There is absolutely no doubt as to what the San Benito Haybalers
are playing for tonight.
There is absolutely no doubt as to what the San Benito Haybalers are playing for tonight.
For one, its been guarding Andy Hardin Stadium all week, overlooking the ‘Balers as they practice for their final game of the regular season, the annual Prune Bowl against Gilroy.
It may need a little polish, but the VFW Memorial Trophy, a trophy that has housed itself in San Benito County for the last five years, embodies everything the ‘Balers will be battling for.
Bragging rights, history, a possible playoff berth and, of course, preventing their league rival from winning their first outright Tri-County Athletic League title since 1981, are all gleaming off the darkened Prune Bowl cup.
And the trophy itself, which began in 1956, isn’t a bad prize either.
“This game every year is a self-motivator for our kids,” defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher said. “There’s not too much that needs to be said about getting up for the game. It’s always fun, physical, spirited … Game 10, there’s a lot riding on it for both teams.”
San Benito will need the win to have a shot at a playoff bid, and luckily, the team is currently playing their best football of the season.
Last year, it was Gilroy who needed a win to push through to the playoffs, while San Benito was seeking a second-place finish in the TCAL and an automatic bid.
This year, though, Gilroy has marched through the league, winning five in a row and outscoring their TCAL opponents 182-67.
“We’re preparing for all their weapons, trying to take away all their weapons,” coach Chris Cameron said. “It’s going to be a tough task because they’re very good at what they do.”
Gilroy is known for its passing game, led at quarterback by Jamie Jensen.
Although they can use the deep ball, the Mustangs rely on short passes to get their speedy receivers in the open field, putting pressure on the defense to make individual, open-field tackles.
Thatcher said the coaching staff has been preaching cover down and strong tackling in an effort to keep the ‘Baler defense off the field.
“They create a lot of space – get it to the guy that can scoot pretty well,” Thatcher said. “But that’s posed challenges to every team they’ve played because they’ve got five fast guys.”
Running back Travis Reyes looms large in the backfield, while Sean Hale, Marshad Johnson, Danny Contreras and Dante Fullard will likely be getting looks from Jensen.
And as Cameron has seen, the Mustangs, who run a no-huddle offense, stretch the field vertically and will usually scope out underneath. As he said, they take a 5-yard completion and turn it into a 30-yard play.
“They’ve gotten very creative with it and they’re using their weapons,” Cameron said. “No one is being left out of the equation.”
The San Benito offense has been stepping up recently, as they’ll be up against a Mustang 3-3-5 nickel defense, a defense that has greatly improved since the beginning of the year.
Offensive coordinator Bryan Smith says they bring a minimum of five guys, but they play off different angles in order to disguise blitzes.
“They blitz a lot of guys and force you to make some errors that will lead to turnovers,” Smith said. “There’s no doubt we’re peaking (as an offense). I think the guys are understanding what the overall goal is.”
Secondary and wide receivers coach David Kaplansky, who was on the losing side of the Prune Bowl in 1993, says he talks to the players of the game and how it’s difficult to forget those memories.
“It seems like one of those games where each play sticks with you,” he said. “But each year it’s a great contest. Throw the records out and it’s two teams playing for that trophy.”
