Hollister – Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. After hearing their coaches harp all week about just how critical turnovers were in tight games, the ‘Balers found themselves in a down-to-the-wire contest against Wilcox Friday night, a game in which a single mistake could cost either team a win.
Fortunately for the San Benito football team, the ‘Balers came up on the receiving end of a costly late gaffe by the Chargers to preserve a 10-7 victory at Andy Hardin Stadium.
After failing to run out the clock with just under two minutes to play, San Benito (3-0) was forced to punt to Wilcox, thus giving the visitors a chance to win the game. But when the Chargers lost control of the football on the return, ‘Balers senior Tim Lango swooped in to land on the fumble to secure the win for his team.
“I just saw the ball on the ground and I had to get it,” said Lango, who pounced on the fumble with 1:43 left in the game. “(My eyes) just got big. They got huge. I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh. That ball is live.'”
What a shift from the week before. After fumbling six times amidst a four-turnover night against San Lorenzo Valley on Sep. 8, Lango’s fumble recovery marked San Benito’s fourth takeaway of the game. The ‘Balers scored all 10 of their points off two first-quarter turnovers by Wilcox, and then once again rode their defense to victory.
Wilcox (1-1) trailed 10-0 at the half, but used a 22-yard touchdown run by Justice Patterson on its first drive of the third quarter to create the intensity-packed second half.
After blocking a 34-yard field goal attempt by San Benito’s Dru Blake with 3:40 left in the game, and seeing the ball roll all the way back to ‘Balers’ 41-yard line, the Chargers appeared to gain the momentum swing that could mean the difference.
But San Benito’s fearsome defense stuffed Wilcox’s first two running plays for no gain and eventually forced the Chargers to turn the ball over on downs.
Blake, who also plays defensive back, said the defense relished the opportunity to carry the team to victory. “I was thinking our defense was going to have to win this game (after the blocked field goal attempt) and we did,” he said. “We’ve done it before and we’ll do it more times to come.”
Said ‘Balers defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher: “Regardless of how our offense is playing, our goal is to shut the opponent out. We’re playing for the shutout, no matter what the score is.”
Two plays into their second drive of the game, the Chargers coughed up the ball on a running play, and San Benito defensive lineman Sam Doty recovered the fumble at Wilcox’s 21-yard line. Four plays later, Lango burst through the middle of the line for a seven-yard touchdown run to help the ‘Balers to a 7-0 lead with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter.
After two penalties backed Wilcox up deep into its own territory on the ensuing possession, San Benito’s Zach Canez intercepted Chargers quarterback Stephen Thompson’s pass. The junior cornerback, who now has four picks on the year, returned the ball 10 yards to set up Blake’s 38-yard field goal, which put the ‘Balers up 10-0 at the 1:58 mark in the opening quarter.
San Benito could well have taken a 17-0 lead into the locker room after a 29-yard run by running back Taylor Griffith gave the ‘Balers a first-and-goal at Wilcox’s three-yard line. But an ineffective running play and then a fumble in the backfield cost the team seven valuable yards, and then Blake’s 25-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
“We had a chance to finish ’em off,” offensive coordinator Rick Dukes said, “and we bumbled the ball. Oddball mistakes, just shooting ourselves in the foot, and then we miss the field goal. It’s just frustrating.”
Nevertheless, after winning in spite of its sloppy performance against SLV a week before, San Benito’s coaching staff saw improvement in losing just one fumble against Wilcox.
After improving to 3-0 for the first time since 2000, the ‘Balers were understandably giddy afterwards.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” star middle linebacker Johnny Sanchez said. “We didn’t even do that when we won the CCS championship (last year).”
Nevertheless, head coach Chris Cameron said there is a lot of work to be done, especially with talented Bellarmine on deck and then a tough Tri-County Athletic League season.
“We’re not there yet,” he said. “Luckily, defensively, we’re getting after it. We’re creating opportunities for ourselves and we’re coming up with stops.”
Not to mention big wins.
The ‘Balers shoot for a 4-0 start to the season when Bellarmine comes to Hollister on Sep. 22.
JV Note: The San Benito JV football team improved to 3-0 with a 28-0 victory over visiting Wilcox Friday night. The ‘Balers opened up a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and never looked back.
“It’s awesome,” head coach Luis Espinoza said of his team’s undefeated start to the season. “The kids are on cloud nine.”
Quarterback Ryan Shorey ran a 15-yard bootleg for a touchdown to give the ‘Balers the early lead, and then running back Sebastian Cathirell took a sweep five yards for another score.
Shorey’s 10-yard pass to Evan McFadden put San Benito up 21-0 at the half, and then Cathirell posted a one-yard scoring un in the third quarter. Ricky Canes converted four PATs for the ‘Balers.
With Bellarmine set to visit next week, Espinoza said his team still needs to focus on improving its offensive blocking and penalty-prone play. “We could’ve done better,” he said. “We’re always trying to find how we can improve. Never be satisfied.”
Freshmen Note: The ‘Balers’ freshmen football team also recorded a shutout win over Wilcox, thumping the visiting Chargers 40-0 on Thursday. San Benito used balanced scoring and four PATs from Nick Acosta to secure the big win. “It was a good team effort,” head coach Randy Logue related. “We play Bellarmine next Thursday in what should be a real test for us.”
