(Courtesy photo/Hector Avila)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito Greyhounds are still looking for their first victory of the season, but their play was much improved during a homecoming game Friday night at Bobby Morrow Stadium against the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) Tigres.
With the 28-21 loss, the Greyhounds dropped to 0-4 on the season, however, the game wasn’t decided until less than three minutes before the end of regulation play.
Big offensive plays once again doomed the ’Hounds’ defenders as they allowed a 96-yard pass reception with 2:44 left in the game to break a 21-all tie.
The UANL passing game accounted for around 325 total yards and scoring strikes of 81, 65, and 22 yards.
When the Tigres did find the end zone in the fourth quarter, it came with little time for the ’Hounds to respond. On their ensuing offensive possession, San Benito turned the ball over on downs with less than two minutes left. UANL then ran out the clock to secure the victory.
On the flip side, when the ’Hounds did trail 21-0 with seven minutes left in the second quarter, it was enough time to produce a comeback.
San Benito running back Angel Trevino had four totes on the drive, his last one a 35-yard scamper three minutes later to end the shutout.
San Benito then took advantage of a UANL turnover during a pass attempt as Damien Olivares recovered a fumble.
Inside UANL territory, the ’Hounds scored six plays later on a 25-yard pass play from quarterback Tyler Ruiz to Trevino.
Then to begin the second half, the ’Hounds mounted an opening offensive drive for the ages, starting at their own 10-yard line and driving the distance of the field on 14 plays, making good on a fourth and long through the air as Ruiz connected with Justin Montemayor for a 33-yard strike at the 2:29 mark of the third quarter.
UANL took its next drive into the fourth quarter, but failed to score on a fourth-and-13 pass play in the end zone as Kian Jones defended for the ’Hounds.
San Benito wasn’t able to produce on its next two offensive possessions, before UANL’s final score.
San Benito’s next game is at Weslaco, Friday, Sept. 27. Kickoff is 7 p.m.