The Haybalers jumped out to a quick lead Friday in Monterey, but there wasn’t much else that went their way. Monterey shut down San Benito for the rest of the game en route to a 28-7 win. For the Balers, it was the second consecutive week being held to just one score.
“We didn’t stay consistent after the first drive,” said running back Damien Botelho, who led the Balers in rushing (9 carries for 48 yards). “It was all downhill from there. We need to hold on to the ball and play as a team.”
The Toreadors (5-1, 2-1 in league), who scored 54 points last week in a win over Gilroy, have the ability to put points on the board quickly. They had scored 40 or more points in four of their five games coming in. On Friday, they scored 28 unanswered points.
“We expected a tough, physical matchup,” said Monterey coach Tom Newton. “Hollister is a program that brings it every single game regardless.”
San Benito took the game’s opening driving 85 yards to march out to an early 7-0 lead. Quarterback David Stanton found an opening for 44 yards, and Zak Hicks capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.
“We had a lot of momentum and motivation on our first drive,” said defensive back Lionel Munguia. “As we kept playing, it felt like we slowly went down. I felt like we have gotten better and have bonded more.”
Monterey answered right back with scores on its first two drives. Quarterback James Hill completed touchdown passes of 30 yards and 6 yards to Tony Velitchkov.
“They came out of the shoot and rammed it down our throats,” Newton said. “It was pretty sobering. We were able to slow it down and calm the kids down and stay within our game plan. We have a lot of good individual talent. If the team understands what we are trying to do, we have potential to be really dangerous.”
San Benito survived two drives in the final 10 minutes of the first half even though the Toreadors started in San Benito territory. After San Benito fumbled the ball, Monterey took the ball down the field. They had a good chance to score after a 22-yard completion to Anthony Arzadon for a first down, but Munguia recovered a fumble on the 3-yard line. The following Baler drive stalled and Monterey had another chance with 1:30 left in the half, but the Baler defense again came up big.
San Benito blocked Monterey’s first point-after attempt and Munguia and Cody McGrew combined to keep the Monterey runner out of the end zone on the two-point try after the second touchdown. At the half, San Benito trailed 12-7.
In the third quarter, Kyle Neeley scored on a 33-yard run, and Ambrose Chioino-Narvaez powered his way in from 32 yards for Monterey. The Toreadors converted both two-point attempts.
Even with the loss, San Benito coach Chris Cameron said the players are showing signs that they are slowly starting to come together as a team.
“Mental mistakes and turnovers put us in a bad situation,” he said. “We have a long ways to go, a lot of things to fix. Hats off to Monterey. Those kids play hard. We had a couple good days of practice. It’s a slow go but we are making some strides. It’s not showing up with the wins yet, but I think good things will start happening.”
San Benito (2-4, 0-2 league) travels to Gilroy Friday to square off for the Prune Bowl Trophy.
NOTES: San Benito defensive lineman J.J. Melo celebrated his birthday in a big way with a sack and a fumble recovery … Dominic Padilla hauled in a 20-yard catch for San Benito and took a viscous hit but still managed to make the completion … Monterey was penalizing for 40 yards , San Benito was penalized for 25 yards – all in the second half … Monterey had a 17-yard touchdown called back in the second quarter.
STATS
San Benito
Passing
David Stanton 5 for 13 for 58 yards
Receiving
Robert Soto 4 catches for 38 yards
Dominic Padilla 1 catch for 20 yards
Rushing
Damien Botelho 9 carries for 48 yards
Zak Hicks 4 carries for 13 yards, 1 TD
David Stanton 3 carries for 54 yards
Paris Edwards 3 carries for 30 yards
Robert Soto 1 carry for 6 yards
Miguel Gonzalez 3 carries for 7 yards
Monterey
Passing
Hill 4 for 9 for 64 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving
Tony Velitchkov 2 catches for 36 yards, 2 TDs
Anthony Arzadon 1 catch for 22
Donte Murphy 1 catch for 6 yards
Rushing
James Hill 10 carries for 89 yards
Ambrose Chioino-Narvaez 17 carries for 119 yards, 1 TD
Kyle Neeley 6 carries for 56 yards, 1 TD
Donte Murphy 3 carries for 11 yards
