By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
There could be plenty of offensive fireworks on display when the San Benito Greyhounds play host to the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium.
One year ago when the two teams met in Brownsville for a District 32-6A game, they set what is believed to be a Rio Grande Valley scoring record with 124 combined points as San Benito prevailed 67-57 at Sams Memorial Stadium.
In this week’s RGVSports.com rankings, San Benito (4-2, 2-1 district) is No. 4 in the Valley and Brownsville Veterans (6-0, 3-0) is No. 7.
“Going into this San Benito game, we feel that it’s a very even matchup,” Chargers coach David Cantu said. “Our feeling is, ‘Why can’t it be us? Why can’t we be the team that surprises a lot of the experts (in the 32-6A race)?’
“I think San Benito is a team very similar to us in that at the end of the game, they feel they’re going to find a way to win,” Cantu added. “At the same time, we believe that we have a legitimate chance to go over there and bring back a victory for Brownsville. They’re a good team, but so are we.”
The top two offenses in 32-6A are expected to duel it out. The Chargers average 450.8 yards and 42.5 points per game, and the Greyhounds rank next in 32-6A by averaging 406.3 yards and 36.2 points per game.
Each team features a senior quarterback with the ability to run and pass the ball effectively.
For San Benito, it’s J.R. Gaitan, a converted wide receiver who has rushed for 625 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 7.4 yards per carry. He also has passed for 911 yards and nine scores.
Gaitan’s numbers are countered by those of the Chargers’ Marcus Castillo, who leads the district in rushing and scoring with 904 yards and 12 TDs while averaging 8.5 yards per running attempt. Castillo has passed for 748 yards and 10 TDs.
With such potent offenses matched on the same field, it figures to come down to the team making the most defensive stops. Brownsville Veterans ranks second in district defensively behind Los Fresnos, giving up 290.2 yards and 21.7 points per game. San Benito ranks fifth in 32-6A, allowing 335.2 yards and 24.8 points per outing.
The Greyhounds are coming off last Friday’s emotional 22-21 come-from-behind road win against Harlingen High (4-2, 2-1) in the 87th “Battle of the Arroyo.”
San Benito suffered its only district loss, 14-7, during an away game against 32-6A co-leader Los Fresnos (6-0, 3-0) two weeks ago.
As the only other 3-0 team in district, the Chargers are coming off last Saturday’s 28-10 victory over Hanna. They’re starting an important three-game swing that after the San Benito contest will find them playing home games at Sams against Harlingen High and Los Fresnos to close out the month.
“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing, and that means continuing to listen to our coaches and staying together as a team so we can ride through this as brothers,” said Jorge Montelongo, the Chargers’ senior center and a three-year starter. “Getting a win in this next game would feel great.”
The Chargers will be continuing 32-6A action next Thursday at Sams against the Cardinals, and San Benito will be playing Lopez at the same site next Friday.
San Benito coach Dan Gomez did not respond to requests for a comment regarding this story.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.