With six San Benito High All-Stars playing in Friday’s 20th
Annual Salinas Jaycees football game in Soledad, the East was able
to dominate the West All-Stars and win 16-8.
With six San Benito High All-Stars playing in Friday’s 20th Annual Salinas Jaycees football game in Soledad, the East was able to dominate the West All-Stars and win 16-8.
San Benito coach Chris Cameron said he couldn’t remember having a larger number of All-Stars representing the school in the game.
“I’m sure they got a lot of good exposure,” said Cameron, who just returned from a vacation in Lake Tahoe and wasn’t able to catch the game.
For the six seniors, it was a chance to put on the jerseys and helmet for one more time and rub shoulders with the best in the area. The two weeks of practices helped build bonds that could last a lifetime between the players.
“I have only good things to say about it,” said Michael Lango, who plays nose guard. “All the coaches were great. It was fun meeting new people. All six of us played really well.”
Lango plans on playing football for Gavilan College in the fall. He has a little extra motivation. His dad, head coach John Lango, is making sure his son is in shape and ready to go.
“It’s going to be a fun year playing for my dad and for coach Lango,” Lango said. “He’s been really working hard to get things done, putting in many long nights.”
Left tackle Phil Leonard and left guard Ty Doty had the chance to play side by side on the front line for one last time.
“It was like closure to our careers after playing two years of football together,” Doty said. “It is nice having someone you can trust next to you. We went to elementary school together, and it seems like we have been playing together forever.”
Doty, who led the Haybalers by squatting 505 pounds this year, was a little intimidated when he found out there was a guy on the other team who can squat 805.
“I can’t even picture it,” Doty said. “We were all amazed by the talent on that team. It was real intense going against the best in the area.”
The West came out fired up with specialized warm-up chants, while the East preferred to let their actions on the field speak for them, Doty said.
“They wanted to come out and show that they are All-Stars, but we went out and played like All-Stars,” Doty said.
Doty plans on playing football on a partial scholarship at Bethany College, a small liberal arts Lutheran school in Kansas.
“The coach was the only one who called me, and I really wanted to go straight to a four-year college,” Buzzetta said.
Leonard said he enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere of the game.
“There was a lot of trash talking going on, but it was fun,” Leonard said. “It was different from the regular season. You are not really playing for anything.”
Leonard will be playing football at Butte Community College in Oroville in the fall.
Safety Jake Buzzetta had a couple back-breaking hits defensively to get his team pumped up. He started off the game with a tackle that flipped the ball carrier around and later dropped the tight end after a quick pass to limit him to just five yards.
“Everyone drops the tension between the players, and everyone is buddies,” Buzzetta said. “The Alisal coach (Sunil Smith) said he really liked the Hollister guys because they are tough, hard-nosed guys.”
Buzzetta plans on playing football on a partial scholarship at Linfield University in Oregon, a Division 3 school.
“That team has good potential,” Buzzetta said. “I think they are ranked No. 3 in the nation for Division 3 schools. I liked the coaches, and it is a great location.”
Nick Bailey, along with Kenny Romero, gave the East squad a good majority of its short-game offense. Bailey, a running back, was the go-to guy when it came to picking up the yardage and moving the sticks. He didn’t have any catches, but he had some nice runs. One was about a 20-yard gain to start the game.
“It was the funnest time I’ve ever had playing football,” Bailey said. “Each practice leading up to it was like the funnest practice I have ever had. It’s cool because there is no pressure, and you are just hanging out. I kind of half wish the game was before our senior year so we could get to know some of the guys more.”
Bailey will be attending Gavilan in the fall but said he plans to hang up the football cleats after eight years of playing to concentrate on studies.
