The ‘Hounds scored on five of six first half possessions and completely overwhelmed Edinburg High from the onset en route to a 47-10 thumping of the Bobcats in their 6A Division-II bi-district game at Bobby Morrow Stadium on Friday night.
The bi-district crown is the second straight for San Benito (10-1), which will now take on Laredo United South, a winner over La Joya Palmview for its first playoff win in 17 years, next Friday night at the United ISD Student Activity Center in Laredo. Edinburg, which had a marvelous turnaround under first-year coach J.J. Leija, finishes at 7-4, the seven wins more than the past three seasons combined.
“The kids were eager to get back on the field and we had a good week of practice,” San Benito head coach Dan Gomez said. “The coaches did a great job of getting ‘em focused up, putting in a game plan and making sure it was executed tonight.”
And after losing the Battle of the Arroyo—and 32-6A championship—to the rival Cardinals last week, it was all business for War Dog this week, Gomez explained.
“They were ready to go since Saturday. They were ready to move on,” he said. “That’s what we preach to the kids every day—always look forward and never look back, learn from our mistakes and get better.”
Boy, did they improve.
Quarterback Erick Retta was masterful against Edinburg, going 17-of-23 passing for five touchdowns. The first of those came on a beautiful throwback screen to running back Tyrone Harper, who zipped 64 yards to put the ‘Hounds up 6-0 in the first quarter.
Later, Retta hit a wide-open Rene Garcia (4 catches, 103 yards) on a 35-yard TD strike and Retta’s sixth total TD came on a 1-yard plunge to put San Benito up 20-0 with 10:11 left in the first half.
Speedster Isaiah Trevino gave Retta his third TD toss on a 29-yard score later in the second, and Garcia hauled in his second score via a 44-yard bomb with 3:58 left before half, putting the ‘Hounds up 33-0 at halftime.
Retta’s final TD pass came on a 23-yarder to Trevino in the third, and backup quarterback Aaron Medrano closed out the scoring on a 22-yard scamper early in the fourth.
While the ‘Hounds’ offense appeared to be on the highway to the Area round, the defense stymied the Bobcats, who could not muster much against San Benito’s aggressive front. Edinburg had just 51 yards of total offense in the first half and did not get on the scoreboard until a 30-yard field goal with 1:23 left in the third stanza. Nathan Marez scored Edinburg’s only TD on a 1-yarder late in the game.