Esparza Overcomes Torn MCL to Catch Title-Clinching
Touchdown
As is so often the case with epic accomplishments, at the center lies a hero. For the San Benito Haybalers, that fearless warrior is Art Esparza.
With the euphoria that has descended on ‘Baler Nation this past week, by now you all know that Esparza caught the touchdown pass that propelled San Benito to the CCS football championship.
But not as well known is the fact that the senior tight end injured his left knee in the first half against Oak Grove. After receiving treatment at halftime, Esparza decided to continue to gut it out for his team with the title on the line.
Once pain worsened in the middle of the night following the victory, Esparza visited the hospital on Sunday only to find that he had a torn Medial Collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee.
Despite sporting a thick brace on the knee as the ‘Balers gathered to turn in their uniforms and pads on Monday, Esparza was in bright spirits.
“No surgeries,” said Esparza of the treatment ahead. “Just rehab and staying off of it.”
Esparza caught two passes in the championship game for 39 yards and was also on the receiving end of quarterback Karson Klauer’s two-point conversion strike that put San Benito up 14-7 late in the first quarter.
But what ‘Baler fans will always remember is the final drive and Esparza’s game-winning touchdown.
After seeing Oak Grove rally from a two-touchdown deficit to tie the game at 21 with 1:10 remaining, San Benito had to score to avoid a co-championship with the Eagles.
“We just had to pull it out,” said Klauer. “We practiced [our two-minute offense] every week.”
After advancing the ball to the Eagles’ 29-yard line with 28 seconds remaining, Klauer took the snap only to immediately find Oak Grove linebacker Ricky Valencia bearing down on him.
Esparza recalled seeing his quarterback in trouble.
“I was just streaking and I turned back and saw the clutter,” said Esparza, who also caught a 10-yard pass on the decisive drive.
Once Klauer spun to avoid the sack, he lofted the ball high over the Eagles’ defense to a spot in the end zone where only his tight end could get it.
“I just saw the ball in the air,” said Esparza, “and I had to go get it.”
Once he came down with the touchdown pass with 17 seconds left, Esparza was mobbed by his ecstatic teammates.
“It felt like winning the lottery,” said Esparza as he shook hands with the defeated Oak Grove players afterwards. “Do or die and I didn’t want to die.”
San Benito players and coaches couldn’t stop raving about Esparza’s injury-defying feats.
“That was a pretty gutsy performance,” said ‘Balers defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher, summing up the ‘Balers’ sentiment. “Game on the line, he was hurt, but he came up big. That’s Haybalers’ football. Kids play hurt, play tough and give you everything they have. Art summed it up in one play.”
Injury, rehab and all, Esparza had no regrets in assessing the final chapter of his high school football career.
“It was all worth it,” said Esparza.
