By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
LAREDO, TX—The San Benito Greyhounds once again showed what they can do when they are offensively and defensively in a groove; they just haven’t been able to showcase it across all four quarters of football.
That was the reason for their second straight loss, this time to the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs, 28-7, last Friday at United ISD’s Student Activity Center.
The setback dropped San Benito’s overall season record to 1-2; Alexander, in its home opener, fell to 1-2.
The Bulldogs scored all their points and generated most of their offense in the first half.
Two plays were all they needed to get ahead on a 70-yard pass along the sideline. Alexander scored again with 1:13 left in the first quarter on an 11-yard run. The Bulldogs finished their scoring before the half on a 26-yard run and a 44-yard pass.
On each scoring play, the Bulldogs outraced Greyhound defenders on their way to the end zone. To San Benito’s credit, the defense did pipe down and forced turnovers.
The first half also kept SB punter Francisco Barrientos busy, as he punted six times, but his booming kicks resulted in only two returns. He only punted once in the second half. Three of his punts went 31, 36, and 39 yards.
The ‘Hounds’ completely turned their fortunes around after a first half that produced negative yards on offense.
SB Head Coach Dan Gomez opted to defer the kickoff to the second half. It turned out to be a good call, as the ‘Hounds’ drive ended in a score.
The team started at its own 35 after Peter Buenrostro returned the kickoff 19 yards to the SB 35.
Quarterback Robert Lozano was on most of the plays. He completed two passes to Sonny Ratliff and Raul Villanueva and ran four times before scoring on a 29-yard keeper, shaking off a sure tackle near the end zone.
Barrientos’ point-after-kick gave the ‘Hounds a 28-7 deficit to work with at the 8:04 mark.
“The scoring TD was just a great part of my offense not giving up on the blocks they gave me; they opened holes to run through, which impacted the game and my performance. I’m happy to have them on my team as well,” Lozano said.
Lozano, who has a sibling on the team, Ezra Lozano, said he shares a bond with the rest of the team no matter what the scoreboard reads.
“That scoring TD showed what we are capable of, and that should be the standard on every drive – that our players go full and never give up, not once,” Lozano said. “San Benito’s always been known as the team that keeps going pedal to the metal, no matter who we play. It’s in our blood, and it’s who we are. I’m proud to be a part of this culture and to share my unwillingness to give up with the rest of my team.”
That initial second-half drive marked two major events. SBHS earned its first down of the game on a nine-yard run by Carter Green, and the team penetrated Alexander’s side of the field for the first time.
The SB defense also raised its level of play, giving its offense more opportunities to drive the ball into Bulldogs territory.
If Alexander players thought they were going to tack on more points, the special teams had other plans midway through the third quarter.
On a 23-yard field goal attempt, Buenrostro came around the end and blocked Alexander’s kick. Teammate Luke Gonzales recovered the ball.
The ‘Hounds’ next two offensive possessions didn’t produce points, but did take up around eight minutes of the game clock. The drives stalled at the Alexander 37 and 28 yard lines.
Running back Green flashed brilliance, producing most of his 60 yards in the second half.
On the final drive, SBHS started at the Alexander 38 with 94 seconds to play.
The drive was highlighted by Lozano’s fourth-and-sixth throw to Sonny Ratliff for 29 yards at the four-yard line.
Lozano threw three incomplete passes, one of which was called intentional grounding.
Facing a fourth down and goal from the 20, Lozano scurried to the seven-yard line, but fumbled. Axel Hernandez recovered the ball and ran it into the end zone. However, game officials said Lozano was down with no time on the clock.
The ‘Hounds produced just over 101 rushing yards and about 95 passing yards. Green led his team in rushing with just under 70 yards on 11 carries.
It’s obvious the SBHS coaching staff wants Lozano to throw more to the air, as he threw 17 times, completing 10 passes.
His longest strikes went to Ratliff for 32 and 29 yards, respectively. Three other players, Villanueva, Hernandez, and Angel Garcia, also recorded receptions.
Lozano had 17 runs but was sacked several times, resulting in negative yardage.
Many of his runs started as pass plays, but the Bulldogs’ defensive pressure forced him to run. He still produced nearly 40 yards of positive yardage.
The Bulldogs amassed about 375 yards of offense but struggled mightily in the second half.
’HOUNDS GET DEFENSIVE
It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter that the Alexander coaching staff replaced starting quarterback Santiago Vasquez. He went 10-of-17 for 185 yards in the first half, but he didn’t play well in the second half. In fact, he was in on a fumble play when he tried to hand off to running back Joel Mancia. The ‘Hounds’ Enrique Maldonado recovered the ball at the SB 38.
That was the Bulldogs’ second drive of the third quarter. The first Alexander drive to end in a field goal block was set up by SB defenders keeping their foes from finding the end zone.
On a first-and-10, Alexander running back Javier Trejo gained 48 yards and appeared headed for his second TD, but defensive back Adan Maldonado caught him at the SB nine-yard line.
What followed was nothing but the ‘Hounds’ stingy defense facing first down and goal.
Alexander’s Benny Cepeda had the next two run plays, gaining only one and four yards, with stops by defensive lineman Ramon De La Rosa and then Buenrostro, and linebacker Josh Castillo on the second carry.
From the three-yard line, running back Brennan Kisslinger gained only two yards on third down, with stops again by De La Rosa, defensive lineman Adrian Loa, and Maldonado.
Alexander was going to attempt a fourth down play, but was called for a false start penalty, forcing coaches to settle for a field goal that didn’t produce any points.
Among the SB defensive players who pressured the quarterback were De La Rosa, Cortez, Gonzales, Austin Najera, Christian La Bell, and Antonio Leija.
De La Rosa Loa, and Maldonado were in on multiple Alexander run plays that produced no more than two yards.
Castillo was in on a run play that had minus three yards for Alexander in the second quarter. La Bell pressured quarterback Treviño when he failed to convert on a third-and-11 pass play.
It would eventually force the Bulldogs to punt for the first and only time in the first half.
The Alexander drives in the second half ended in a blocked kick, fumble, and two punts.
NEXT OPPONENT
SB is facing a Harlingen South Hawks team that last Friday won for the first time this season. Their 1-2 record includes a home win against Kingsville, 37-6, but not before losing to the Harlingen Cardinals, 49-6, and the Raymondville Bearkats, 46-45.
This is a South team that scores points. Their run game has produced just over 1,000 yards so far. Of the three passers the Hawks have utilized, they are completing half of their attempts (29-of-60).
Defensively, though, South has just four players with more than 10 tackles each. So far, South has had only seven tackles for a loss. South’s defense has forced two fumbles and an interception.
Kickoff for this non-district game Friday is 7 p.m. at Bobby Morrow Stadium.