The game wasn’t the prettiest, but Hollister found a way to defeat Bellarmine 17-7 Friday at home.
Both sides made mistakes, but Hollister kept it together and mounted a second half charge defeat the Bells.
Both offenses struggled in the first half. Sophomore Dru Blake hit a 34-yard field goal with about five minutes to play in the first quarter.
But in the second half, Hollister rode the wave of quarterback Kason Klauer, who twice had big runs to set up touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.
At the end of the third quarter, Klauer ran for 42 yards ,setting up a 3-yard touchdown run from senior running back Gabe Gaitan with 3:29 to go.
Klauer struck again in the fourth quarter, this time for 46 yards setting up a 2-yard rushing touchdown from sophomore Tim Lango two plays later.
Bellarmine answer edwith four and a half minutes left in the game with a 34-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Joe Borromeo to cut into the lead 17-7.
Head Coach Chris Cameron was pleased with his team’s effort against a tough team like Bellarmine.
Cameron said his offensive line is finally all together and the team is coming together.
“We are going to keep working hard, the team loves it,” Cameron said. “We are going to get better.”
For the second time in as many weeks, the Haybaler defense kept the team in the game.
The defensive line kept the pressure on the quarterback, breaking up three passes and sacking junior Matt Zuniga twice in the first half alone.
The Balers kept the pressure on throughout the second half, sacking Zuniga three more times.
But Hollister’s defense had a few mistakes.
On a fourth and very long in the second quarter, the defense failed to account for the punter who ran for 20 yards and a first down.
The Balers atoned for the laps by forcing a three-and-out on the next series.
Bellarmine also was a little unstable on defense. Twice during the second quarter, the Bells had long drives that were called back due to holding penalties, including an 18-yard pass.
Then following the Bells’ lone touchdown, they attempted an onside kick, but kicked it behind the line and out of bounds.
It was the defense, Klauer was particularly pleased with.
“They are awesome,” he said. “They were all over the place.”
By Cheeto Barrera Staff Writer
