‘Balers have sights set on a different outcome in CCS Large
School Division championship game
Hollister – San Benito enters tonight’s championship game on familiar ground. The Haybalers, set to face Oak Grove at 7pm at San Jose City College, are playing in their third consecutive final in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
But No. 2 San Benito has designs on a different outcome this time around.
After title-game losses the previous two seasons, including a 24-20 loss to Oak Grove in 2004, the ‘Balers will be satisfied with nothing short of a championship.
“We play for the CCS championship, so we’ve got to get it done,” said San Benito senior quarterback Karson Klauer. “We’ve lost two in a row, so we’ve got to get this one.”
“God, I hope the third time’s the charm,” said ‘Balers head coach Chris Cameron.
The ‘Balers (8-4) enter the contest on quite a roll. After a dramatic victory over Palma on Nov. 10 that clinched a share of the TCAL title, San Benito crushed its first two opponents in the Large School Division playoffs.
After overwhelming No. 7 Alisal, 34-10, in the opening round and then rolling over No. 3 Independence, 39-6, in the semifinals, the ‘Balers will take the field against top-seed Oak Grove brimming with confidence.
Asked the recipe to win the team’s first section title since 2000, Cameron first and foremost cited San Benito’s need to slow down Eagles senior running back Jerid Ferranti.
“He’s a threat all over the field,” said Cameron of Ferranti, who has rushed for 1641 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. “If we can take him out of the equation, things are looking good.”
Cameron hopes the ‘Balers can control the game on the ground as well.
“It’s also very, very important that we’re able to run the football real well,” said Cameron. “That keeps [the Eagles’ offense] off the field and plays a time-possession game. We need to be able to run the football and turn the clock.”
On the heels of last season’s crushing loss to Oak Grove (9-2), San Benito’s coach is glad his seniors have another crack at the defending champs.
“There are a lot of kids on this team that played in that game last year and haven’t forgotten that,” said Cameron. “It’s kind of a bad taste.”
Klauer, a three-year starter, agreed.
“All of us seniors and juniors from last year, we’ve got to get some revenge,” said Klauer.
Speaking of the momentum of their three-game winning streak, Cameron said, “We’re riding a good wave right now. We’ve just got to keep it going one more night, man. One more night.”
