Balers look to improve as schedule ramps up with visiting
Vikings
HOLLISTER
No one said the start of the 2009 season would be easy on the North Salinas High football team, not after it lost the bulk of its playmakers from last fall’s 9-2 squad, which finished with a share of the Tri-County Athletic League title.
But records can often be deceiving, even when a team is 2-3 overall.
The Vikings (1-0 TCAL, 2-3) began the year without the services of many of last season’s top players, including running back Mark Ramos (162 carries 1,252 yards, 9 TD), receiver Marcos Martinez (12 receptions, 308 yards, 6 TD) and quarterback Mike Ramos (50 of 108, 772 yards, 10 TD).
Coupled with a brutal non-league slate against Milpitas, Pioneer, Seaside and Concord’s Clayton Valley — four teams that currently boast a combined 18-1-1 record — and the Vikings’ slow start could very well prove to be a mere aberration.
San Benito head coach Chris Cameron believes North Salinas is far better than what is said on paper.
“This is probably the best team we’re gonna play so far this season,” Cameron said. “They’re good on offense, good on defense, and they’re well coached.
“They’re gonna be big, strong and physical, and a lot better than what we saw in August.”
The last time San Benito and North Salinas were on the same field was in August at the TCAL Jamboree. While the two teams have moved in slightly opposite directions since then — the Vikings were 1-3 in the preseason, the Balers 4-0 — San Benito is aware of North Salinas’ improvement since Week 1.
“They are getting better every single week, and now we can’t go out and make mistakes and expect to win,” Cameron said. “They’re gonna be formidable.”
Tossing out a 48-0 drubbing against undefeated Milpitas in the season opener, the Vikings have narrowly lost to an undefeated Pioneer team 21-12 and an undefeated Clayton Valley team 27-20. On Sept. 25, though, North High won 48-41 against Seaside, which tied Palma 21-all just last week.
The Vikings, who defeated Alisal 40-23 in their TCAL opener last Friday, will certainly be a better opponent than what San Benito (6-0, 2-0 TCAL) has experienced the last two weeks, when it easily dispatched Alisal and Alvarez by matching 44-0 margins.
But while the Balers still boast an unbeaten record, Cameron has noticed mental mistakes and errors during the last two games that although were not exposed by either Alisal or Alvarez, will become more obvious against a stronger opponent in North High.
“We made some huge mental mistakes the last couple weeks,” said Cameron, noting wrong play calls on offense and blown assignments on defense during last Friday’s game against Alvarez. “We need to go out and play good, tough football and be mentally sharp.
“The mental mistakes that we’ve gotten away with, we go over a ton all the time. But you never know what’s gonna happen until the ball is snapped out there.”
Coached by Steve Zenk, who previously coached the offensive and defensive line for the Balers, the Vikings run the ball the majority of the time and mostly off-tackle. Despite its losses from last season, North Salinas has found another go-to back in Michael Benabides, whose 770 yards rushing on 105 attempts — 7.3 yards per carry — is tops in the TCAL.
His 10 touchdowns, meanwhile, is first in the league as well.
“They’re gonna find ways to get their best guy the football,” Cameron said. “But their other running back is pretty darn good, too.”
And that would be Marquis Brooks, who has ran 56 times for 335 yards and two touchdowns.
In the air, quarterback Curt Ceralde (33 of 61, 438 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) is the team’s signal-caller, while Juan Cardenas (11 receptions, 165 yards, 2 TD), John Hughes (6 receptions, 106 yards) and Brooks (7 receptions, 80 yards) are his lead receivers.
Whether Homecoming festivities and the wet weather experienced earlier this week turn into factors on Friday night remains to be seen, but Cameron and the Balers know the quality of the opponent in front of them, and aren’t paying attention to what records may suggest.
“This is the best opponent we’re played this year so far,” Cameron said again. “We’re doing our best to prepare our guys to win.”
——
San Benito and North Salinas will square off Friday night at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister. Kick-off is 7:30 p.m.
