The 2004 season came to an end Saturday night for the San Benito
High football team after a 24-20 loss to the Oak Grove Eagles in
the Central Coast Section championship game.
The 2004 season came to an end Saturday night for the San Benito High football team after a 24-20 loss to the Oak Grove Eagles in the Central Coast Section championship game.
They had to settle for second place, but there’s no shame in the way the Haybalers played against an extremely talented Oak Grove team.
“They made me work for every inch I got tonight,” said Eagles running back Burton Iosefa, who rushed for 231 tough yards in the championship game, including a 56-yard carry for a touchdown late in the game. “To come out on top is a tremendous feeling because Hollister is a great football team. I couldn’t have asked for a more worthy adversary.”
The Balers were in this contest the whole way with great plays on both sides of the ball. San Benito’s first score of the game came off a beautifully designed halfback pass that saw quarterback Karson Klauer hand the ball off to Charles Thompson before breaking for the left side of the field. Thompson pulled up from his running stance and lofted a perfect pass to an open Klauer, who made his way into the endzone after delivering a crushing hit on the defensive back that was standing in his way.
Klauer would return the favor later in the game by hitting Thompson with a pass as the Balers were pinned down deep in their own territory. Thompson reeled in the Klauer toss, shrugged his man, and took it all the way down the field for a 97-yard score.
Anthony Vasquez once again came up with a huge defensive play in this game after Anthony Francis hit the Oak Grove quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, forcing the ball loose. Vasquez scooped up the live ball and returned it for a San Benito touchdown to bring the Balers to within three points at 17-14 early in the second half.
“Our guys gave every ounce of energy they had tonight,” said San Benito head coach Chris Cameron. “I couldn’t be any more proud of them than I am right now. They worked so hard this season to get here. We came a long, long way this season and we gave them a good game here tonight.”
