By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
The Rivera Raiders’ defense, the top unit in District 32-6A, forced four first-half turnovers and turned them into three touchdowns to give Rivera a lead in a 42-35 victory over the San Benito Greyhounds on Friday night at Bobby Morrow Stadium.
“The defense played well, the offense played well,” Rivera coach Tom Chavez said. “The defense has been playing good all year long. We stepped up when we needed to, but I’m proud of the team. It was a team effort.”
The Raiders claimed a share of the District 32-6A crown along with San Benito, and Harlingen High earned a share of it, too, with a 21-3 win over Harlingen South. Los Fresnos also can earn its share with a win against Hanna tonight at Sams Memorial Stadium.
The turnovers — an interception and three fumbles, including one returned by Christopher Godoy — kept the Greyhounds’ powerful offense at bay as Rivera quarterback Danny Elizondo hit receiver Edward Rubio on touchdowns of 34-, 21-, 43- and 50 yards.
“It’s been (an issue) all season,” San Benito coach Dan Gomez said of the early turnovers. “We work on it, but at the end of the day it’s teenagers playing football. It happens. You swallow it, and you move on.
“We were moving the ball. We moved it all day long, but we were just shooting ourselves in the foot.”
It was the Raiders’ offense that took full advantage.
Elizondo completed 6 of 14 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 112 yards and added another touchdown. Rubio caught five passes for 152 yards and the four scores for Rivera (5-5, 5-2).
“Danny and Rubio, they’re two big players for us,” Chavez said. “They’re smart football players. They know what’s going on on offense and what’s going on in the field. They’re like coaches on the field, and they’ve been doing a great job for us.”
The Greyhounds, led by quarterback Cristian Sierra, got going after halftime, as he ran for two scores, a 1-yard run and a 5-yard run.
The senior quarterback hit Victor Gaitan on an 18-yard touchdown strike during the first half, and later hit J.R. Gaitan on a 36-yard pass in the end zone for another score. Christopher Padilla also returned a Rivera fumble 52 yards for another touchdown for the Greyhounds.
“(Sierra) has done a good job all year, he’s carried our offense. And we’ve asked a lot of him as a first-year quarterback,” Gomez said. “He’s definitely risen above expectations.”
Sierra completed 13 of 25 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also ran for 97 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Gabriel Vasquez, the second leading rusher in the district, was held to 45 yards on 12 carries.
The Greyhounds (6-4, 5-2) earned a postseason berth and a share of the title, but it seemed like a consolation prize compared to what could have been. Gomez was proud of the way his team rose above initial expectations early during the season.
“They didn’t exceed expectations of what we had,” he said. “But they did exceed expectations of what everybody else had of them.”
The Raiders now have won five straight games after starting the season 0-5. More importantly, the victory wrapped up a share of the district title and their second consecutive postseason berth.
“It feels great, we’re going to get a gold ball,” Chavez said. “It’s good for everybody right now. I’m happy for everybody that (sharing the district title) came out this way.
“I like to share with my fellow coaches.”
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.