By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS
MCALLEN, TX—The San Benito Greyhound Varsity Football Team added another check in the win column last week when it dismantled the previously unbeaten McAllen Memorial Mustangs.
The game had the makings of an all-out dogfight in the first quarter, but that quickly changed as the game progressed.
San Benito now boasts perfect 3-0 starts for the third consecutive season.
Memorial got the opening kickoff and immediately asserted itself with some power runs.
After a few short runs, Mustang running back JP Garza broke a 40-yard touchdown to give the Greyhounds their first deficit of the season. San Benito looked to be in for a long night when it had to settle for a 42-yard field goal on its first drive to bring the score to 6-3.
The Mustangs nearly broke the game wide open on their next drive when a 45-yard pass went off the fingertips of a streaking Memorial receiver. A holding penalty on the next play led to the Mustangs’ punting after three quick plays, but San Benito still was unable to take full advantage and again had to settle for a long field goal from senior kicker Jonathan Juarez to tie the game.
The first quarter came to a close with the game tied at six, but the Greyhounds were slowly picking up steam. A quick 30-yard touchdown run by Fabian Garcia in the second quarter finally put San Benito ahead 12-6, though the game still seemed like one that would come down to the final few drives.
Memorial added a touchdown of its own to retake a slim lead with the first half winding down.
Garcia, who started the game as a receiver before shifting back to his familiar spot, broke a 30-yard touchdown run before the halftime break to give San Benito a hard fought 19-13 lead heading into the third quarter.
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