For the first time in 11 years, coach Chris Cameron had to
listen to his team huddle on a cell phone.
Hollister – For the first time in 11 years, coach Chris Cameron had to listen to his team huddle on a cell phone.
Cameron was absent from the 13-7 victory Friday over visiting San Lorenzo Friday to be with his son, who was undergoing an operation.
San Benito came out fired up after being shutout by Valley Christian the week before. The Haybalers put together three good drive in the first half but was able to score just once. San Benito moved the ball well in the first half but had just one touchdown.
The Haybalers quickly matched their total numbers of the week before. But despite out gaining SLV 179 to 106 in total offense in the first half, the score was tied at the half.
San Benito got on the board with 2:13 left in the first half on with a fake from Karson Klauer. Klauer then ran it around the left side from 17 yards out for a touchdown.
With three minutes left before the half after Hollister had missed a reverse, San Lorenzo Valley connected for its only touchdown of the game.
Backup quarterback Matt Kiel, who played all over the field, found the wide open Kris Kreuger on a reverse on the first play of the drive.
In the third quarter, Gabe Gaitan raced around the right side from 12 yards out and dived inside the pylon. But the touchdown was brought back after a holding call. And then San Benito missed the field goal – the second of the game.
The San Benito defense was strengthened by the return of lineman Vinny Sardam and linebacker Anthony Vasquez.
“It was great to be back,” Vasquez said. “We started to play together more as a team, more like a family, as more guys return.”
With 5:16 left in the third quarter, San Benito scored its final touchdown, after strong runs by Chris Brigantino and Gaitan, Charles Thompson ran the ball in from the 1-yard line. The two-point conversion was no good.
It almost came back to haunt the Balers, but the defense stepped up late in the game to preserve the victory.
