Rene Chavez, Jamail Garza and Alan Bejaran are quite content with their roles as inside linebackers at the heart of the San Benito Greyhounds’ defense.

The San Benito Greyhounds' inside linebackers are Alan Bejaran (71), Rene Chavez (83) and Jamail Garza (76).

All three are juniors, and coach Spencer Gantt said each has become a reliable player at his position. The District 32-5A co-champion Greyhounds (9-2) are preparing to face District 29-5A runner-up Laredo United (9-2) in the Class 5A Division I area playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Corpus Christi’s Cabaniss Stadium.

“These guys have been solid for us all year,” Gantt said. “They show a lot of leadership and they clog up the middle, which forces our opponents to try to go outside on us. Their contributions have been invaluable.

“We’re fortunate that these guys are versatile enough that they can play well against the run or the pass,” Gantt added. “They’re going to have their hands full this week (against United), and they’re going to come in very handy for us.”

Since United passes the ball a lot, the efforts of the three inside linebackers will be vitally important, along with those of their teammates, to the Greyhounds’ success. The three defenders are approaching the test that United poses with determination and confidence at their position.

“It feels good to be a linebacker on this defense,” said Chavez, a 5-foot-9, 200-pounder who leads the team with more than 160 tackles on the year. “This has been a great junior season, and it’ll help us a lot for next year.

“We know we face a lot of challenges this week,” he added. “We have to stop the run, but we also have to drop back and cover the pass, so it’ll definitely be a big challenge playing United.”

Bejaran echoed the thoughts of his teammate.

“It just feels great being a part of this defense,” the 5-10, 200-pound Bejaran said. “Overall, we have a great team, and just to be a part of our defense is a very good feeling.

“I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job of reading the plays (of the opposing offense),” he added. “We see a screen (pass) or something like that and we jump on it right away. I think we all have good hands and good speed.”

The Greyhounds advanced to face United by defeating Edinburg High 24-21 at home last Friday in bi-district.

“We never quit and just kept fighting (to get the win),” Bejaran said. “Early in the game, we had some mistakes, but we got things fixed and kept battling. We want to keep working hard week by week now so we can keep our season going.”

The three players said they appreciate the support the community is showing the team.

“There’s been a very good response,” Garza said. “People tell us that we’re doing a good job, and that just motivates us to keep playing as hard as we can.

“We’re going to take one play at a time, and hopefully, we’ll come out on top,” he added.

Garza, a 5-9, 190-pounder, experienced a defensive player’s dream during the Greyhounds’ 42-23 victory at home over Brownsville Lopez on Oct. 21 when he grabbed the ball from the hands of an unsuspecting Lobos ballcarrier and returned it 18 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.

“I just saw the ball there and I saw my opportunity (to take it away),” Garza said. “It was most definitely a highlight for me. As a defensive player, any opportunity you have to score, you have to take advantage of it. I just took the ball and ran.”

Added Gantt, “It was a highlight for Jamail and it was a highlight for me. If you look at the video of me on the sideline, I’m as excited as anyone on that play.”

Capturing a district co-championship and winning a bi-district playoff game has everyone on the team hoping the season will continue even longer.

“This is like a dream come true for me because I’ve always wanted to play for the Greyhounds,” Garza said.

November 17, 2011 5:16 AM
Roy Hess
The Brownsville Herald