San Benito opens Tri-County Athletic League season at Alisal
HOLLISTER
San Benito’s second season kicks off tonight against the Alisal Trojans, and after last week’s decisive loss at Oak Grove, the Haybalers will be looking to reverse their fortunes and quickly put the past behind them.
Head coach Chris Cameron was wondering what the mood would be like at Monday’s practice, and ‘Baler linebacker Michael Murphy, who took Monday’s practice off after he buckled his knee against Oak Grove, said the team took the loss to heart.
“We said, ‘We don’t want to lose like that again,'” said Murphy, who returned to practice later in the week. “I think that loss helped us out a lot, to bring the team together. Hopefully, it works out. We’ll see.”
The Eagles may have left a bad taste, but Cameron said the team has been building up as the week has progressed, with a very strong practice on Wednesday.
“We played a heck of a team last week; a team that could go 13-0, a team that has a chance, I’d say right now today, of maybe playing in the Division I state title game representing Northern California,” Cameron said. “But that game is behind us now and we’re getting into league season.”
The ‘Balers finished the preseason with a 2-2 record, and will need to open the Tri-County Athletic League on a strong note in order to build momentum toward the team’s more difficult, latter half of the schedule.
And with history on their side, the ‘Balers have owned the series with Alisal, with last year’s contest turning into an offensive onslaught as San Benito broke out for 402 total yards, 302 on the ground, in a 27-14 victory.
But this year’s Trojan squad has been better than advertised, and currently boasts a 2-2 preseason record, with wins over San Lorenzo Valley and Saratoga.
Scrappy and tough is how the Hollister head coach described the Trojans, and with the Salinas school running a Wing-T formation on offense and showing seven- and eight-man fronts on defense, Cameron relates Alisal to the Lincoln Lions – a team the Haybalers defeated in the waning seconds back in Week 2, 15-13.
“They come out to hit you,” Cameron said. “They’re a good running team. Their passing game is limited, but they want to run the football.”
Two backs, among many, have stood out for the Trojans through four games this season. Milton Grant Jr. has rushed for 384 yards on 49 carries and four touchdowns and teammate Armando Enriquez has 62 touches for 349 yards and three scores.
In Week 1 against San Lorenzo Valley, Grant had 11 carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He sprinted to a 42-yard touchdown last week against Woodside, a game in which Alisal carried an 8-7 lead to the fourth quarter but couldn’t pull out a victory by the final whistle.
San Benito’s rush defense has been sturdy this season, with the exception of the Oak Grove game, and could prove to be the difference on Friday. Through four games, the ‘Balers have allowed 515 yards on 141 carries, an average of 3.65 yards per carry. Without factoring in the Oak Grove game, though, San Benito is allowing just 2.27 yards per carry.
“They’re fast and physical, but I think we’re more physical, so we should come out on top,” Murphy said.
The Trojans have been up and down in their first four preseason games. They beat San Lorenzo Valley 37-15, lost to North Monterey County 13-12, defeated Saratoga 27-14, and fell at Woodside 14-8.
And while San Benito’s offense struggled at times in the preseason, they’ll also be a little bruised coming into Week 5, with running backs Anthony Padilla and Nick Acosta nursing shoulder injuries.
“They’ll be some guys in the offensive backfield that you haven’t seen as much play,” Cameron said. “We’re re-patching the unit.”
With North Salinas, Palma and Gilroy each delivering impressive preseasons, and with certainly no sign of any of them slowing down once the TCAL season begins, the playoff push for the ‘Balers begins tonight and no later.
“This is an important game. We’ve got to win this week,” Cameron said. “We’ve got to go out and get a little string going.
“We want to be a part of the postseason, and it starts this weekend.”
