In rivalry games, the rule of thumb is to always expect the unexpected. But nobody – including San Benito coach Chris Cameron – saw coming what happened Friday at Andy Hardin Field.
After starting slow – including two early fumbles – the deep San Benito rushing attack and forceful defense shut down the explosive Gilroy Mustangs to turn the Prune Bowl into a 39-3 laugher for the Balers.
The victory gives San Benito a 5-0 record in league play and sets up a Tri-County Athletic League championship game with Palma next Friday.
But this week, all the players cared about was holding the VFW Memorial trophy for the second year in a row.
“This feels great,” said Lionel Munguia, whose third quarter interception return for a touchdown ended any chance of a Gilroy comeback.
Munguia was one of four Balers to pick off passes from Gilroy quarterback Niko Fortino in the San Benito romp. The Balers attacked Fortino from the start, grabbing three sacks and causing trouble all night in the Mustang backfield.
Fortino, who leads the TCAL in passing, was held to 135 yards on 16-29 passing and four interceptions. The Mustangs couldn’t get much on the ground, either, rushing for 32 total yards.
“This is a great win,” linebacker Jonathan Huaracha said. “It all started with practice, and we came through. We knew what we were going to do. We knew their key players no. 4, 15, and we just shut them out. We came out and we smashed.”
Surprisingly, momentum seemed to switch toward the San Benito sideline after Gilroy scored its only points in the second quarter. Through the air, the Mustangs charged downfield and deep into San Benito territory.
After a sack by Ricardo Sosa, his second of the game, pushed Gilroy away from the goal line, the Balers forced Gilroy to settle for a field goal.
It only took the Balers three plays to respond.
After a long return by Robert Soto, who scored the Balers first touchdown and recorded an interception, to the 48-yard line, Michael Bocksnick dumped the ball to Cody Cameron, who turned up field. Cameron avoided Mustang defenders and was brought down at the 1-yard line. On the next play, Anthony Cervantes scored.
“That was a great play – great blocking,” Cameron said. “I think it really changed the attitude. That really changed momentum on offense.”
With a 14-3 halftime lead, San Benito was in complete control of the game by shutting down the vaunted Gilroy attack.
Preparation was the key to the Balers defensive success, Chris Cameron said.
“Tod Thatcher, our defensive coordinator, had put together a great, great gameplan,” Chris Cameron said. “It was a different approach. It was much more simplified and easier for our kids to know during the week. It let our kids play a little bit. It eliminated any confusion and allowed the kids to lineup and play the way they can.”
Defensive leader Huaracha said the difference started in the backfield for San Benito.
“Everyone knows we are a good run defense and everyone says we can’t cover the pass,” he said. “But I think tonight shows we can cover both sides of the field.”
And once the Balers started to build a lead on the Mustangs, the defense started to pick the Mustang offense apart.
At the start of the third quarter, Fortino’s first throw was picked off by Mungia, who returned the ball 30 yards into the end zone. In a flash, San Benito took a 21-3 lead and the heads of the Gilroy players started to look down.
“They got wore out and emotionally,” Chris Cameron said. “I think they got deflated and once that happened – the game’s over. It just started to steam roll on them. We were fired up about that. The game became 180 degrees different after that.”
San Benito quickly started to pile on.
After a quick Gilroy three-and-out series, Cody Cameron returned a punt to the 1-yard line. One play later, Cameron lunged over the line to make the score 27-3.
On defense, the Balers continued to swarm the Gilroy receivers, picking off three second-half passes.
Everything seemed to go San Benito’s way in the second half, including Zak Hicks running the wrong play on a second down and 13 at the Gilroy 20-yard line.
Hicks ran to the opposite side of the field of where the route was intended to go, but Bocksnick had enough time to dump the ball to the wide open Hicks.
Hicks quickly turned up field and ran into the Mustang offense to give San Benito a 33-3 lead in the third quarter.
“He ran the wrong route,” Chris Cameron said. “He was doing his own thing but it worked.”
Hicks ran for 21 yards on six carries, but he caught two balls for 33 yards and a touchdown.
Bocksnick went 5-8 for 130 yards and two touchdowns behind center. Once again, the junior used his legs to give San Benito an advantage on the ground. Bocknsick took six carries for 64 yards, including a 57 yard scamper that give the Balers a 39-3 lead in the final seconds of the third quarter.
But Bocksnick could only rave about the defensive effort.
“All sides of the ball did really well tonight especially the defense, who only held them to three points,” Bocksnick said. “It was the highest scoring team in the section – it was a great job.”
The great defensive play gave the offense opportunities throughout the night, he said.
“It gives us enough room – we need to step it up – but the defense gives us opportunities,” he said. “The defense was doing work.”
The Balers will now travel to Palma to battle for a TCAL championship. A win would give the Balers their first league title since 2005.
Chris Cameron expects his team to be ready.
“Emotionally they are going to be ready,” he said. “This isn’t going to deflate us or leave us on an emotional downer. We will keep them focused.”
