When you are playing the best, you have to be the best.
San Benito (8-2-1), the No. 4 seed, has no room for error when
it plays No. 1 seed Los Gatos (9-2) in the Central Coast Section
Division 2 semifinals at 3 p.m. today at San Jose City College.
The winner will advance to the championship game against the
winner of the North Salinas/Aptos game, while the loser will have
more time for wrestling, soccer and basketball.
”
They have a lot of weapons and have the big-play capability,
”
said San Benito coach Chris Cameron.
”
That is why they are where they are. Defensively, they aren’t
giving up many points. We have to be able to move the ball to keep
it out of their hands. We got to be sharp on offense.
”
When you are playing the best, you have to be the best.
San Benito (8-2-1), the No. 4 seed, has no room for error when it plays No. 1 seed Los Gatos (9-2) in the Central Coast Section Division 2 semifinals at 3 p.m. today at San Jose City College.
The winner will advance to the championship game against the winner of the North Salinas/Aptos game, while the loser will have more time for wrestling, soccer and basketball.
“They have a lot of weapons and have the big-play capability,” said San Benito coach Chris Cameron. “That is why they are where they are. Defensively, they aren’t giving up many points. We have to be able to move the ball to keep it out of their hands. We got to be sharp on offense.”
A 40-game Los Gatos win streak was snapped earlier this season by St. Francis.
Los Gatos would have finished second behind Wilcox in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
But an ineligible player forced Wilcox to forfeit six games including a tie against San Benito. That didn’t stop Wilcox from defeating Los Gatos, 25-19.
The Wildcats, who were the Division 3 champions the last three years, are coming off a 52-13 victory over Alisal, while the Balers are coming off a 35-28 win over Milpitas.
“They run their offense,” said Milpitas coach Butch Cattolico in the Los Gatos Times on the Balers. “Everybody knows what’s happening, but people have trouble stopping it. Defensively, they are very disciplined. When teams run the reverse, they stay at home. And they get off the ball.”
Baler strong safety Jake Buzzetta, who missed a game earlier this season, is coming off an ankle injury in last week’s game, but Cameron is optimistic that he will be able to play today.
If the Balers are to remain in the game, they will have to figure out a way to stop Danny Bates, who ran 22 times for 269 yards last week.
“We need a Palma-like effort on defense,” Cameron said. “We can’t give up the big play, and we have to tackle well.”
Brian Bolandi returned a kickoff, and quarterback Eric Rollin completed 10 of 12 passes for Los Gatos. The Wildcats’ kicker Nick Reimnitz hit a 45-yard field goal last week.
The Wildcats also have a big offensive line with a couple kids weighing in at more than 300 pounds.
“We are not going to just show up and be happy with being there,” Cameron said. “We want to get to the championship game and win that game. This is just another hurdle in our way – a big huge hurdle.”
