Benbrook comes up short, faces road woes in Week 2 loss against Ferris
An untimely holding penalty stalled a potential go-ahead drive for Benbrook late in the fourth quarter as Ferris used the running of senior quarterback Nate Aguinago to build up a first half lead and hold on for a 20-17 win in a non-district game Friday night at Yellowjacket Stadium.
The Bobcats (0-2) came out in the second half and asserted themselves on defense to stay close and used the running of Dee Kennedy to threaten to take a road win after losing their season opener.
But Benbrook could only manage a 27-yard field goal by kicker Francisco Ceja in the second half to narrow the score.
Benbrook’s defense shut out Ferris (1-1) in the second half and was sparked by a fumble recovery by Harry Gonzales early in the fourth quarter. That play seemed to give Benbrook a chance for a second-half comeback, but it fizzled when a 13-yard pass from quarterback William Green to Treyvonne Green came up two yards short on the Yellowjackets 13.
The first half was evenly contested, but Ferris built a 20-14 lead behind the running and passing of Aguinago. He carried the ball 17 times in the first half for 115 yards and two touchdowns, from 1 and 11 yards. He also had a run for a 2-point conversion after the Yellowjackets’ first TD.
Then, in the waning moments of the first half, Aguinago directed his team rapidly down the field to regain the lead just before halftime when he connected 23 yards to Trey Johnston with only 18 seconds left before intermission.
Benbrook, seeking its first win after an opening week loss to China Spring, responded with gritty quarterback play from Green, as he guided the Bobcats to touchdowns to tie the game at 14 with 3:12 left in the first half. Benbrook scored first in the opening seconds of the second quarter when Kennedy scored from a yard out.
The quick sophomore runner scampered six yards to the 1 on the play before. Then, later in the second quarter, Benbrook marched down the field to tie the game when Draylon Williams broke loose for a 20-yard gain followed by a 26-yard completion from Green to James down to the Ferris 4.
The touchdown was a lineman’s dream as senior James Earnest recovered a fumble in the end zone. Ceja converted his second PAT kick for the knotted score.
Defensively, Benbrook got an interception in the first half by Caleb Henley and got solid defensive line play from Jaden Blanchard and Earnest.
Having to punt late in the final quarter after a holding call stifled a drive, the Bobcats were called for a facemask violation on defense when it seemed they might have one more chance to score. That penalty effectively ended the game with just under two minutes to play and Ferris able to run out the clock.
Offensively, Kennedy excelled with 105 yards rushing on 14 carries with one touchdown. Green passed for 101 yards with receiver James snagging two catches for 39 yards.
“We played hard and had a chance to win,” said Benbrook coach Cody Slater. “Most of all we are fortunate to be playing because a lot has been taken away this past year.”
Benbrook looks forward to a Thursday night game in Wichita Falls against Hirschi.