Hollister High has had a lot of great sports teams over the years. Many have won league titles and some have excelled in the Central Coast Section playoffs. This year’s Baler flag football team is staking its place among the school’s all-time elite.
With one game remaining in the regular season, the team has clinched the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Gabilan Division title with a 12-1 record (18-5 overall). Salinas is a game back in second place but Hollister holds the tiebreaker.
“The team definitely did improve a lot from last year,” Osborne said. “We have come to win. We have goals for ourselves and for our team.”
After the conclusion of the regular season, the PCAL will hold a 16-team tournament to crown a PCAL champ, with the Balers entering as the top seed.
“That is our end goal,” coach Jose Perez said. “Our end goal is to win PCAL (the tournament).”
It is the second year of flag football competition in California and coach Perez’s team is succeeding based on skilled athletes, teamwork, depth, film study and superb football execution. Not coincidentally, that is the same formula that tends to succeed for boys football teams.
“We have a very deep roster, with 21 girls on varsity,” Perez said. “We’ve got amazing returning seniors in Golda Demby, Jayden Osborne, Bianca Guerra, Grace Peffley and others, and many new players.”
The team’s offensive statistics start with quarterback Ava Garcia. With several games not yet tabulated, the statistics are yet quite impressive. Garcia has completed 161-of-230 passes for 1,797 yards and 26 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
Most plays in flag football are passes but coach Perez and his staff have put together a collection of running plays, including reverses and fake reverses. Bianca Guerra leads the ground game with 19 rushes for 134 yards.
The receiving corps has headliners in track star Jasayla Mariscal with 67 catches for 651 yards and the athletic Jayden Osborne with 41 receptions for 652 yards. Other big targets have been Ixiim De Luna with 26 catches for 313 yards and Briella Rose Perham with 23 for 271 yards. Both De Luna and Perham are freshmen.
“My team is great,” Garcia said. “We have a bunch of hard workers. I just keep my eyes up and see who’s open. I know who’s doing what.”
Jazmin Rubio usually is the center, hiking the ball to Garcia and other quarterbacks, including Francesca Donati. Guerra or De Luna may be at tailback, dual threats for running and receiving.
The most prominent receivers are Mariscal, Osborne, Perham and Mia Martinez.
Depth is provided by Olivia Schaal, Mia Briano and others. Golda Demby and Grace Peffley are major contributors but have been sidelined with injuries. Against Salinas, Osborne suffered an injury and will be out the rest of the season.
“We all work good together,” Mariscal said. “We have trust in each other. Ava is great and makes really good deep throws.”
Hollister’s defense is stellar. Only five of 23 opponents have scored more than two touchdowns in a game. In five of the last six contests, the opponent scored just once or was shut out.
The lockdown stop unit features Perham, Osborne, Mariscal, Guerra, Hillary Santamaria, Lucy Grewohl, Jazlene Flores, Lysette Griego, Briano, Miranda Martinez and Aleah Ruiz.
“Our defense has been fantastic,” Perez said. “They understand what they’re supposed to do on assignments. We do film review and they lock in.”
The non-league slate included a bevy of challenging matchups against teams such as Los Gatos and Aptos. That strengthened the team for the season. League play kicked off with a 69-0 rout at Everett Alvarez and a 26-6 rolling of Monterey, also on the road.
Against the Eagles, Garcia was 11-for-14 for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Backup quarterback Donati was 5-for-9 for 33 yards and two scores. Over at the ‘Dores home field, Hollister dominated via five interceptions, two for Perham.
The third PCAL contest was a fierce battle with rival Salinas in front of the home crowd, with the Balers overcoming a 12-point deficit to beat the Cowboys 27-19. Garcia completed 23-of-29 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Mariscal had a field day, collecting 13 passes for 161 yards. Late Salinas threats were shut down by interceptions from Osborne and Mariscal.
Hollister then defeated Soledad 24-6, Alisal 27-6, Watsonville 24-0, King City 32-19, Everett Alvarez 47-7, Monterey 19-0, Salinas 13-12, Soledad 12-6 and Alisal 39-12. On Oct. 21, an energized Watsonville team, on Senior Night, edged the Balers 26-20.
Garcia has been superb in every game, 18-for-25 for 201 yards against the Bruins, 18-for-28 for 171 yards and three touchdowns against the Trojans, and 24-for-36 for 247 yards against the Watsonville LadyCatz in the first match. In that game, Mariscal caught eight passes for 116 yards and Osborne pulled in another eight, with her total at 65 yards.
Against King City, Garcia was 23-for-32 for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Mariscal caught five for 77 yards, Osborne had six for 50 yards, Mia Martinez caught four for 58 yards and Perham pulled in five for 56 yards.
Against Alvarez the second time, Garcia was an amazing 19-for-25 for 220 yards and six touchdowns. Osborne caught five for 99 yards, Mariscal had eight for 76 yards, and De Luna caught six for 76 yards.
“Ava has great arm strength and she knows how to go through the progressions,” Perez said. “Jayden and Jasayla are amazing deep threats.”
The last regular-season match is at home on Oct. 23 versus King City. The season-concluding PCAL playoffs follow. All PCAL teams will compete in the post-season tournament, which begins on Oct. 28. The second round will be on Oct. 30. Semifinals and finals will take place on Nov. 2.
“I think we’ll go all the way,” Garcia said. “It’s a lot of fun. I’m glad to be part of it.”
