San Benito will be without Fabing, Vallejo at quarterback
position
HOLLISTER
Historically speaking, while the San Benito Haybalers have been, more or less, the only team in the Tri-County Athletic League to even compete with the Palma Chieftains, Friday night’s match-up is lacking that end-of-season buzz that has blanketed the series in recent years.
The two teams enter Friday’s 7:30 p.m., game on opposite sides of the spectrum – with Palma at 3-1 in the TCAL, San Benito at 1-3 – and the Haybalers will, no doubt, have their hands full with the Chieftains Friday, more so than they have in recent seasons.
Battling injuries almost as much as the opponent on the field this year, San Benito will be without both quarterbacks in Trevor Fabing (concussion) and Kyle Vallejo (ankle) when Palma comes to Andy Hardin Stadium on Homecoming night.
Sal Ornelas, who played behind center against Alvarez on Oct. 10 after Vallejo left the game with an ankle sprain, will dress for San Benito, while junior varsity quarterback Tyler Decker will also dress for the ‘Balers as well.
Returning from the injury bug last week was running back Mitchell Cook, however, who suffered a broken collarbone earlier this season. The ‘Balers will perhaps look to make up the difference on the ground as well, as Jeff Bernaldez (51 att., 218 yards) and Anthony Padilla (53 att,. 210 yards) have seen the bulk of the action in recent weeks.
Snapping out of an offensive funk would be one thing tonight, as the ‘Balers were held scoreless last week against Salinas, but stopping a high-powered offense in Palma is a whole different story.
Palma quarterback David Fales has already given a verbal commitment to the University of Nevada in Reno, and has racked up 1,557 yards in the air on 96 of 134 passing. Maybe more impressively, Fales has thrown 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
“They are a darn good football team. Period,” head coach Chris Cameron said. “They are physically very talented, they’re not making a lot of mistakes, and they are a good, solid, sound football team.”
Aside from Fales, Palma is loaded with weapons on the offensive side of the ball as well, including running back Justin Olivarria, whose 869 yards on the ground on 110 carries (7.9 ypc) is third overall in the TCAL. In the red zone, Olivarria has a nose for paydirt, as he leads the league with 10 touchdowns.
In the air, it’s Bret Chernetsky, whose nine touchdowns is second best in the league, while his 731 yards on 40 receptions (18.2 ypc) is second in the TCAL.
Out of the backfield, Olivarria has caught 18 balls for 254 yards.
“He’s their best player,” Cameron said of Olivarria. “But they’ve got guys that can play. And their passing game isn’t necessarily a real high-risk passing game, but [Fales is] getting rid of the ball fast and they protect him well.”
Palma is fresh off their second loss of the season last week, when they lost to Gilroy 34-28 at the Salinas Sports Complex, a game in which the Chieftains held a 14-6 lead at the break.
In fact, Palma sat on Gilroy’s 12-yard line in that game with less than a minute in regulation, but Fales was sacked on fourth-and-goal to end the drive.
“They run a lot of different formations and we have a lot of different looks for them,” Cameron said. “We’re coming at them with a lot of looks, but we’ve got to play sound, tough football up front to really stop them.
“And, of course, it’d be nice to go down the field and score.”
