It may have only been three years ago, but just a handful of
players remain on the San Benito Haybalers who can recall the last
time the team had possession of the VFW Memorial Trophy.
Awarded to the winner of the annual Prune Bowl between San
Benito and Gilroy, the Memorial Trophy made its home in Hollister
for five straight years prior to the 2007 season, when the Mustangs
attacked by air and swiped the rusted cup from the Balers’
grasp.
HOLLISTER
It may have only been three years ago, but just a handful of players remain on the San Benito Haybalers who can recall the last time the team had possession of the VFW Memorial Trophy.
Awarded to the winner of the annual Prune Bowl between San Benito and Gilroy, the Memorial Trophy made its home in Hollister for five straight years prior to the 2007 season, when the Mustangs attacked by air and swiped the rusted cup from the Balers’ grasp.
Despite winning the trophy 12 of the last 17 years — the Balers even own a 29-22-1 advantage since the trophy was first awarded in 1956 — San Benito has dropped two straight to Gilroy, including last season’s 47-0 drubbing at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
“My sophomore year, I had the trophy and I lost it,” said linebacker Michael Murphy, who, along with Nick Acosta, Trevor Fabing, Taylor Coustette, Courtland Thompson and Robert Pinedo, represent the few three-year varsity players on San Benito this season.
“This is a really big game for me because I touched it for like five minutes my sophomore year and that was it, and I saw it a little bit and that was it,” the linebacker added. “So this game really means a lot to me because I want to get that trophy back … get that trophy back for the community.”
Gilroy will have something to say about that, of course. Although the Mustangs are having a down year compared to its recent success — they compiled a 19-5 record the last two years — the team still boasts a 2-2-1 record in the Tri-County Athletic League, 3-5-1 overall, and will most likely need a victory over San Benito Friday night in order to have any chance of advancing to the postseason.
Furthermore, Gilroy is coming off arguably its biggest win of the season — a 53-27 rout of North Salinas at home — while a Week 10 rivalry game often balances the playing field, even if the two teams appear to be heading in different directions.
“They’re coming in here sky high,” San Benito head coach Chris Cameron said. “This is the final hurrah. They’re coming off a big win against a pretty physical football team that’s got talent, and that’s exactly what they needed coming into this week.
“I have no idea (if they need a win to advance to the postseason). But if they do, I tell you what, it’s really gonna turn it up a few notches.”
Still implementing its short, underneath passing attack, with quarterback Nick Marra (126 of 210, 1,590 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions) distributing the ball to a handful of receivers, the Mustangs have opened up their offense recently to allow more of a ground game — a facet that has taken a backseat to Gilroy’s passing game the last two years.
“They’re not like the last two years,” Cameron said. “They’re still out of the [shotgun], but there’s a lot of times they have two backs in the backfield … They’re running direct hand-offs; they’re running fly sweeps; they’re running a little bit of spread option, and, of course, they’re throwing the football.”
Running back Tommy Silvas was the main beneficiary during last week’s win over North High. The senior back compiled 94 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in the first half against the Vikings, and 119 total yards in the game.
“They’ve got some serious weapons,” Cameron said.
Despite 31 rushing attempts, though, the Mustangs still took to the air. Marra finished with 190 yards and four touchdowns on 14 of 17 passing against North Salinas, with receivers Jordan Mitchell and Jordan Holler combining for seven receptions, 130 yards and two scores.
“They just gouged them with some big runs and some big plays,” said Cameron, who also noted the Mustangs’ touchdowns on defense and special teams. “It got out of control really fast.”
And Friday’s game is now just as big as last week’s contest at Palma, due to what happened last week at Palma. The Balers (4-1 TCAL, 8-1) lost the inside track to the TCAL title when it narrowly fell by a 24-23 margin to the Chieftains, the fourth straight loss to Palma dating back to the 2005 season.
After quarterback Fabing found Bryan Gutierrez on a 13-yard touchdown reception with 19 seconds remaining — a score that brought the Balers to within one point of Palma — San Benito opted for the two-point conversion and the win, but couldn’t convert.
Cameron said it was a “poor” practice on Monday, “with the effects of Friday still there,” but the team bounced back on Tuesday.
“[Tuesday] was the complete opposite of [Monday],” Cameron said.
The difficult loss did show a more balanced attack from the Balers, though, which compiled 170 yards in the air and 199 on the ground. Trying to key in on fullback Nick Acosta, who still ran for 102 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, the Chieftains played a softer pass defense as a result, and Fabing took advantage to the tune of 170 yards of 9 of 12 passing and two touchdowns.
“It’s gonna spread things out, for sure. I think we’ll do a lot better,” Acosta said of San Benito’s balanced attack last week. “[Gilroy] is getting better and they’re getting some key players back. But no one is gonna run on our defense. Our defense is strong and our offense is moving along real good right now.”
And although an Open Division berth may still be on the table, simply earning a win Friday night will provide San Benito with the right momentum heading into the postseason, not to mention the VFW Memorial Trophy.
“We need to get back on the winning track,” Cameron said. “We don’t want to limp into the playoffs. We want to blaze into the playoffs.
“Last week, the game just got out of control against North Salinas right away, and that same thing could happen to us if we don’t play like a good football team, and play like a team that deserves to be in the playoffs, and play like a team that possibly has a chance to do something in the playoffs. We need to end our season on that kind of note.”
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The 53rd Annual Prune Bowl between San Benito and Gilroy will take place Friday at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.
