Greyhounds hand No. 4 Falcons first district loss since 2005

It was a scene that could be described in 1,000 words, as the Los Fresnos Falcons faithful watched the final seconds run down the clock.

Yet there’s really only one that was applicable: shocked.

San Benito’s Brandon Marquez rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns and tossed two more as the defense held Los Fresnos in check in a stunning 52-27 victory Friday night at Leo Aguilar Stadium.

"We knew it was going to be tough because Los Fresnos has a great team," Greyhounds coach Spencer Gantt said. "I’m so proud of the kids. They really deserve it because of all the hard work they’ve put in."

It was the Falcons’ first district loss since Oct. 28, 2005, when Harlingen South won 42-21.

"Now we are going to see what we’re made of," Falcons coach Scott Ford said. "We’re going to bounce back, hold our heads high and keep on like we would if we won."

The bombardment of points didn’t come until the second half, but the real momentum shaker came late in the second quarter.

With Los Fresnos up 21-7, Brandon Marquez hit a wide-open Chris Preciado for a 36-yard touchdown to complete an 87-yard drive in 12 plays with 5: 30 left before halftime.

Falcons coach Scott Ford rolled the dice on the team’s next possession, calling a fake punt on fourth-and-15 from its 35, but it was sniffed out by the Greyhounds’ defense.

On the next play, Marquez found J.C. Guzman down the heart of the Falcons’ defense for another touchdown. San Benito missed the extra point, but the Greyhounds were never the same after that.

In fact, neither were the Falcons.

Los Fresnos was held to one touchdown during the second half while Marquez scored three touchdowns, including a backbreaker that put Los Fresnos up 45-27 with 3:23 left in the game.

The Falcons had cut the lead to 32-27 when Emilio Hernandez hit Aaron Rangel on a 5-yard touchdown pass, but the conversion failed.

San Benito DB Oscar Conde iced the game by picking off Hernandez and running it back 27 yards for a 52-27 final.

Los Fresnos scored on its first three possessions of the first half, twice while Hernandez was on the field. That included the Falcons’ final points of the first half, as he ran it in from 4 yards out to put the Falcons up 21-7 with 11:56 left in the second quarter. Zepeda scored the team’s first touchdown, and he finished six catches for 114 yards in the losing effort.

Both teams struggled to get their offense going in the third quarter, but San Benito went into the fourth quarter in prime position to take its first lead.

On third-and-goal from the 7-yard line Marquez plowed his way through the Falcons’ defense, giving San Benito a 26-21 advantage.

"We got off to a good start, but we couldn’t gain back any of the momentum in the second half," Ford said.

Gantt who said his goal was always to win a district title, knows his team can’t falter down the stretch.

"Our sights have been on winning a district title," he said. "I know Los Fresnos is going to win out, so we have to keep on."

Louie Vera covers District 32-5A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at lvera@brownsvilleherald.com.