San Benito’s Jacob De Leon saw a hole on the second play of Friday’s first-round playoff game against Archbishop Mitty and turned up field. It wasn’t until 45 yards later when he was finally pulled down.
But lying on the field was a yellow flag, bringing back the large Baler gain. San Benito could never respond from there.
That one play was a microcosm of the Balers’ first round game at Andy Hardin field, as six penalties for 60 yards stalled the offense and gave Mitty multiple opportunities to put away San Benito.
The Balers never overcame the penalties, and failed to gain a first down in a 36-0 drubbing at the hands of the Monarchs.
San Benito’s offense never found its rhythm and gained only 57 yards total. The offense’s inability to move the ball left the Baler defense on the field for most of the game.
Mitty, behind its quarterback Andrew Barna, took advantage of the Balers’ stalled offense to gain 380 total yards to run away with the game.
San Benito hung on with the Monarchs through the first quarter, holding Mitty without a first down. But Mitty found the end zone on a 50-yard pass between Barna and Jacob Wesson to score the only first-quarter points.
After another Baler three-and-out series, the Monarch struck again with a 30-yard reception by Cail McClenahen. The play moved Mitty into San Benito territory for only the second time in the game. After a goal-line stand by San Benito, Mitty settled for a short field goal to lengthen its lead to 10-0.
The final two minutes of the first half buried the Balers.
Mitty and San Benito continued to trade possessions until a second-quarter interception from sophomore quarterback Josh George gave Mitty good field position inside Baler territory.
Mitty needed only seven plays to go up 17-0 with a little more than 2 minutes left in the half.
Mitty got the ball back with a minute left in the half and struck again on a 23-yard run by Barna to extend its lead to 24-0.
In the second half, San Benito continued to struggle moving the ball, and Mitty added another 12 points.
George, in his first loss as a San Benito starter, went 1 for 10 passing for 8 yards and two interceptions. George led the Balers in rushing with 19 yards on six carries.
Zak Hicks, who was battling a hip pointer, rushed for 14 yards on eight carries.
Mitty’s Barna threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The quarterback also rushed for an additional 51 yards on eight carries.
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