The San Benito High and Wilcox football teams have a knack for
ending games in a draw. Last year the teams battled to a 20-20 tie
in Santa Clara before the Haybalers were eventually credited a
forfeit victory.
Hollister – The San Benito High and Wilcox football teams have a knack for ending games in a draw. Last year the teams battled to a 20-20 tie in Santa Clara before the Haybalers were eventually credited a forfeit victory.
Friday night’s 28-28 tie against visiting Wilcox was a little tougher to swallow. Last year, both teams had a chance to win but missed their PATs.
San Benito had a 28-7 lead Friday after scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter, but Wilcox came right back with three touchdowns of its own.
Dru Blake made all four PATs. But His 44-yard field goal attempt with six seconds to go fell just feet short.
“It was straight and was a good effort,” said Baler coach Chris Cameron.
San Benito got off to a quick start after Blake recovered a fumble and Mike Harbell returned it 30 yards.
But it was the defense which came up big time in and time out. Twice it stopped the Chargers in the red zone from scoring points, but the Chargers came to life in the the third and fourth quarters.
During halftime, the coaches must have said something to the players because a completely different team came out on the field.
“We didn’t really discuss anything special,” Cameron said. “We told them to come out strong like we have told them all year. It just took a half for them to have it sink in.”
Within two minutes, the offense scored on a 57-yard completion from Klauer to Gabe Gaitan.
The Haybaylers continued to pound Wilcox on both sides of the ball throughout the third quarter.
They scored after a 47-yard reception to Gaitan, which set up a 1-yard touchdown run by junior Jeff Weltz, his first varsity touchdown. Weltz added the final touchdown as well on a 64-yard juggling catch between the safety and the corner.
“I ran a back-side post, and Karson rolled out,” Weltz said. “I was running to try to tackle the guy because I thought he intercepted it. I was able to reach back and pull it in. Scoring the first one was great. The second one was awesome because it shocked me that I was able to catch it.”
But Wilcox, who looked beat after the three consecutive touchdowns, wasn’t done yet.
With the ball on the Charger 9-yard line, Wilcox connected for a 91-yard touchdown reception that completely shifted the momentum.
The life returned to Wilcox and Hollister appeared to be on the ropes.
Following a bad snap on a punt, the kicker fell on the ball on the one, instead of kicking the ball out of the end zone. Wicox would score two plays later on a quarterback keeper. And Wicox tied the score on a 15-yard run.
But the bleeding stopped half way through the fourth quarter when the Baler defense finally began to stop the Chargers’ drives and put the game back into the hands of the offense, which appeared in the third quarter to be unstoppable.
But both teams hit a snag. Drives died early and without much to show for it.
One person who was watching the game mumbled, “If you don’t care who wins, this is a very exciting game.”
And certainly it was for those who were watching it.
But for the coaches on both sides the game it was frustrating. Offenses spiked then died. Defenses put up the big stop and then give up a huge play.
By Cheeto Barrera
Sports Writer
