There’s really only a couple of ways to digest Friday night’s
loss at Andy Hardin Stadium, but only one way should actually be,
well, digested.
There’s really only a couple of ways to digest Friday night’s loss at Andy Hardin Stadium, but only one way should actually be, well, digested.
I guess it really kind of depends on what type of person you are.
If you’re of the doom and gloom ilk, you left Friday’s San Benito-Palma matchup feeling under the weather. The Haybalers lost 17-14 to the hated Chieftains, and all you got out of your Friday night was the sound of bagpipes ringing in your head.
Wonderful.
But, if you’re the type that believes it’s always sunny in Hollister, San Benito’s loss to Palma was – and these are rare – a moral victory. Granted, you still had bagpipes playing in your head when you left, but you had a moral victory, nonetheless.
And that’s pretty much the only way you can, and should, take it.
For one, the loss showed the players they can compete with the best. Palma was ranked No. 4 in the most recent poll by the San Jose Mercury News entering the game. They had outscored their opponents 178-99, and if you void Palma’s 55-0 loss to De La Salle, they’ve averaged more than 35 points per game. Needless to say, they’ll most certainly be battling for the Tri-County Athletic League crown this year.
The ‘Balers can play with the best, and they proved that Friday night.
They can nearly beat the best as well, they just need to start scoring a heckuva lot sooner.
San Benito trailed Palma 17-0 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and pocketed two quick touchdowns in two minutes and 51 seconds.
The clock ran out on what was an otherwise valiant effort, and left both players and coaches with two different standpoints, both of which are correct, both of which were tied rather nicely together by coach Chris Cameron:
“It showed that we had the ability to do it. We just need to do it consistently.”
The head coach went on to say that if the ‘Balers scored on their opening drive –a drive that started on San Benito’s 35-yard line and eventually stalled on Palma’s 21-yard line – the ‘Balers are more than likely recognized as giant-killers today.
And that’s basically what it came down to on Friday night. San Benito, given a little more time at the end of the game, could have quite possibly upended Palma. They had that much momentum.
But then again, they had the extra time. The time was just placed at the beginning of the game and not at the end of it.
The loss showed San Benito it can score points against big, bad Palma, and it showed that the ‘Balers not only need to score earlier, but put an importance on every single offensive series, from the opening drive to the two-minute drill.
Granted, the Chieftains were without their starting quarterback Connor Farotte, and there’s still a ton of stuff that can be corrected and improved upon, like “untimely penalties and blown assignments,” Cameron said, and “those big home run shots,” defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher said.
But a major, major step was reached on Friday night, and that’s showing a young team that they can play with a top-ranked opponent.
Any team could have lost to Palma by 30 points. In fact, many teams have.
San Benito didn’t let that happen.
Frosh Note: The San Benito freshmen team fell 27-16 to Palma last Thursday night at Andy Hardin Stadium.
“We lost a tough game,” coach Randy Logue said. “We had two great chances in the first half and we didn’t score on either of them. We very well could have easily won.”
Palma jumped out to a 20-0 lead at one point, but Haybaler Jake Hunter rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown. He added two points on the conversion on an option run, and San Benito trailed Palma 20-8.
After the Chieftains pocketed another score, Hunter hooked up with Cody Hendricks for a 23-yard screen pass that ended with Hendricks in the end zone. Hunter ran in the two-point conversion on an option play, and the ‘Balers trailed 27-16 late in the game.
But after the onside kick failed, Palma was able to run out the clock and seal the win.
“We are improving. The three games we have left, we feel we have a chance,” Logue said.
San Benito will play at Alisal Thursday at 6pm.
