By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS
It was a packed house at Bobby Morrow Stadium last Friday, Aug. 25, as over 6,000 rabid Greyhound fans showed up for the football season opener against Brownsville Veterans Memorial.
The ’Hounds did not disappoint, coming away with a hard fought 28-21 victory over the Chargers to start off their season 1-0 for the third consecutive year. San Benito stuck to their game plan in what turned into a dog fight, refusing to throw a single pass and relying on their bruising rushing attack to lead them to victory.
Fabian Garcia showed why he’s one of the most decorated players in school history, breaking his first carry of the season for a 59-yard score.
After a relatively uneventful next few drives, the Greyhounds appeared poised to blow the game open in the second quarter when Aaron Garza rumbled for a 20-yard-touchdown that pushed the score to 14-0.
The score held until halftime as both squads failed to find their groove offensively.
Despite being unable to add to its lead, the San Benito defense looked every bit as dominant as a year ago, pitching a shutout in the first half and holding the Brownsville Veterans to less than 120 first half yards.
The 14-0 halftime lead was a shock to most as the Chargers came into the season with district championship aspirations, but San Benito looked intent on proving a point.
The Chargers came out of the break with a new game plan, showing the talent that had most media outlets ranking them as a top five team in the Valley this season. The first drive of the second half saw Brownsville Vets drive 85-yards on nine plays, capping off with an explosive 23-yard touchdown run.
The Greyhounds were held to a three-and-out on their first drive of the third quarter, punting the ball back to the red hot Chargers. Brownsville Veterans kept the momentum rolling, breaking an electric 45-yard-touchdown that cut the lead to one, with San Benito holding on to a 14-13 advantage.
Want the story in its entirety? Pick up a copy of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our e-Edition by clicking HERE!