KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star
SAN BENITO — Trailing by four with 1:04 left to play and its season on the line, San Benito‘s senior quarterback Erik Retta stepped up big time on Friday.
The senior orchestrated a seven-play, 78-yard drive with mastery and capped it off with a 1-yard go-ahead touchdown run to give the Hounds a seven-point lead over the McAllen Memorial Mustangs.
With just seconds left, the Mustangs tried some late-game heroics that ended in a turnover and another Hounds TD as San Benito walked away with a 44-35 area-round win.
With the victory, the Hounds punched their ticket to the Class 6A Division I regional round where they’ll face San Antonio O’Connor next Friday in Corpus Christi.
“Nothing went through my mind. I just wanted to focus and execute the plays that the coaches gave us,” Retta said of the final drive. “My offensive line protected me and my receivers made big plays. It’s special to win a game like this. From our offensive line to our defense, it was an amazing win.”
The game was tight throughout and with 9:52 left, San Benito’s defense stopped the Mustangs on the 1-yard line and gave the ball back to the offense. A 68-yard run from Tyrone Harper set up an Abraham Porras field goal that gave the Hounds a slim 31-28 lead.
On the next drive, McAllen Memorial quarterback Sean Skaugen drove the Mustangs down the field and hit Josh Sanchez on a third-and-eight that set up Memorial inside the 10-yard line. Skaugen gave the ’Stangs a 35-31 lead on a 2-yard score.
“I told the kids to keep pushing after we hit the field goal,” said San Benito coach Dan Gomez. “The challenges were something we had been wanting and our kids stepped up to the challenge tonight and I’m proud of their effort.”
The Hounds are back in the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015 when they fell to Schertz Clemens 41-15.
“We have to check some film out. They (O’Conner) are not in the third round and 12-0 for nothing,” said Gomez. “This has been a special group. They have worked hard for everything they have earned. Nothing was given to them and they put in all the work in the offseason, and they deserve this.”
Trevino caps off emotional night: San Benito senior wide receiver Isaiah Trevino was a part of the game-winning drive and hauled in a 33-yard pass from Retta that helped set up the go-ahead score.
With the season on the line, Trevino made a pivotal play and it meant a lot since he dedicated his senior season to his late grandfather.
“This win means so much to me and I know my grandpa would be proud of me,” Trevino said. “I know he’s looking down and watching me right now.”