Coaches love athletes like Andrew Sotelo, an incoming San Benito High senior who practices everyday with fierce determination while being able to transfer that energy to game day.
After spending back-to-back years experiencing one-and-done postseasons, senior linebacker John Barrera knew exactly what was needed to prevent Saturday’s opportunity from slipping away.
Things couldn’t have started much worse for the San Benito football team in its Central Coast Section first round game with Alisal on Friday. After a penalty turned back a 40-yard run, the Balers fumbled its second play from scrimmage, giving the Trojans the ball inside the San Benito 20-yard line.
Entering the Balers’ first round Central Coast Section playoff game Friday, the San Benito coaching staff has harped on one common message: Alisal is not the same team the Balers are used to.
The San Benito football team’s postseason fate will now rely on something other than themselves – perhaps even by the luck of a coin toss – as the Balers couldn’t keep pace with Monterey Bay League champion Palma on Friday night in Hollister, losing 31-14.
It may not have the same pomp and circumstance as the Gilroy-San Benito long time rivalry, but don’t tell the Balers that Friday’s game against Christopher wasn’t a bitter rivalry.
With a 6-0 lead at halftime, the San Benito football team seemed in control of Friday’s Monterey Bay League tilt with Salinas, but turnovers and inexperience derailed the Balers in the game’s final two quarters.
For the second-consecutive game, turnovers and too many big plays allowed by the San Benito defense handed the Balers a non-league loss. This time, San Benito fell 37-20 to Willow Glen in San Jose on Friday. The Balers are now 1-2.
The final score of Friday’s clash with Palo Alto might indicated a 40-23 loss for the San Benito football team, but the second game of the 2012 season was much closer than the final score for the Balers.