Some things come easy and some things just look like they come
easy. It was no easy task for No. 4 San Benito to knock off No. 1
Los Gatos 40-21 during the Central Coast Division II semifinals
Friday at San Jose City College.
But the Balers made it look easy. Every call seemed to be the
perfect call. Every play seemed to be perfectly executed.
Offensive coordinator Rich Dukes and defensive coordinator Tod
Thatcher deserve a lot of credit for the victory.
Some things come easy and some things just look like they come easy. It was no easy task for No. 4 San Benito to knock off No. 1 Los Gatos 40-21 during the Central Coast Division II semifinals Friday at San Jose City College.
But the Balers made it look easy. Every call seemed to be the perfect call. Every play seemed to be perfectly executed.
Offensive coordinator Rich Dukes and defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher deserve a lot of credit for the victory.
The 40 points the Balers scored was the highest of the season. And the Balers defense continually denied Los Gatos’ running back from picking up the big-yardage play.
It is not too often in high school football that holding a runner to 100 yards is counted as a success.
But it was a good thing in the Balers case, because without Danny Bates Los Gatos would have had almost no offense.
Hollister was already beginning its celebration with five minutes to go in the game after a couple big plays put the game away.
The staff made sure all the water and Gatorade were let out of the coolers to make sure no unsuspecting coach would get a premature drenching in the slightly chilly, drizzly weather.
When the exuberant Balers gathered in the huddle after the game, handshakes and hugs were exchanged as the Balers let out cries of joy.
There was just one casualty during the postgame celebration – Athletic Director Randy Logue’s shirt. Logue ripped his shirt off Hulk Hogan style revealing nothing but his hairy chest.
“I do it at pep rallies and big games to try to get the kids pumped up,” Logue said.
If a torn shirt is the result of the semifinal game win, Logue may need a whole new wardrobe after the Aptos game on Friday.
The Los Gatos game felt like a championship game for many Baler fans and players. After all, it is not everyday you get to knock off a No. 1 seed in such a dominant fashion.
After the Balers failed to make the playoffs last year, questions were raised about what type of team the Balers would have this year. Many didn’t expect anything better than a .500 team. Some expected that if the Balers could somehow make the playoffs, they would go in limping.
But the Balers have ran the marathon in style, consistently jumping the toughest hurdles with ease. The two losses this year were by just 15 points.
The Hollister football team has returned to the tradition that has been established. Before last year, the Balers were in three consecutive Division II championship games, winning in 2000.
But even though San Benito will be the favorite this year to win Division II, the No. 2 seeded Aptos will give the Balers a good run.
Last week, Aptos recovered from a 21-0 first quarter deficit to defeat North Salinas 38-35.
The Balers know all about playing a full game of football. In the game at Salinas on Nov. 7, San Benito was up 17-3 at the half before Salinas came back and tied the game in the fourth quarter.
Although it wasn’t a loss, it felt like one. That negativity carried over into the next game against Palma that the Balers lost 7-6.
Against Milpitas in the first round of the playoffs, the Balers had a commanding 28-7 lead before Milpitas got within a touchdown.
Los Gatos closed the gap to 28-14 in the game last Friday, but the Balers quickly shutdown any hopes.
The Hollister football team has consistently been plagued by missed PAT kicks this season.
And that is the aspect of the game that the Balers work on first during practice each day. But that is the area that may cost a title for the Balers, who missed three of their five kicks in the last game.
In the game against Palma, a missed kick cost the Balers a possible tie. However, a tie still wouldn’t have been good enough to give the Balers the Tri-County Athletic League title.
The Balers will be lucky to score half of what they scored against Los Gatos when they play Aptos. It is not every day, a team can score 40 points. But it is not every day you find a team as talented and dedicated as San Benito.
