. “We pulled through and we played like the Greyhounds. We kept pushing and pushing.
“They have a helluva team over there, a great team,” Gomez said of the Chargers. “They’re gonna make some noise. I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach (David) Cantu and his players.”
Ah yes, coach.
On the other side, a feisty, classy squad from Veterans (5-2, 3-1) was not far behind on anything on the statsheet. The Chargers rolled up 693 of their own yards (560 rushing, 133 passing). The man of the hour, Derrik Rodriguez, turned in a game that will be talked about for years. No. 11 rushed 30 times for 395 yards and five touchdowns (73, 47, 70, 59, 1) as he left defenders in the dust time and again.
“Legendary,” Chargers head coach David Cantu said. “Derrick Rodriguez is a special football player. I think the last two games, he’s done things we’ll never forget.”
At the onset, it looked like fans were in for anything but a Sams Stadium Saturday night Shootout.
San Benito went three-and-out to start the game and then had its punt blocked by Vets’ Kevin Fischer. But four plays later, the Chargers coughed it up and the ’Hounds’ Richard Moreno was happy to oblige with the recovery.
“Defensive battle,” most thought. “Yeah, right” was the players’ response.
The ’Hounds got a 24-yard field goal from Alejandro Lugo to strike first. But seven seconds later, Rodriguez put Vets ahead on the first of his marvelous QB-keeper touchdowns up the middle, this one a 73-yarder to make it 7-3 home team with 5:25 to go in the first.
San Benito answered on Sierra’s seven-yard scoot a couple minutes later, however Rodriguez would have none of it, going 47 yards for his second TD and a 14-9 Chargers edge.
Then Vasquez recorded his 15-yard score and it was 15-14 ’Hounds to start the second quarter, but once again, Rodriguez willed his way 70 yards up the gut to give the lead back to the Chargers.
A flurry, certainly, but just a prelude to the blizzard.
Vasquez jabbed right back with a 36-yard TD jaunt, putting the score 22-21 SB with 9:14 to go before half.
Later, Carlos Garza put his name on the ledger with a superb 46-yard sprint to paydirt, and it was advantage Veterans. Then Jeremiah Meyers, who would be a factor on this night, scooped up a Sierra fumble and went half the field for a TD and 35-22 lead with 8:35 left before half. Then Armando Medrano stopped the bleeding for the ’Hounds with a 30-yard score to sew up a period of four touchdowns in 1:04 of game action.
With the score 35-29 Vets, SB’s Mario Valdez picked off a Charger pass for a rare defensive highlight. A few plays later, Sierra hit Victor Gaitan on a 33-yard TD to give San Benito a 36-35 edge with 5:46 still to play before intermission.
After a SB defensive stand (yes) Sierra connected with R.J. Atkinson (33 yards) to push the lead to 43-35. Vets added a late field goal as the score was 43-38 ’Hounds at the break.
While everyone caught their breath during a halftime break sans bands on Pigskin night, Vets’ Rodriguez made sure to take it away with a 59-yard TD to give the Chargers a 44-43 advantage.
Lugo added a 33-yard field goal to give SB the lead back a couple minutes later, and after another defensive hold, Sierra found Medrano perfectly in stride on a 64-yard TD bomb, making it 53-44 ’Hounds at the 4:25 mark of the third.
At that point, the stadium truly got to exhale when San Benito DB JC Hernandez suffered a leg injury and had to be carted off to a local hospital. Everyone to a man was zeroed in on Hernandez, and fans on both sides graciously applauded him as he left to get attention.
“They’re great men,” Gomez said of the Chargers. “After the game, they asked to put a blessing on no. 7 and that shows the type of program Coach Cantu has at Veterans.”
That event was what may have put the ’Hounds ahead for good.
Playing with heavy hearts, the defense forced a Rodriguez fumble at their own 5. On the very first play, Vasquez went up the right side and streaked the 95 yards to quiet the Chargers side.
“My mentality was that I had to do it for J.C.,” Vasquez said. “We did it for him and we all played for J.C.”
Trailing 60-43, Vets needed something and got it when Meyers broke loose for a 64-yard score, igniting the home side once again STILL in the third quarter.
In the final stanza, Rodriguez scored from a yard away to make it 60-57 with 5:09 to go and tensions were still high.
But that’s when a big San Benito march ended with a one-yard drive from Edward Alvarez to put it away. Throw in an interception from Juan “Missle” Gonzalez and the deal was sealed.
“I have to give big congratulations to San Benito,” Cantu said. “We played a great game and they gave us a playoff atmosphere that not many high school players get to experience. We’re just gonna have to find a way.”
San Benito now sits in the driver’s seat for a possible run, but must finish strong against Brownsville Lopez, Harlingen South and Brownsville Rivera. But no one’s getting ahead of themselves in “War Dog” land.
“No way it’s not over yet,” Gomez said.
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