For a moment on Friday night, it appeared at least half of the
San Benito High football team would not make the scheduled 7 p.m.
kickoff time against the host Lincoln Lions.
A broken-down bus on the way to San Jose left many of the Balers
stranded alongside Highway 101, only to arrive at the field some 15
minutes before game time.
As it turned out, though, it was one of the few things to
actually go wrong for the Balers on Friday night.
SAN JOSE
For a moment on Friday night, it appeared at least half of the San Benito High football team would not make the scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff time against the host Lincoln Lions. A broken-down bus on the way to San Jose left many of the Balers stranded alongside Highway 101, only to arrive at the field some 15 minutes before game time.
As it turned out, though, it was one of the few things to actually go wrong for the Balers on Friday night.
Fullback Nick Acosta ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns on just eight attempts, quarterback Trevor Fabing added 76 yards on the ground and another score, and the San Benito defense not only silenced the host Lions, but also scored three touchdowns en route to a 56-0 shellacking in San Jose.
“I don’t think it really had an effect,” San Benito head coach Chris Cameron said of the late start to Friday’s game, which began around 7:30 p.m. “Once they got here, it was just kind of business as usual.”
And business was booming – to the tune of 56 unanswered points, 42 in the first half alone.
It is the most points San Benito has scored since joining the Tri-County Athletic League, even eclipsing the 55 points scored against Monterey on Sept. 28, 2001. Moreover, the Balers have already scored more points in two games this season (73 total points) than it did all of last season (70).
“We have made some pretty great strides offensively and defensively,” said linebacker Taylor Coustette, who made several key tackles in Lincoln’s backfield Friday. “We’re definitely doing a lot better this year, working as a team. It’s a lot of fun and I’m having a great time.”
The eight-touchdown rout acted in stark contrast to last season’s San Benito-Lincoln affair in which the Balers mounted a last-minute drive to steal a 13-12 victory from the Lions. But a very youthful team this year, Lincoln – in what was its first game of the 2009 season – had very few answers for the Balers both offensively and defensively Friday night, despite forcing four turnovers in the game.
Up 42-0 at the break, many of San Benito’s starters didn’t play in the third and fourth quarters. Yet, the Balers still racked up 313 total yards, 280 on the ground.
“I think our kids realize, two weeks in a row, when we put a game plan together and they come out and execute, good things happen,” defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher said. “I think it just shows we’re moving in the right direction. We’ve just got to keep getting better and better, but I think it’s a great next step.”
And while the defense was no stranger to Lincoln’s backfield or the end zone itself, it was San Benito’s offense that immediately set the tone for the game on its opening drive. In a quick 7-play, 58-yard drive that lasted all of one minute and 47 seconds, the Balers found paydirt when the signal-caller Fabing kept an option run to the left side for an 8-yard touchdown.
Fabing also threw for 33 yards on 5 of 7 passing in just two quarters of work.
Lincoln’s offense, which went three-and-out twice to start the game, would have gone three-and-out a third consecutive time had it not been for a successful fake punt. But following Josh Ayala’s one-yard run to give Lincoln a new set of downs, the Lions stalled again on three tries, and opted for a second fake punt.
This time, though, San Benito stopped Lion Aaron Ruiz for 1-yard gain on a fourth-and-six play, and the Lions turned the ball over at its own 41. Three plays later, the fullback Acosta shed two would-be tacklers for a 21-yard touchdown, his first of three on the day.
“Our line blocked really good for us,” Acosta said. “The holes were there, so I ran right through them.
“We’re a whole different team this year …”
Acosta tacked on another score midway through the second quarter when he blasted up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown, giving the Balers a three-score lead. The next time the offense stepped on the field, however, the score was noticeably different, thanks to San Benito’s defense.
Lincoln quarterback Chris Pope threw a screen pass to Michael Hidalgo on the ensuing possession, but the Balers sniffed it out and forced a fumble, allowing defensive lineman Tony Ramirez to scoop-and-score from 17 yards out.
It was Ramirez’ first-ever career touchdown.
“I had the help of my teammates behind me, blocking me all the way,” Ramirez said. “It felt great.
“All I could hear is my defensive coach telling me, ‘scoop-and-score’ … That’s the first thing that came to me – just pick it up and run.”
Strong safety Conner Stevens knew what to do, too. After Ramirez’ touchdown, Lincoln ran three offensive plays when Coustette tackled Ayala in the backfield, forcing another fumble. This time it was Stevens who scooped and scored from 35 yards out to give the Balers a 35-0 lead late in the half.
“Right place at the right time,” Coustette said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
And San Benito’s defense, which held Lincoln to just 99 total yards, didn’t make many mistakes; another Lion three-and-out on the following possession converted into San Benito’s sixth touchdown of the half when Acosta burst up the middle for a 9-yard score.
“I think a lot of it is the scheme – what we’re running,” offensive coordinator Bryan Smith said when asked what the key was to San Benito’s sudden offensive spark. “I think the kids believe in it and they’re executing what they believe in. I think that has a lot to do with our success tonight and even some of the success we had last week.”
While the Balers sat several starters on offense and defense in the second half, the scoring continued. San Benito tacked on its seventh touchdown in the fourth quarter when fullback Cody Hendricks scampered 27 yards to paydirt, while defensive lineman Jacob Benitez later fell on a loose football in the end zone, capping San Benito’s scoring for the evening.
Kicker Celestino Granados, meanwhile, was a perfect 8 of 8 in point-after attempts.
Lincoln had its best chance to break the shutout when Richard Azure returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to San Benito’s 21-yard line late in the fourth quarter. But while the Lions got the ball to the Baler 6, an incomplete pass from Pope on fourth-and-goal ended the scoring threat.
The Balers (2-0) will now visit Wilcox (2-0) next Friday in Santa Clara. Since losing to San Benito by a 15-13 margin last year, the Chargers have won 10 of its last 13 games.
“We’ve still got a long ways to go,” Cameron said, “but it was a good thing.”
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
SANB 14 28 0 14 56
LINC 0 0 0 0 0
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
RUSH (8:02) – SB, Trevor Fabing, 8-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 7-0, SB.
RUSH (:08) – SB, Nick Acosta, 21-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 14-0, SB.
Second Quarter
RUSH (6:21) – SB, Nick Acosta, 7-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 21-0, SB.
FUMBLE RECOVERY (4:29) – SB, Tony Ramirez, 17-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 28-0, SB.
FUMBLE RECOVERY (3:17) – SB, Conner Stevens, 35-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 35-0, SB.
RUSH (:25) – SB, Nick Acosta, 9-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 42-0, SB.
Fourth Quarter
RUSH (6:57) – SB, Cody Hendricks, 27-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 49-0, SB.
FUMBLE RECOVERY (4:10) – SB, Jacob Benitez, 1-yard touchdown, PAT (Celestino Granados) is good; 56-0, SB.
SAN BENITO STATISTICS
Passing: Trevor Fabing – 5 of 7, 33 yards. Rushing: Trevor Fabing – 9 attempts, 76 yards, 1 touchdown; Nick Acosta – 8 attempts, 94 yards, 3 touchdowns; Andre Cornell – 2 attempts, 10 yards; James Flook – 1 attempt, 0 yards; Felipe Davila – 3 attempts, 20 yards; Cody Hendricks – 8 attempts, 55 yards, 1 touchdown; Tyler Decker – 4 attempts, 4 yards; Christian Goldstein – 1 attempt, 1 yard; Eddie Orozco – 5 attempts, 6 yards; Nathan Castro – 1 attempt, 14 yards. Receiving: Andre Cornell – 1 reception, 7 yards; Brandon Rodriguez – 3 receptions, 26 yards; Jake Hunter – 1 reception, 0 yards.
LINCOLN STATISTICS
Passing: Chris Pope – 5 of 25, 7 yards, 1 interception. Rushing: Chris Pope – 2 attempts, -8 yards; Josh Ayala – 20 attempts, 52 yards; Michael Hidalgo – 7 attempts, 11 yards; Stephen Robertson – 11 attempts, 32 yards; Aaron Ruiz – 1 attempt, 1 yard; Jorge Escobar – 1 attempt, 4 yards. Receiving: Michael Hidalgo – 3 receptions, -3 yards; Jorge Escobar – 1 reception, 0 yards; Josh Ayala – 1 reception, 10 yards.
TOTAL OFFENSE
San Benito – 313 yards (33 pass, 280 rush)
Lincoln – 99 yards (7 pass, 92 rush)
AROUND THE TCAL
Alisal (0-2, 0-0 TCAL)
Lost, 40-14, v. N. Monterey County. Next: @ Saratoga.
Everett Alvarez (1-1, 0-0 TCAL)
Lost, 22-18, @ King City. Next: v. Leland.
Gilroy (1-1, 0-0 TCAL)
Lost, 45-13, @ Archbishop Mitty. Next: v. Atascadero.
North Salinas (0-2, 0-0 TCAL)
Lost, 21-12, v. Pioneer. Next: @ Seaside.
Palma (1-1, 0-0 TCAL)
Won, 31-14, @ St. Francis (MV). Next: v. Cardinal Newman.
Salinas (1-1, 0-0 TCAL)
Won, 27-19, @ Live Oak. Next: v. Santa Teresa.
TCAL Leaders
Passing
Name, School Com Att Yd Int TD
Fales, Palma 21 31 420 0 2
Morra, Gilroy 27 45 352 0 6
Rosales, Alisal 15 27 198 2 0
Cuhna, Alvarez 11 26 166 0 0
Ceralde, N. Salinas 13 25 135 0 0
Cortez, Salinas 6 21 50 2 1
Fabing, Hollister 7 16 43 0 0
Rushing
Name, School Att Yd Avg
Rosa, Alvarez 42 470 11.1
Jelks, Salinas 41 250 6.0
Benabides, NS 32 180 5.6
Rogers, Alvarez 27 165 6.1
Acosta, Hollister 22 154 7.0
Baird, Palma 33 137 4.1
J. Lopez, Alisal 16 132 8.2
Fabing, Hollister 18 116 6.4
Coleman, Salinas 16 103 6.4
Estassi, Salinas 12 94 7.8
Brooks, NS 25 90 3.6
Morales, Alisal 20 89 4.4
Olivarria, Palma 24 84 3.5
Hendricks, Hollister 13 85 6.5
Rushing touchdown leaders: Rosa (Alvarez) 4, Rogers (Alvarez) 4, Acosta (Hollister) 4, Jelks (Salinas) 3, Benabides (N. Salinas) 2, Fabing (Hollister) 2, Rosa (Alvarez) 2, Morales (Alisal) 2.
Receiving
Name, School Rec Yds Avg
B. Taylor, Palma 9 299 33.2
Sanchez, Gilroy 8 107 13.3
Barron, Alisal 7 167 23.8
Travis, Gilroy 7 101 14.4
Vega, Gilroy 5 90 18.0
G. Taylor, Palma 4 59 14.7
Silvas, Gilroy 5 47 9.4
Vultaggio, Palma 5 40 8.0
Brooks, NS 4 49 12.2
Morales, Alisal 4 11 2.7
Rogers, Alvarez 3 48 16.0
Coleman, Salinas 3 43 14.3
Estrada, Alvarez 3 53 17.6
Rodriguez, Holl 3 26 8.6
Receiving touchdown leaders: Sanchez (Gilroy) 2, Mitchell (Gilroy) 2.
JV Note:
Following its 22-16 victory over Andrew Hill last week, the San Benito High junior varsity football team dispatched host Lincoln 6-0 on Friday night in San Jose.
San Benito’s defense was able to silence Lincoln’s attack through four quarters of football, and the Balers received all the support it would need in the second quarter when quarterback Garrett Avina scored on a three-yard rushing touchdown to give San Benito a 6-0 lead.
“We probably had the ball 80 percent of the game,” head coach Matt Andrade said. “We drove and we drove and we drove, but we just couldn’t put the ball in the end zone.
“We controlled the clock, but we just couldn’t put it in.”
Although San Benito pocketed only one touchdown, the lone score proved to be the difference as the Balers defense silenced the host Lions.
“In the first half, the defense was on the field twice for a total of about six plays,” Andrade said. “But when the defense was in, they were solid.”
San Benito (2-0) will visit Wilcox next Friday night. Kick-off is at 5 p.m.
Frosh Note:
Michael Bocksnick scored two rushing touchdowns and the San Benito High freshmen team defeated Lincoln 34-20 last Thursday in San Jose.
It was the Haybalers’ first game of the season – the team was idle last week when San Benito took on Andrew Hill – and although head coach Herb Bocksnick noticed some typical first-game jitter and mental mistakes, San Benito played “pretty good football overall and did what it took to win.”
“Our defense swarmed to the ball and our offense moved the ball quite well,” Bocksnick said. “We are definitely off to a good start.”
Angel Pasillas (3-yard score), Giano Del Curto (24-yard score) and Cody Cameron (11-yard score) all pocketed touchdowns for San Benito, which is now 1-0 on the season.
Michael Bocksnick, meanwhile, had two rushing touchdowns when he found paydirt from 25 yards out, and another from eight yards out.
The Balers will visit Leland on Thursday. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
