Javier McDonald’s debut as head coach was successful enough. He brought Michael Griego back.

Just as he did in 2007, Griego returned in mid-season and promptly scored in his first game back, converting a penalty kick in stoppage time to keep his hometown team out of the Mid-South Division cellar in a 1-1 tie with the DFW Tornados.

Griego, an Andress High School grad and veteran of the Patriots’ A-League days, stayed away from the Premier Development League version of the team for three seasons. But his desire to compete should never be in doubt.

Despite being re-signed just two days ago and not having trained with his teammates for any length of time, Griego stepped onto the field and promptly played a full 90 minutes – another of McDonald’s excellent decisions. If he had subbed off Griego for fresher legs, the Patriots might not have been able to apply sufficient pressure to earn the PK.

That said, credit goes to DFW and Coach Paul Robinson. The Tornados survived a barrage from an El Paso offense still exploring its mid-season makeover under McDonald, a longtime youth coach in the area and formerly head coach at Cathedral High School .

A basic 4-4-2 was helped by the yeoman’s work turned in by Griego and fellow forward Roland Alexander. But the concerns linger over an offense that has managed just eight goals in nine games. Griego becomes the seventh Patriot to score in 2008. Spreading the wealth, perhaps? Not when no player has scored more than one goal, with an own goal rounding out the goal scoring.

It was fine Friday night, though. The crowd of over 1,300 fans was more and more pessimistic as, even a man down after DFW’s Aaron Chibli was ejected for his second caution in the 71^st, the Tornados held.

When veteran defender Hugo Sámano was shown a straight red for kicking DFW’s Bruno Guarda in the 84^th minute, making it 10-on-10, the mood was even more foul. The funk lasted until a Tornados’ defender misplayed a Patriots pass into the area off his arm forcing Salas to point to the spot.

Griego coolly faked DFW keeper Brian Sarber to his left, lifting El Paso ’s spirits yet again upon his return. He helped lead the Patriots to the Mid-South Division playoffs in 2007. El Paso fans are hoping he’ll do so again, though at 2-4-3 and tied for sixth place with nine points, the road is longer still. However, the Tornados are now within reach at 3-4-2 and 11 points in fifth place.

Saturday, the teams do it again at 7:30 p.m. MDT. The Patriots will have the inaugural Father’s Day Grill Giveaway, and as always for every Saturday home game, Patriots players will host a mini-camp for kids 12 and under from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the field of Patriot Stadium before the game.

The game will be webcast live, then archived at www.elpaso-patriots.com. KLAQ/KROD and MetroSports Southwest broadcaster Duke Keith has the play-by-play