Hollister establishes early momentum with an interception by
Travis Ross but Bellarmine’s offensive attack was too much
San Jose – It was second and eight in the opening series of Friday’s game at San Jose City College and the Bellarmine Bells were on Hollister’s 34-yard line when Travis Ross made a great read on a Jordan Vargas pass and plucked the ball out of the air in front of the receiver he was defending to stifle the Bellarmine drive.
The interception had the offense more than fired up as the Haybalers proceeded to march the ball into their opponent’s territory. On Hollister’s second first-down play of the drive, quarterback Karson Klauer evaded the blitz and hit Jeremy Burns for an eight-yard gain, putting the ‘Balers inside Bellarmine’s 40.
But the drive fizzled out almost as soon as it got going as miscues and penalties saw the Haybalers go from a second-and-two scenario to a third-and thirteen predicament, followed by a punt.
The drive was indicitave of how the rest of the game would go for Hollister as the Bells would take the game’s momentum back with a touchdown on their ensuing drive and go on to win 35-15.
“I think that there are some things that we’re doing well,” said Haybaler head coach Chris Cameron. “But then there are some things we’re not doing so well. In a particular play, in a certain phase of the play, we’ll be playing it right. But in another phase of that same play, we’re not getting it. We’re just not executing the way we need to.”
After Bellarmine’s first score, the Haybalers (1-3) again drove the ball deep into Bellarmine territory. But, as in their first drive of the game, the ‘Baler offense hit a snag that kept it from putting any points on the board. Klauer opened the drive by connecting with Jeff Weltz on the right sideline for a 15-yard gain. Klauer then hit Art Esparza for 14 yards and another first down. Burns caught another Klauer pass for a nice gain, followed by a big run from Weltz to set Hollister up at the Bells’ 24-yard line.
But the drive stalled out there as Bellarmine’s defense stepped up with some big plays to set up a field-goal attempt on fourth down, where a bad snap saw kicker Dru Blake, who has hit from as far out as 42 yards this season, try to unsuccessfully scramble for the first down.
The Bells’ next drive lasted more than seven minutes as the Bellarmine offense, led by running back Brandon Warren, began to wear down the ‘Baler defense. The Bells picked up six first downs on the drive but Hollister’s defense was able to come up big on fourth and one as Ryan Dunn and Daniel Murphy hit the Bellarmine quarterback behind the line.
But Hollister handed Bellarmine another two points just before halftime on another snapping miscue that saw a punt attempt turn into a safety when the snap sailed high above Blake’s head and out of the back of the endzone.
“It was a nightmare tonight,” said Cameron of his squad’s special-teams miscues. “We’re going to take the bye week, get healthy and see if we can fix some of the things we’re doing wrong.”
Hollister’s next game is on October 6 against San Luis Obispo.
