KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
SAN BENITO—The rigorous non-district schedule kicks off tonight for the San Benito Greyhounds as they host the Calallen Wildcats at Bobby Morrow Stadium with the kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m.
Bobby Morrow has hosted quite a few state powers in the past. Last year, the Greyhounds welcomed Midland Lee during the non-district portion of the season and eventually hosted Converse Judson in the third round of the postseason.
“The community is just excited that football season is back,” San Benito coach Dan Gomez said. “It doesn’t matter who it is, the fans come out and support their kids and support the team. We are just excited to play football and to play at home. The challenge has been put in front of us and the kids are going to get out there and give it everything they have.”
This year, the ‘Hounds will host the Wildcats in what will be their only home game of the non-district schedule.
“We are going to wait and see how it goes,” Gomez said. “We are going to treat these roads trips like we would any other road trips that we have had in the past. That is all you can do and just make sure the kids stay focused.”
Last year, San Benito went toe-to-toe with the ‘Cats and fell 28-21 at Calallen. Despite the loss, the ‘Hounds regrouped and wound up second in 32-6A and reached the third round of the playoffs. Calallen, who was pegged as a young team last year, ended up in the Class 5A state semifinals before bowing out to Fort Bend Marshall 19-17.
“They have kids that have signed letters of intents to play at the Division I level and they have been around for a long time,” Gomez said. “They bring a challenge to us and a lot of teams, but to us it is no different. They are not afraid to play us and we are not afraid to play them.”
The Wildcats bring back a wealth of experience with eight returners on both sides of the ball. Calallen will look to quarterback Jarrett Garza, while the defensive side will be the key cog for the ‘Cats, led by defensive tackle Marcus Wiser and linebacker Riggs Barrett.
Longtime Calallen head coach Phil Danaher enters the 2019 season with a 458-111-4 record. Along with the Wildcats coming to town, San Benito will welcome Danaher to Bobby Morrow for the first time.
“He (Danaher) is somebody that is very well respected in the coaching profession,” Gomez said. “He has earned every bit of that, he is the winningest Texas high school football coach and anytime we have a time to pick his brain, we do that. So the relationship we have with him is a good one.”