Cowboys earn sixth win on the leg of Kody Fudena, who made two
field goals en route to 6-0 victory against San Benito on
Friday
HOLLISTER
On Wednesday, San Benito head coach Chris Cameron said, the Haybalers had a practice that was frighteningly similar to Friday’s home game against the Salinas Cowboys at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister.
In what was a Halloween showdown that had playoff implications for both teams, though, San Benito couldn’t deliver in all three phases of the game and may have sealed their postseason fate with a 6-0 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys.
“We had a mediocre special teams, horrible on offense, but looked great on defense,” Cameron said of Wednesday’s practice. “Tonight was a spitting image. You play like you practice.”
Although the ‘Balers out-gained Salinas (3-2 TCAL, 6-3) in total offense by a 133 to 109 margin – and even prevented the Cowboys from completing a single pass all game – San Benito simply couldn’t find the end zone and eventually fell to the right leg of Salinas’ Kody Fudena.
Fudena, who also plays soccer for Salinas in the winter, kicked a pair of field goals from 45 and 24 yards in the third quarter and provided the Cowboys with enough of an edge to stave off any ‘Baler comeback in the end.
“He’s a heckuva kicker,” Salinas coach Steve Goodbody said of Fudena. “He’s also a golfer, so he knows how to play the fade. No nerves. He just kicks it.”
Goodbody took over the Salinas program three years ago, and with six wins to their name this year, it’s all but certain that the Cowboys will clinch a playoff spot – just the fifth time in 25 years.
“It’s a big step for our program,” Goodbody added. “These seniors were 1-9 as freshman, and I can’t say enough about how far they’ve come.”
As for the ‘Balers, they needed two wins in their last three games in order to have a chance at a postseason berth. With Palma and Gilroy remaining on the schedule – arguably the two best teams in the Tri-County Athletic League – San Benito’s chances of making the playoffs are extremely slim.
“Now it’s about playing for pride,” said Cameron, whose ‘Balers fall to 1-3 in the TCAL, 3-5 overall. “Hopefully, we can keep coming out and playing hard on a daily basis, playing hard on Friday night for the next two weeks. That’s what it’s all about right now.”
The ‘Baler offense could very likely be without starting quarterback Trevor Fabing for the next two weeks after the junior signal-caller was said to have suffered a concussion on the first offensive series Friday.
Fabing, who returned from a hip-flexor injury just two weeks ago against North Salinas, was sacked by Cowboy Ari Ongy for a loss of eight yards on just the third play of the game.
He did not return.
Quarterback Kyle Vallejo, who started six games this season while Fabing was sidelined with his hip-flexor injury, filled in behind center Friday and threw for 65 yards and two interceptions on 6 of 18 passing.
“Our pass protection was horrible,” Cameron said. “I mean, Kyle didn’t have a chance, and those weren’t complex blitzes. The blitzes we saw against North Salinas were much more complicated and much more high pressure than we saw tonight.
“We had a simple, straight-ahead run though blitz – nothing fancy about it. And we couldn’t pick that up. That’s freshman football 101, and we didn’t get that done tonight.”
After a scoreless first half in which both teams committed two turnovers apiece, Salinas took advantage of a botched punt return by the ‘Balers and recovered the loose football at the San Benito 47-yard line. Seven plays and 19 yards later, Fudena booted a 45-yard field goal that cleared the uprights with ease and supplied Salinas with a 3-0 lead.
“He could have kicked it farther than that,” Cameron said.
The Cowboys capitalized on another San Benito mistake later in the third quarter as well. After a Vallejo pass was picked off at the ‘Baler 39, Salinas running back Alvin Jelks – who ran for 77 yards on 23 carries Friday – had his biggest gain of the night when he ran straight up the middle for 28 yards to the San Benito 12.
The ‘Balers prevented another first down, but Fudena’s 24-yard field goal made up the difference and gave Salinas a 6-0 edge.
It was the only time Salinas entered the red zone.
In the fourth, San Benito had a last-ditch chance when they got the ball back at their own 22 with two minutes remaining in regulation. A pair of completed passes worked the ball out to midfield, but the drive stalled from there and the ‘Balers eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Said Goodbody, “It was a defensive battle that came down to field position and a couple of field goals.”
San Benito advanced the ball into Salinas’ red zone only twice Friday – both times coming in the first half – but the ‘Balers could not find paydirt either time. On the first possession, the drive ended on a missed field goal attempt of 37 yards, while the second try was stopped when San Benito fumbled the football.
The ‘Balers will host Homecoming next Friday against Palma, which is coming off a 34-28 loss to Gilroy. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.
“We didn’t get it done tonight,” Cameron said. “Not at all.”
STATS
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
SAL 0 0 6 0 6
SB 0 0 0 0 0
PASSING
Trevor Fabing, SB – 0 of 1
Kyle Vallejo, SB – 6 of 18, 65 yards, 2 INT
Ryan Gregg, SAL – 0 of 4, 1 INT
RUSHING
Trevor Fabing, SB – 1 attempt, -8 yards
Kyle Vallejo, SB – 5 attempts, -18 yards
Christian Maravilla, SB – 9 attempts, 23 yards
Anthony Padilla, SB – 8 attempts, 29 yards
Jeff Bernaldez, SB – 9 attempts, 38 yards
Andre Cornell, SB – 1 attempt, 1 yard
Mitchell Cook, SB – 1 attempt, 4 yards
Daniel Maiello, SB – 1 attempt, -1 yards
Alvin Jelks, SAL – 23 attempts, 77 yards
Myles Coleman, SAL – 15 attempts, 30 yards
Ryan Gregg, SAL – 9 attempts, -7 yards
Ari Ongy, SAL – 1 attempt, 9 yards
RECEIVING
Andre Cornell, SB – 1 reception, 9 yards
Evan McFadden, SB – 3 catches, 40 yards
Christian Maravilla, SB – 1 catch, 11 yards
Daniel Maiello, SB – 1 catch, 5 yards
TOTAL OFFENSE
Salinas – 109 yards (0 pass, 109 rush)
San Benito – 133 yards (65 pass, 68 rush)
JV Note:
The San Benito junior varsity squad lost 25-8 to Salinas at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister on Friday, and fell to 1-3 in the Tri-County Athletic League as a result.
The ‘Balers are now 2-4-2 overall.
After spotting Salinas an 18-0 lead in the first half, San Benito got their only score of the game when Greg Vasquez connected with James Flook for a 60-yard touchdown pass with mere seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The ‘Balers will host Palma Friday in Hollister at 5 p.m.
Frosh Note:
The San Benito freshman team spotted Salinas a 13-point lead Thursday, and the Cowboys took advantage en route to a 20-7 victory at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister.
The Haybalers cut into the deficit in the first half when Jonathan Huaracha ran in a two-yard touchdown to make it 13-7. But Salinas scored another touchdown later in the game to build a 13-point cushion.
“We came out flat and gave them a two-touchdown lead,” head coach Herb Bocksnick said. “We responded well, but it was too much to overcome.”
San Benito is now 2-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 5-3 overall.
They will host Palma next Thursday at 6 p.m.
