By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX—With every passing round of the Class 6A soccer playoffs, the San Benito Greyhounds continue to make history by winning, achieving a status unheard of for the boys’ program.
On Tuesday at Cabaniss Stadium in Corpus Christi, San Benito slipped past the Buda Johnson Jaguars by the slimmest of margins, 1-0, claiming the title of area champions (second round) in the Division 1 bracket.
Last Friday during a bi-district game at Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito, the ‘Hounds defeated the Weslaco Panthers, 3-1. That win was SBHS’s first-ever bi-district championship title.
These two playoff wins improved the ‘Hounds’ record to 14-6-1.
They will now take on the Northeast Reagan Rattlers, based in San Antonio.
Reagan won against Northside Warren (7-0 score) and Lake Travis (4-1 score) to make it to the third round.
The Rattlers’ season record improved to 18-4-6. Against Rio Grande Valley schools. they are 3-1, having lost to Los Fresnos in tournament play back in January. They defeated SBHS’s District 31-6A foes Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Harlingen.
“This team here is just solidifying the foundation of the program that the past teams have laid out for them,” SBHS Head Coach William Huerta said. “We ask them to go out there and play for their family, each other, and their community.”
They definitely received community love as they were given a heartwarming send-off earlier in the day. Fans lined up along Oscar Williams Road in front of the high school, as school administrators and SBCISD administration were just feet away from an awaiting bus. Also in attendance were SBHS cheerleaders and the Belles dance team.
PLAYOFF GAMES
In the Johnson match, the one goal advantage scored in the first half showed the ‘Hounds and Huerta’s coaching staff that they could not only play with a lead, but protect that lead, too.
Diego Martinez scored the lone goal.
Then it came down to defense, especially the play of goalie William Montoya.
“They played with grit. They just tightened up on defense knowing that they could not give Buda Johnson any opportunity to score,” Coach Huerta said. “They all played an amazing game as a whole and our goalie played an amazing game with seven saves.”
Against Weslaco last week, the ‘Hounds once again played with a 1-0 halftime lead, but they scored twice more for insurance.
Among the SBHS players who scored in that game were Christian Reyes, Antwoan Alegria, and Bentley Zavala.
The ‘Hounds placed third in their district. Other district teams, Harlingen and Los Fresnos, lost last week in their bi-district matches. Veterans Memorial is still alive after defeating Del Rio, 2-1, in the area round of the Class 6A Division 2 bracket.
In 2025, SBHS lost its bi-district match to Economedes, 6-3, but used that experience to rebound a year later.
“The team deserved the win (against Buda Johnson) and wanted it more,” Huerta said of a foe that ended its season with a 9-6-3 record. “My coaching staff also did an amazing job keeping these young men focused.”
Assistants are Carlos Zuniga, Everardo Sanchez, and Robert Mendoza.
LADY HOUNDS FALL IN PLAYOFFS
On the girls’ side, the Lady Greyhounds lost to the Weslaco Panthers in a bi-district match played away at Bobby Lackey Stadium.
SBHS fell 5-0 and ended its season with a 12-14-1 record.
Weslaco eventually lost, falling in the area match to Cibolo Steele, 8-0.
Among the other District 32-6A foes still playing after netting area victories this week are the Harlingen Lady Cardinals and the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers.
The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons lost in the second round.