By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito Greyhounds have struggled over the past two weeks, losing to two District 32-6A title contenders. They now face the Harlingen Cardinals, who sit atop the standings, in the annual Battle of the Arroyo at Bobby Morrow Stadium on Friday.
Two weeks remain in district play, and Harlingen enters with a 3-0 record, while San Benito sits at 1-2.
The ’Hounds are currently the district’s fourth-place team, ahead of the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers, whom they defeated, and the PSJA Bears, whom they will play in the regular-season finale.
The ’Hounds have yet to clinch a playoff spot and need at least one victory in the next two weeks, along with a Bears loss to do so.
On the season, the ’Hounds are 4-4, and the Cardinals are 6-2. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The ’Hounds’ home game against the PSJA North Raiders last week ended in a 45-17 loss, so the margin wasn’t as wide as the Los Fresnos Falcons’ 63-7 win the previous week.
Against the Raiders, the ’Hounds scored on a defensive touchdown, a field goal, and a TD on offense. But in the second week, the defense struggled to contain the opponent’s wide receivers, who again caught three long passes of at least 60 yards.
North raced to a 17-0 lead late in the second quarter before SB got on the board. North’s quarterback, Drayden Espinoza, scored both TDs: first on a 14-yard quarterback keeper, then on an 89-yard catch-and-run to Antwon Estrada, who outran the secondary.
PSJA North also had a 29-yard field goal.
The ’Hounds avoided a first-half shutout when defensive back Federico Nunez intercepted Espinoza at the 42-yard line and returned it for a score. Espinoza was pressured when defensive lineman Christian La Bell went around the right tackle and DL Josue Montelongo came up from the middle.
Nunez ran the length of the field untouched, and the home side of the stadium erupted. Kicker Francisco Barrientos’ PAT made the score 17-7. North, however, responded on the ensuing drive with a 78-yard scoring strike from Espinoza to Ryan Diaz with 1:21 left in the quarter.
SB scored on its opening second-half drive. The ’Hounds penetrated the North side of the field during an eight-play drive that was highlighted by a Joziah Davis 26-yard pass from quarterback Robert Lozano.
The Raiders got a dose of running backs Carter Green and Gabriel Garza, and Sonny Ratliff, who started the game as QB.
The drive stalled after Lozano was sacked. Barrientos booted a 39-yard field goal to make it 24-10 with 7:32 left in the quarter.
North led by four touchdowns when SB scored again on a five-yard quarterback keeper by Ratliff with 7:20 left. Lozano and Ratliff connected twice through the air on the four-play scoring drive. Barrientos connected on his PAT once again.
The ’Hounds had over 150 yards offensively. The Raiders had more than 600 yards of total offense.
RIO HONDO ROLLS
The Rio Hondo Bobcats posted their season-high point total last week at home, defeating the Progreso Red Ants, 76-0.
Rio Hondo is still perfect with an 8-0 record, and 4-0 in District 16-3A Division I.
The Bobcats now set their sights on the San Diego Vaqueros (4-0 in district play, 7-1 overall) in an away game that will likely determine the district championship.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday.
San Diego will take on an RH team that allows just 12 points per game and averages 49 points on offense. San Diego is also a high-scoring team, but it has trouble stopping opponents from scoring TDs. For example, Raymondville scored 35 points and St. Gertrudis 27 points.
San Diego is a pass-happy team led by QB Franky Villagran, who completes 60 percent of his passes and averages 266 yards per game. He’s passed for 28 TDs.
In their game against Progreso, three defensive turnovers and six sacks made it difficult for the Red Ants to get anything going. The only positive for Progreso was an interception.
RH’s 22 defenders saw action, and each recorded at least one tackle. Ramsey Gonzalez and Noe Leos each recorded at least two sacks. Michael Lopez recorded an interception, and Alex Trevino and Julian Maldonado each recovered a fumble.
The same RH offensive players performed at a high level, including quarterback Matthew Lopez, who passed for 269 yards on 11 completions. He threw three scoring passes to Manny Perez (five receptions, 147 yards), Sebastian Gonzalez (four receptions, 62 yards), and Michael Lopez (one reception, 57 yards).
Running back Mario Lopez gained 274 yards on 10 carries.