The Balers just put together two consecutive halves of solid
football. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been in one game to this
point.
San Benito’s offense started sharp in Friday’s game against an
Oak Grove team loaded with speed.
Hollister
The Balers just put together two consecutive halves of solid football. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been in one game to this point.
San Benito’s offense started sharp in Friday’s game against an Oak Grove team loaded with speed. That included a touchdown pass on the opening drive from quarterback Michael Bocksnick to receiver Robert Soto that went more than 60 yards. But Oak Grove’s pass-heavy attack, and Baler mistakes, eventually caught up with San Benito.
The Balers lost their home opener to Oak Grove, one the most highly-touted teams in the area, in a 39-20 defeat at Andy Hardin Stadium. Turnovers were the main culprit Friday, including two Bocknick interceptions returned for touchdowns.
The disappointing result followed a 28-18 loss in the season’s first game in another non-league matchup at Palo Alto. The Balers last week got down big early against the returning state champions and ended up losing 28-18, though showing a flurry of offense in the second half.
This time around, the Balers took the early lead with the long touchdown pass and led 20-18 at the half. The Eagles, though, strutted their talent in the final two quarters.
Senior quarterback Ray Rivera and a host of offensive weapons, including receiver Cleveland Wallace who had more than 90 yards receiving, repeatedly marched down the field and pulled away from the Balers in the fourth quarter for a convincing victory.
Rivera was 14 of 19 for 213 yards, while San Benito had trouble putting any pressure on him all night. He and the Eagles broke open the game on a 37-yard touchdown from Rivera to Wallace. Rivera lofted the toward the front-right corner of the end zone, and Wallace created space late against cornerback Cody Cameron for the score.
Although Bocksnick compiled 183 yards throwing, he also threw three interceptions, including the two pick sixes and another ball that flubbed toward defenders with no Balers nearby. The Eagles had most of the night’s big plays, which the Balers were trying to prevent from the outset.
The Balers’ strategy on kickoffs in particular showed they wanted nothing to do with Oak Grove’s speedy return game highlighted by running back Jacari Carr. San Benito used onside or squib kicks every chance they had. It came back to bite them in a bad way.
The Balers held a 20-12 lead with 1:33 left in the second quarter and kicked the ball about 15 yards right at the Eagles’ Dubem Awuzie, who ran to the left sidelines, avoided several tackles and found a seam toward the end zone for a touchdown. San Benito didn’t score again, as the Eagles outscored the home team 27-0 to close the game.
San Benito 7 13 0 0 – 20
Oak Grove 12 6 7 14 – 39
RUSHING – SB: Bocksnick 14-67, De Leon 12-42, Hicks 6-22, Botelho 3-15, Valencia 4-11, Perez 2-2, Cameron 1-1; OG: Carr 7-20, Rivera 3-1, Awuzie 2-0, Wallace 2 -1, Harvey 3 -8
PASSING – SB: Bocksnick 8-14-3-183; OG; Rivera 13-18-0-213
RECEIVING – SB: Soto 3-73, Perez 1-3, De Leon 1-9; OG: Wallace 6-93, D. Awuzie 3-53, C. Awuzie 1-29, Harvey 1-1, Fox 1-1
