Fresh off a bye, San Benito returns to the field Friday night to
take on Salinas
HOLLISTER
There wasn’t much debate two weeks ago.
Despite their perfect record — San Benito remained undefeated on the season with a 29-15 win over North Salinas on Oct. 16 — the Haybalers were in much need of a bye week after seven straight games began to take its toll.
Banged up and bruised, San Benito’s gutsy win against North High pushed its record to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League. But the Balers were more than willing to take a week off in order to get healthy, even if it meant putting a brief halt to the momentum of winning seven straight games.
“It was a chance to heal up a little bit,” San Benito head coach Chris Cameron said. “It was productive.”
Indeed. Linebacker Michael Murphy, who injured his left knee toward the end of the third quarter against North High and was sidelined for the remainder of the game, is expected to start for the Balers this week. Starting center Mark Starritt, meanwhile, who was ejected from the game against the Vikings two weeks ago and was expected to sit out this week’s game as a result, had his ejection penalty repealed and will play for San Benito.
“It was an adult error,” Cameron said of Starritt’s penalty.
With a motivated Salinas (5-3, 3-1 TCAL) squad awaiting San Benito’s arrival Friday night at The Pit, the Balers will be as close to full strength as they’ve been in recent weeks, and they’ll need a healthy unit in order to remain undefeated as the TCAL schedule continues to ramp up.
Kick-off is 7:30 p.m. in Salinas.
“They’re a good football team,” Cameron said. “They’re gonna pound the ball in there.”
Since narrowly losing to Palma 28-20 four weeks ago, the Cowboys are winners of three straight, including a 42-28 win over Gilroy, a 27-12 victory over Alisal, and last week’s 47-0 drubbing at Everett Alvarez.
Salinas actually posted all of its 47 points against Alvarez in the first half, with running back Alvin Jelks leading the charge to the tune of 188 yards on 12 carries, including three touchdown runs from 41, 29 and 78 yards.
“They’re big up front and on both sides of the ball,” Cameron said. “The [Jelks] kid is an especially good back.
“He’s their No. 1 guy.”
Jelks, who currently boasts 1,063 yards and 14 touchdowns on 138 attempts, is the leading rusher in the TCAL. Last season, San Benito managed to hold him in check for just 77 yards on 23 carries, but Salinas scraped out a 6-0 victory, nonetheless — one that all but ensured the Balers a playoff-less season.
“He can take it and go,” Cameron said. “He’s a breakaway threat, big time.”
But while Jelks eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second straight season last week, Salinas utilizes a stable of talented ball carriers, and runs the football nearly 80 percent of the time, Cameron said.
Adam Iracheta has 394 yards and five touchdowns on 64 carries, while quarterback Junior Cortez has four touchdowns and 179 yards on 59 attempts. Cortez has also thrown for 342 yards and four touchdowns on 27 of 73 passing.
But while San Benito will be fresh off its bye, Salinas still has to face the Balers before it can enjoy a week off. Following Friday night, the Cowboys will have played nine straight games, but Cameron doesn’t see health or fatigue being a factor for the host team.
“I think they’re pretty healthy,” Cameron said. “They had a couple of guys banged up, but they gave those guys some time off against Alvarez and Alisal.
“They pulled the reins on some guys … and it didn’t hurt them, obviously. I’m sure they’ll be at full force.”
Jelks’ 188-yard performance against Alvarez, for instance, all came in the first half as the senior running back didn’t play a down in the third and fourth quarters.
“They’re improving as a football team,” Cameron said. “They’re pretty solid in the secondary … they run well and they come up and force.
“They’re gonna be a good football team and it’s gonna be a tough football game.”
