KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
The 2017 football season will be one to remember for San Benito fans. The Hounds ran the table through the regular season and saw a district, bi-district and area title come home to San Benito. This year’s squad was a special one, and was led by one of the most dynamic signal callers in the Valley.
Senior quarterback Erick Retta put a stamp on his senior season by running for 744 yards and seven rushing touchdowns and threw for 2,264 yards along with tossing 28 touch-downs to just two interceptions.
Retta was also named district 32-6A offensive player of the year. With Retta’s strong season, he was named The Valley Morning Star ALL-STAR Most Valuable Player.
“It is a great honor to win the MVP award,” said Retta. “To be honest, I never imagined being an MVP because of my size, but I worked hard to get to where I’m at now.”
Retta was a two-year starter for the Hounds and went 22-3 as the Hounds starting quarterback. Retta won a district title and a pair of bi-district titles as the lead man.
“This season meant a lot to us, so many people doubted us because of the players we lost from last season. However this year we proved people wrong this season.”
Over the season Retta displayed command of the huddle and a clutch gene. In their playoff game against McAllen Memorial, San Benito trailed by four with 1:04 left to play and had their season on the line, Retta delivered the drive of his career.
Retta directed a seven-play, 78-yard drive and capped it off with a 1-yard go-ahead touchdown. There had been many big moments for Retta, but the final drive against McAllen Memorial etched his name in San Benito history.
“Making the comeback against McAllen Memorial in the playoffs has to be my best memory. One-minute left, in the playoffs its everything you dream of.” Retta said.
Retta and this year’s senior group leave behind a standard of excellence laid by coach Dan Gomez.
“Coach Gomez’s and I had a strong relationship, he treated me like a son,” Retta said. “I started my high school career in San Benito when Coach Gomez got here, it was great playing under him and his staff.”
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Senior defensive end Ryan Reza was a force all season long for the San Benito Greyhounds. Reza who spent two years on the varsity had a staple senior season for the Hounds and was a leader on one of the top defenses in the Valley.
Reza’s 20 sack season led him to a district 32-6A defensive lineman of the year award and was named the Valley Morning Star ALL-STAR defensive player of the year.
“Winning this award is very humbling,” Reza said. “I don’t consider it an individual award, if it wasn’t for my teammates and coaches, this award wouldn’t have been possible.”
Six times this season the Greyhounds defense held their opponents under 20 points. As a junior, Reza mustered up just 13 sacks but increased that to 20 his senior season which also marked a career high.
“Defensively we understood each other and trusted each other,” Reza said. I feel that’s why we were able to have success this year. Our coaches did a great job on putting together a great game plan that we believed in and we did our best to execute it. It’s not easy being a Hound, the expectations and demands are always high but that’s what made it special for me.”
Reza’s junior year he recorded five sacks against Laredo United which is a career high. His senior season Reza began the season by recording three sacks in each of the first three games. Five times Reza would finish with three sacks and recorded at least one sack in each game.
“Everyone on defense had a job and a role,” Reza said. “If my teammates didn’t do their job then I wouldn’t have these accolades. These 20 sacks weren’t my sacks’ they were the defenses 20 sacks, we as a unit earned them.”
Reza like his teammate and quarterback Erick Retta set the bar high for the next group of Hounds.
“My message to the younger guys would be, to be the best team in the state. Be better than any team that has put on a purple and gold uniform. Work hard and listen to what is being taught whether it’s a football or life lesson.” Said Reza.
BOBCATS
FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
From September 8 to November 24 the Rio Hondo Bobcats reined supreme over opponents across South Texas. Thanks in large part to senior Tyler Bush and sophomore Joey Ortega, the Bobcats were able to put together one of its best seasons in school history. And because of their success on the field Tyler Bush has been named VMS’s Offensive Player of the Year while teammate Joey Ortega has been awarded VMS’s Newcomer of the year.
Offensively, 2017 was a memorable year for a certain Bobcat. Bush’s drive, determination and resolve led him to become one of the most recognized names in Rio Grande Valley football, and as he mentioned — it helped having a lot of detractors growing up.
“Growing up a lot of people doubted my ability to play football,” said Bush. “Because of that I felt like I had to work harder. I had a lot to prove and I used that as motivation to be who I am on and off the field today.
“The values my parents have instilled in me growing up and the drive I have to always want to do my best is I think what de-fines me. I just simply go out on the field and do whatever it takes to get the win. Each and every play I gave it my all and played my heart out.”
Bush finished his senior season amassing an eye-popping 3,021 passing yards with 34 touchdowns and 1,084 rushing yards with 10 TDs. And as far as the Rio Hondo history books are concerned — there hasn’t been anybody like him in a while.
“Quarterback wise, touchdown wise, career and single season wise he broke all the records,” said Rio Hondo head coach Rocky James. “He broke my offensive coordinator Victor Sauceda’s records and it was pretty special for Victor to be able to coach this kid who broke his records. Tyler is up there with the Joseph Velas and the Victors in the Rio Hondo history books.
“He is just an unbelievable kid and an unbelievable athlete and we’re hoping he gets a scholarship to continue playing. He strives to be the best and he hated failing.”
Another Bobcat that earned heaps of praise for his performance on the field was Joey Ortega. The sophomore middle line-backer registered 142 tackles and 5.5 sacks this season. However, as Coach James stated that really wasn’t a surprise for him.
“We expected a lot from him this year, even as a sophomore,” said James. “I knew what I had because just watching him as a freshman I just knew what I had. He had so much potential and so much talent but if we can just get him out of his shell of being so quiet he is going to be an even better linebacker.
“He’s just a super quiet guy by nature but his talent level is through the roof and he has the ability to be one of the best line-backers to have ever played in Rio Hondo.”
However, on the field Ortega wasn’t that shy and stood out above other newcomer nominees.
“It’s an honor to be recognized at such a young age and I give thanks to God and to those around me,” said Ortega. “They pushed me to be the best I can be and excel in the position that would benefit me the most.”