It was a game that could have had a whole different endingi. The
way the annual Prune Bowl game was played right down to the final
seconds was truly worthy of the rivalry.
n By NATHAN MIXTER
Sports Editor
Hollister – It was a game that could have had a whole different endingi. The way the annual Prune Bowl game was played right down to the final seconds was truly worthy of the rivalry.
It was a game built on an intense tradition, but it was a game full of emotion. Right from the start, the referees decided they wouldn’t let the game get out of hand. But that didn’t stop emotions from running high on both sides as the flags flew in abundance.
“If they are going to doing that, it’s fine as long as they are going to be consistant throughout the game,” said Baler coach Chris Cameron. “They were out to set the record straight early. High school football in general is out to get rid of that, getting away from what kids see on TV.”
San Benito (4-1-1, 1-0 TCAL) won the game 7-6 over the previous undefeated Gilroy. But it could have easily ended in a tie. What a change from the last two years.
San Benito stopped Justin Sweeny for the most part. He still had more than 100 yards rushing. But despite a nice kickoff return, he was kept out of the end zone.
Gabe Gaitan ran for 93 yards, including several good short runs to put the Haybalers in good position. In the the fourth quarter, he picked up a big first down with 3:52 left to help the Balers run time off the clock.
His effort with 2:01 left was just short even though he stretched all the way out. But the Balers still got the first down. Klauer fell forward to get the first down with 1:31 left. Gilroy’s Rico Loza was also shaken up on the play and had to leave the game. The teams played the time out game in the final couple minutes.
Gilroy started its touchdown drive early in the third quarter. After a run was stopped at the line of scrimmage, Louie Gutierrez found room on the left side for an 87-yard run.
A flag was thrown at the midfield, and fans on both sides didn’t know what was the call. The penalty was assessed on the PAT, which turned out to be about 35 yards and was just short. Fans on either side thought it was a clipping penalty.
A new rule was put into place this year moving the penalty yardage to the PAT not on the following kickoff.
“We had ours (penalties) too, but we didn’t have any on touchdowns. That was the big blow,” Cameron said.
It was a battle of defenses. The teams didn’t have 100 yards passing between them. Defensively, Alex Diaz had 15 tackles for the Balers.
The Balers were called for a holding penalty on Ryan Dunn that negated a touchdown pass from Klauer to Chuck Thompson.
“He’s our best pass blocker,” Cameron said. “He has the best balance. It was a total block. That is how we teach it.”
Junior Breyon Canez intercepted a Hail Mary pass at the end of the game to seal the win.
“I knew we had it even before that,” Canez said. “They weren’t going to get behind us.”
