After taking individual pictures with almost every player on his roster, San Benito High football coach Chris Cameron finally had a moment to reflect on the team’s 14-7 win over Salinas in the Central Coast Section Division I playoff championship game last Friday at Rabobank Stadium.
The Haybalers capped off the 2014 season with their seventh section title in school history, starting their customary late-season push in November. Cameron, who just completed his 21st year as the school’s coach, knows championships aren’t necessarily won during the season—they’re won in the months leading up to them, starting in January and going all the way to the season-opening kickoff in the first week of September.
Cameron has a simple mantra for his players: Once you’re in, be prepared to go all the way.
“We always talk about sticking it out,” Cameron said. “We ask a lot out of our guys, and they make a big commitment. When you start putting in a lot of miles, it’s hard to quit even when things go bad. Guys don’t quit when they make a big investment. The players believe what we’re selling, and we’re real proud of them for working hard and playing physical.”
Coming together
When the Balers opened the league season by losing their first three games, things could’ve easily unraveled. Instead of going in the tank, however, San Benito did what it usually does—peak toward the end of the season to set up a potential championship run.
Senior A-back Chris Blake, who accounted for both of the team’s touchdowns, credited offensive lineman Jake Livingston, safety Austin Cascio and defensive lineman Jose Perez for keeping the team’s chemistry intact.
“They had a big part in bringing this team together,” said Blake, who had a 31-yard catch-and-go touchdown reception and a 82-yard kickoff return for a TD. “I think all those losses (to open league) hit us hard, and then the question was what we wanted to make out of our season. Would we go down without a fight or would we rise to the occasion?”
The Balers chose the latter, once again displaying a resiliency and toughness that has come to define the program.
