Raiders pull away to top Greyhounds
PHARR — For a moment, it looked like San Benito might steal the spotlight.
Quarterback Albert Gonzalez broke free for a 22-yard touchdown just before halftime, pulling the Greyhounds within striking distance of top-ranked PSJA North.
But on the very next possession, sophomore Isaiah Garza turned the corner on a sweep and sprinted 78 yards untouched for a touchdown, putting the Raiders back in control and giving them a two-score lead they would never give up.
“He’s been really good for us,” head coach Marcus Kaufman said of Garza. “He started last year as a freshman. He’s grown up a bunch, fallen in love with the weight room, and gotten stronger. He’s going to be a player for years to come.”
From there, it was all PSJA North. The Raiders poured on 28 unanswered points in the second half to cruise to a 49-14 victory at PSJA Stadium.
Even missing quarterback Daren Garcia and defensive back Ethan Montemayor, North (1-0) rolled behind senior running back Ethan Guerra. He gashed the Greyhounds for 179 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries, including a 79-yard breakaway in the first quarter.
“I always think I’m going to take it all the way,” Guerra said. “When I saw that opening, I just went for it. Gotta thank my line—they do all the dirty work in the trenches.”
Sophomore quarterback Draydon Espinoza added a spark through the air, hitting Garza on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Garza finished with 134 yards and two scores on just three touches, while Andrew Alvarado added 91 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Kaufman credited his team’s conditioning and physical play for wearing down the Greyhounds.
“We started fast, hit a lull in the middle,” Kaufman said. “San Benito’s a really good team, but I think we wore them out. We’re in the weight room all the time, do a lot of conditioning. They played us tough early, but they got tired.”
“The only thing I’m doing to Guerra now is pointing out a missed gap,” Kaufman added. “He’s a really smart football player and a great kid.”
San Benito (0-1) had one more highlight late—a 75-yard touchdown run from Axel Hernandez—but by then, the game was already out of reach.
PSJA North hosts PSJA High next Friday at 7:30 p.m. San Benito goes home to face perennial power Austin Westlake at 7 p.m. at Bobby Morrow Stadium.
