By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
The San Benito offense has been at the top in District 32-6A all season.
The Greyhounds’ offensive unit is made of many pieces, which not only keep a good balance between running and passing but work together to perform like a high-powered engine.
San Benito has nearly 4,000 yards through nine games this season, an average of 437 per game. That’s almost 100 yards better per game than Brownsville Veterans Memorial, which is second statistically.
First-year coach Dan Gomez said the group effort has made it look easy from week to week.
“We came in with our philosophy and what we were going to do,” he said. “It’s a total compilation of all the coaching staff and the kids. It’s just based on what our kids can do (with the football).”
San Benito quarterback Cristian Sierra has been the catalyst behind it, facilitating the ball toward a handful of receivers through the air, handing off to running back Gabriel Vasquez or keeping it himself as he’s just as dangerous on the ground as he is with his arm.
Sierra is second in the district and has completed 115 of 193 passes (nearly 60 percent) for 1,512 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. To make him even harder for opposing defenses to stop, Sierra is fifth in the district in rushing. He has complied 629 yards on 109 carries and seven touchdowns.
Vasquez has run all over opponents this season. He has amassed 945 yards on 111 carries ( a 8.5 yard per carry average) and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground. Vasquez also has a pair of receiving touchdowns this season.
Sierra’s favorite target has been wide receiver Raul Atkinson. Atkinson is fifth in the district with 26 catches for 390 yards (a 15-yard average) and three scores. But the quarterback has spread the ball around. Besides Atkinson, he has connected with Victor Gaitan, Armando Medrano and Jorge Cantu. Each has double-digit catches and at least a pair of touchdowns apiece.
Gomez said his team just focuses on getting better during practice and breaking down practice film to track progress and improvement.
“I couldn’t tell you about the numbers, because itssomething we don’t preach in our program,” he said. “It’s a matter of each and every day getting better and playing our best football in October and November. That’s all we shot for.”
It’s been no surprise San Benito (6-3, 5-1 in district) is in good shape for at least a share of the District 32-6A crown. A win against Rivera on Friday would give them the title outright.
The Greyhounds have a fairly balanced offense, shaded toward running the ball because of what Sierra can do with his legs. Gomez said it has more to do with what is working rather than what the defense is allowing.
“It’s really based on the feel of the game,” he said. “I would like to say we’re a balanced ballclub, but it’s what we’re doing at the moment, what’s working for us at the time.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.