Notes, thoughts and anecdotes from San Benito High’s 45-30 win over Wilcox last week, thus completing a perfect non-league slate for the first time since the 2009 season:
1. Hustle plays pay off big time. Eric Fernandez had another impact game at linebacker, as he recovered one of four Wilcox fumbles. But it was his play on special teams that was one of the pivotal points of the game. The Haybalers led 14-0 late in the first quarter when Diego Fisher delivered a punt that the Wilcox player returned 55 yards to the San Benito 32-yard line.
The Chargers would’ve had a touchdown had it not been for Fernandez, who managed to run down the Wilcox player and make a TD-saving tackle. The Chargers went three-and-out, and the Balers finished the half by scoring 17 unanswered points for a 31-0 halftime lead.
2. Kicking makes a big difference. In high school football, any field goal attempt beyond 30 yards is a crapshoot. That’s why when Nik Hernandez nailed a 38-yard field goal against Wilcox as time expired in the first half, it provided a huge boost. The senior kicker has been ultra reliable this season, and he’ll be an X-factor when the Balers face tough league opponents Monte Vista Christian, Salinas and Palma. Don’t be surprised to see Hernandez facing a pivotal kick in one or all of these games.
3. Coach Bryan Smith and his assistants had a tougher than usual task this week: They had to convince their players that an inferior Alvarez (2-2) team would present a formidable challenge. Alvarez is 2-2, but its two defeats have come by a combined margin of 104-7.
Of course, upsets happen when the more talented squad gets overconfident, and Smith knows that no team is immune to a defeat. That’s why the coaches pore over film every weekend, break it down and point out all of the players’ mistakes, of which there were many despite beating Wilcox rather handily. The Balers had trouble making tackles in the open field, and future opponents will definitely take note of that.
“Making tackles in the open field is one of the hardest things in high school football, but we have to get better at it because we have a lot of spread (offense) teams coming up on our schedule,” Smith said.
The San Benito coaches also saw some other glaring things that caught their attention.
“We’re not the most physical team like we thought, believe it or not,” Smith said. “We didn’t show up on film as being a super physical team. We’ve got areas we need to clean up, because if not there will be a time where we’ll get whipped.”
4. There’s an art/strategy of handling a blowout game. The Balers led Wilcox 31-0 at halftime and 38-7 late in the third quarter when Smith decided to put the team’s second-string defense in. The Chargers promptly scored two TDs to make it 38-22 midway through the fourth quarter, and Smith had to bring back the starters to finish the contest.
Although Smith might have taken the starters out too soon, there is more to this equation than simply leaving the starters in until the other team takes its starters out. To wit: In a 42-14 blowout victory over Palo Alto in Week 2, Smith put his second stringers in the final quarter, but they hardly got to play because there was a running clock combined with Palo Alto putting together a time-consuming drive.
“We need to do a better job coaching our 2s and 3s (for game situations), and get them as many reps as possible without hurting the 1s,” Smith said. “We’re going to come across this situation as a team again.”
5. What is legal on the mat is not on the gridiron. Michael Camacho, a standout senior defensive end and wrestler who advanced to the CIF State Championships last season, was flagged 15 yards for a personal foul early in the third quarter after he picked up the Wilcox quarterback and literally suplexed him to the ground. It was an impressive display of strength and technique, and it fired up his teammates.
Camacho earned a big honor when was named the 49ers High School Player of the Week after his Week 3 performance, a 35-14 win over Los Gatos. Camacho had three of the team’s seven sacks, a half-dozen tackles and displayed a physicality the Los Gatos linemen couldn’t match.
For winning the honor, Camacho receives two tickets to a 49ers game—where according to the Niners website he’ll be recognized on the field. In addition, Camacho gets to watch a closed Niners practice session, where coach Chip Kelly will present him with the award.
In addition, the San Benito football team receives a $500 grant from the 49ers Foundation.
Forget the game: Camacho will be pumped up to attend the closed practice.
“Shoot, the way Michael is, he’ll want to suit up for that practice,” Smith said. “The way his motor runs is unbelievable.”
6. Last week’s rewind. The Balers are off to their best start in several years, anchored by a tough and rugged offensive and defensive line. The offensive line, led by Evan Weatherly and Danny Pasillas, paved the way for another huge game from Hunter Nye, who had 182 yards and a career-tying best four touchdowns on 22 carries.
Nye ran with his usual ferocity, breaking tackles and making some strong runs up the gut and off the edge. Hunter Raquet was 7 of 11 for 105 yards, and the defense was stingy yet again, limiting Wilcox to just 47 yards of total offense in the first half. San Benito gouged the Chargers for a number of big running plays, including TD runs of 52 and 16 yards from Nye and a 44-yard TD run from Eddie Moran, a play that got the entire San Benito sideline jacked up.
A senior running back, Moran played on the junior varsity team a year ago after getting cut during varsity tryouts. But he persevered, worked hard and came back a stronger and better player.
“Eddie runs most of our scout reps in practice,” Smith said. “When our 2s (second stringers) get a chance to perform, it just excited me. He made the most out of the situation. He came to the sideline and all of his teammates were giving him high-fives and hugging him. Isn’t that what it’s all about? It was great to see Eddie make the play. He hit the hole as hard as Hunter Nye, and broke right through the seam. That put the icing on the cake from an offensive standpoint.”
