ROY HESS | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO— If there was any question the San Benito Greyhounds hadn’t already clinched a playoff spot, they left no doubt about it with Friday’s 55-28 victory against Brownsville Rivera at Bobby Morrow Stadium.

In fact, the Greyhounds still have a shot at a share of the District 32-6A championship with one more week left in the regular season.

Friday’s victory improved the Greyhounds to 5-4 on the season and to 3-1 in 32-6A. They close the regular season next Friday at Los Fresnos.

Rivera slipped to 2-7 and 1-3 with one game remaining against district leader Harlingen High at Brownsville’s Sams Memorial Stadium, also next Friday.

The Greyhounds led 21-0 after one quarter, 41-0 at halftime and 55-7 after three periods.

It was a big night for San Benito quarterback Smiley Silva and receiver Juan Constante as they hooked up for three first-half touchdown passes of 23, 19 and 43 yards.

The Greyhounds took charge from the beginning during the opening quarter by scoring on their first two possessions to lead 14-0 on a 73-yard scoring scamper by Silva and a 23-yard TD pass to Constante from Silva. Later in the period, it became 21-0 as San Benito reserve running back Christian Vasquez scored on a 1-yard run up the middle.

It was more of the same with 20 more points for San Benito during the second quarter as Yahir Reyes kicked field goals of 36 and 28 yards. Also in the second period, Constante caught scoring passes of 19 and 43 yards from Silva to give the Greyhounds a 41-point halftime advantage.

Silva was replaced at QB by Elijah Hernandez during the third quarter. Hernandez threw a 10-yard TD pass to Jermaine Corbin on San Benito’s first possession of the third period to make it 48-0 with 8:41 showing in the quarter.

Rivera QB Chito Perez went around the left side and reached the end zone from 11 yards out for the Raiders’ first TD with 4:31 to go in the third period.

Another reserve running back for the Greyhounds, Mario Ayala, broke loose to score on a 25-yard run with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter as San Benito made it 55-7.

Rivera scored three times during the fourth period to account for the final result.

Perez threw TD passes of 13 yards to Elian Hernandez with 9:45 remaining and 54 yards to Kalani Gracia with 6:13 left to play.

Alberto Garcia’s 18-yard TD run for Rivera with 1:57 left was the final score of the game.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The next step for 2017 Brownsville Veterans Memorial graduating seniors Cristina Pullen and Guillermo Laguna will be attending college out of state.

They’ll be playing their chosen sports at the next level, too.

Pullen will compete in golf and study pre-law at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while Laguna will play soccer and study communications/broadcasting at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Carnegie Mellon competes in NCAA Division III and Graceland plays in NAIA Division I.

The two athletes, who rank among the top students academically at Brownsville Veterans, put their signatures on college scholarship agreements during Tuesday’s signing ceremony at the school auditorium with classmates, family, coaches, teachers and other Brownsville ISD personnel on hand to share in the eventful moment.

Out of a graduating class of 588, Pullen ranks in the top 6 percent academically and Laguna is in the top 20 percent.

On Tuesday, the auditorium was packed with people, including virtually the entire Class of 2017, with some attendees having to stand in the back.

“This day has been a little nerve-wracking, but exciting,” said Pullen, a member of the Lady Chargers golf team that within recent weeks won District 32-5A and Region IV-5A tournaments to become the first public school golf team from Brownsville to advance to the state tournament. “I appreciate all the people coming out and showing their support. It’s really special to me. I feel like I have an even bigger family now that I see everyone (from my class) here in one room.”

Pullen transferred to Brownsville Veterans two years ago from Austin St. Stephen’s. As a senior, she also played soccer for the Lady Chargers and earned first-team all-district honors as a defender.

“I love my old private school almost as much as I love (Brownsville) Veterans,” she said. “I have a family over there (at St. Stephen’s) and I have one here, too. That’s the best way I would describe it.

“I hope future golfers can learn from my experience,” she added. “You go out there and compete the best you can and you never know what might happen — go for the gold.”

Brownsville Veterans golf coach Jose Luis Zarate said he sees Pullen having a lot of potential to do well in her sport at the college level.

“Cristina brought experience to our team, having played at a younger age,” he said. “She’s been around golf for quite a while competitively outside of (high) school. She can be an intimidating player (for other golfers) because she can hit the ball far (off the tee). She made our team even better.”

Laguna was a two-year starter at midfielder/forward for the Chargers, who just completed their 2017 season with a 23-3-2 record, a 32-5A championship and a first-time trip to the Region IV-5A final where they came within one victory of advancing to state.

“This is another big step toward reaching my dream (of becoming a professional soccer player),” said Laguna, an All-Metro and all-district honoree. “I just need to continue my studies (in college), so I’m thankful for this opportunity. I want to lift up the team (at Graceland). I was told they were (NAIA) national champions in 2006 and the coach there (Bryan Courtney) wants to bring that (winning) back.

“The (Graceland) coach has motivated me to go there and the only thing I can say is I’m very thankful for this chance,” he added. “It’s been amazing to play for the Chargers and now go on to Graceland.

“I’ve got nothing to say but thank you to my parents, my coaches, my teammates and everyone who has supported me along the way. The experiences I’ve had and everything I’ve gone through has made me who I am today.”

Added Chargers soccer coach Alberto Vasquez, “Guillermo is a hard-worker, a competitor and someone with a great heart. He never complains. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for us. That kind of sacrifice just shows the love and passion he has for the game.”

Laguna and Pullen are each aware that by going to college out of state they’ll probably be playing their sports in a decidedly colder environment where they’ll certainly experience winter weather.

“I’ve never seen snow (so I’m looking forward to that),” Laguna said.

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

It wasn’t such a great start to the soccer season for the Lopez Lobos in 2017, but after much improvement, their finish was marked by a return to the UIL state tournament.

After giving up five goals in two separate early season games back in January, the Lobos certainly didn’t look anything like a team capable of making it back to the state tournament where they had ended their 2016 season.

But as with any sport, the season becomes a journey and a process of getting better, and so it was for the Lobos. They steadily improved, particularly on defense, and emerged from highly competitive District 32-5A as the team advancing to Georgetown in April for a Rio Grande Valley-record fifth time.

For their efforts of raising their level of play and strong surge in returning to state, the Lobos have received three top spots on The Brownsville Herald’s 2017 All-Metro Boys Soccer Team.

Those honorees are MVP Jose “Chevy” Echevarria, Coach of the Year Amadeo Escandon and Utility Player of the Year Roberto “Penny” Pereira.

“Honestly, I think I was one of the few people who actually expected that we could do what we did,” said Escandon, who just completed his 20th season of guiding the Lobos. “It took us a while to show it, but the coaches knew we had a good team. Historically, that’s how the season goes for us at Lopez. We focus more on doing well in our district and in the playoffs.

“I see this season as coming through the way we expected and planned it,” added Escandon, who before this season was last named All-Metro coach in 2014. “Obviously, we had a lot of things go in our favor (in getting back to state). The players bought into the system and believed in the coaches and what we’re trying to do.

“By the time the playoffs came, we were peaking at just the right time — not only in the soccer sense (on the field), but also outside of soccer as the players voluntarily attended religion classes with 99 percent attendance and it boosted their faith. We’ve always said at Lopez that God is first for us.”

Mainly due to injuries on the team, Pereira, a senior, received a chance to play all over the field for the Lobos in 2017. He began the season as a forward, went to the midfield when a teammate got hurt and wound up as a vital defender in the playoffs whose assignment was to shadow and neutralize the opponent’s fastest scoring threat.

“I had a tough season finding my (true) position and I ended up being a defender,” said Pereira, a two-year member of the varsity. “It means a lot (to be named the All-Metro utility player) and thank you to everyone who has supported me all season long.

“We had a lot of chemistry between each other on this team and a lot of faith,” he added. “We trusted in each other and knew we could do it.”

Pereira said the team’s success can traced to the direction provided by the Lopez coaching staff.

“Our coaches do a great job,” he said. “They trusted me as a defender and in the midfield. I ended up playing defense because they saw that I played better there. When I look back at playing for Lopez, it’s just going to be (a lot of good) memories.”

Added Escandon, “Wherever we put ‘Penny,’ he delivered. Most of the season he played in the midfield, but we noticed we needed a fast defender on the side and that’s where we put him for the last two district games and through the playoffs. Nobody got through him. Wherever we put him, he responded.”

Escandon guided Lopez to the Class 4A state title in 2004 and a Class 5A state runner-up finish in 2009. The Lobos’ other trips to state came in 2014, 2016 and 2017. This year the Lobos finished third in 32-5A and wound up with a 17-5-6 overall record after winning five times in the playoffs.

“I’m happy to see our guys get these awards,” the Lopez coach said. “It’s a testament to what they do on and off the field. I think these type of awards go to not only good players, but also to good people.

“(To be named coach of the year) means I put our season in God’s hands and He delievered,” Escandon added. “It’s a testament to the players and the assistant coaches. It’s not just me. If I get an award, it’s for them and all they do. We expect a lot of things from them as players and a lot from them as (upstanding) human beings also.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers just completed their best soccer season in school history with a 23-3-2 record, a District 32-5A championship and a first-ever trip to the Region IV-5A final.

Two key members of Chargers’ squad are top honorees on The Brownsville Herald’s 2017 All-Metro Boys Soccer Team. They are Defensive Player of the Year, Jesus Arenas, a senior, and Newcomer of the Year, Mark Boswell, a freshman.

“It’s a great thing (for them to receive these honors),” Chargers coach Alberto Vasquez said. “I know both of these players worked very hard and they really deserve it. To play in the district that we play in and to face the level of competition that we have to go against, these guys really stood out.”

Arenas, a three-year starter, was a central defender who anchored what was arguably the toughest defense to score on in 32-5A this season. The Chargers only gave up more than one goal in a game just three times over two and a half months once district started in late January. Also over that span, the Chargers recorded 10 shutouts, including three during their four playoff victories.

“All the hard work and effort that I put into the time I’ve played here was well worth it,” said Arenas, also the defensive MVP in 32-5A in 2017. “I feel this was my best season and I’m pretty content with it.

“We were successful because of the union we had among each other on the field,” added Arenas, who hopes to play soccer in college. “Everyone gave a strong effort and helped us do well. I would just say thank you to my teammates, the coaches and everyone who has helped me.”

Vasquez described Arenas as “The Rock” for his squad who was a solid defender playing the ball in the air or on the ground while displaying leadership and creativity from the back in helping a good team become a great team.

The Chargers coach said Boswell, a midfield wing/forward, had a tough start by suffering a wrist injury the second week of the season at the Brownsville ISD Tournament.

“Marky was hungry to come back, and as soon as he could really come out and play (after having recuperated), he showed what he is all about and how talented he is,” Vasquez said. “He had the speed to help us break down those tough defenses we went against.

“I think the big difference with him is the confidence he has in his abilities,” Vasquez added. “He’s not shy about taking on defenders and beating them. Sometimes you have players who are talented, but for whatever reason, they doubt themselves. Marky has the confidence. Even though he can run past defenders, he also understands soccer as a team game. He can either dish off the ball real quick or keep it and take on the defender himself. He makes it a lot more difficult for the defense.”

Boswell came to Brownsville Veterans for his freshman year after playing for the successful Brownsville Galaxy under-14 youth league team during the summer. Brownsville Veterans now has won the All-Metro Newcomer Of The Year award two straight seasons. Chargers teammate Garret Wild, a goalkeeper and now a junior, won it in 2016.

“I knew (coming to the Chargers) that nothing was going to be easy and that I would have to work for it,” said Boswell, who estimates he scored six or so goals this year. “I didn’t play for half a season because of my wrist injury. Once I came back, I didn’t want to hold back anything. I wanted to play every game like it was my last.

“It’s definitely motivation (to receive this recognition),” he added. “It’s incredible and it’s an amazing feeling. I’m grateful for it.”

Vasquez said with players such as Boswell and other underclassmen returning, this season has served as a milestone and motivation for the future.

“It was a season we’re never going to forget,” the coach said. “It’s as simple as that. We were so close to getting to the next level (by going to state). We had a great group of players. Even though our last game didn’t go our way (a 1-0 loss to Lopez in the regional final), it wasn’t due to a lack of effort. I didn’t feel bad that we had lost because our players had done everything we asked them to do and left it all out there.

“I think every year our program has been respected more and more, and I believe every year we’ve taken steps forward,” he added. “We’re not thinking we’ll be rebuilding (in 2018). We’ll have a young team, but it will be a solid, capable team. Our guys understand what we’re trying to do, and if we’re consistent with our game plans, our structure, our formations and everyone’s individual responsibilities, I think we’ll be just fine.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess