Team enjoys a break during bye week before meeting with North
Salinas
After picking up a much-needed 29-13 win in the league opener at
Everett Alvarez High School last Saturday afternoon in Salinas, the
San Benito High School varsity football team is enjoying its bye
week this week before a two-game home stand gets under way next
week.
Currently, the Balers are 1-0 in league play and 2-3 overall
after playing a difficult preseason schedule that included a
month-long series of road games against many top teams, including
Milpitas, Wilcox and Bellarmine.
Team enjoys a break during bye week before meeting with North Salinas
After picking up a much-needed 29-13 win in the league opener at Everett Alvarez High School last Saturday afternoon in Salinas, the San Benito High School varsity football team is enjoying its bye week this week before a two-game home stand gets under way next week.
Currently, the Balers are 1-0 in league play and 2-3 overall after playing a difficult preseason schedule that included a month-long series of road games against many top teams, including Milpitas, Wilcox and Bellarmine.
On Friday, Oct. 12 the Balers will butt helmets with the Vikings of North Salinas High School. That game will be followed by a showdown with the Chieftains of Palma High School the following Friday, Oct. 19. Kickoff for both games is at 7:30 p.m.
This season the Balers have been outscored 105-62. Against the Vikings, the Balers will be going up against a team that has scored 124 points while allowing just 54. North Salinas is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league, although the Vikings record is a little misleading since many of the schools North Salinas faced in the early going weren’t nearly as strong as the opponents the Balers faced.
“I purposely set up a tough preseason schedule against top schools so that we’ll be ready to face anyone when the playoffs roll around,” said Baler coach Chris Cameron in an interview at the start of the school year.
Against the Vikings, the Baler defense will be looking to slow down Devin Camel, a senior halfback who has already racked up 636 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
The Vikings also have a solid passing attack led by quarterback Mike Ramos who has thrown for 406 yards this season. Ramos’ favorite go-to receivers are Jacob Plascencia, who leads the team in receiving yards with 145, and Victor Sapp, who has a pair of touchdown catches to go with his 125 receiving yards.
The Balers will look to counter with their tenacious ball-swarming defense led by sack specialist Kevin Burley, who leads the team with three. Defensive lineman Sam Doty and linebackers Ricky Canes and Taylor Coustette also have each picked up a sack in the early going this year while cornerbacks Ryan Shorey and Zach Canez have helped shore up the secondary.
On offense, the Balers will look to jump-start the ground attack by getting the ball into the hands of running backs Abel Jacquez and Nick Acosta. Acosta leads the team in touchdowns this season with three while Jacquez leads the team in rushing yards with 275.
The Balers will look to spread the Viking defense by incorporating tight end Miles Sanchez into the playbook as well as top receiver Evan McFadden. In addition to his passing prowess, quarterback Ronnie Fhurong provides the Balers with another viable run threat. In addition to his 287 passing yards and two touchdown tosses this season, the senior quarterback also has 159 rushing yards.
