When two teams with the history of the San Benito Haybalers and
the Gilroy Mustangs match up, sparks are sure to fly.
This year’s contest for the prestigious Prune Bowl Trophy
tonight in Hollister is sure to be no different.
Although San Benito won last year in a convincing 41-6 fashion,
both teams expect that the contest, played in front of parents and
grandparents who battled it out in yesteryear, will come down to
the wire.
When two teams with the history of the San Benito Haybalers and the Gilroy Mustangs match up, sparks are sure to fly.
This year’s contest for the prestigious Prune Bowl Trophy tonight in Hollister is sure to be no different.
Although San Benito won last year in a convincing 41-6 fashion, both teams expect that the contest, played in front of parents and grandparents who battled it out in yesteryear, will come down to the wire.
“You never go in thinking its going to be a blowout,” said Baler coach Chris Cameron. “You just try to play your game.”
“Both games in the past two years haven’t been close in the second half,” said Gilroy coach Darren Yafai. “The team that doesn’t turn it over and has a couple key plays at opportune times will win it.”
Both teams are coming in with their normal share of injuries that mount up throughout the course of a football season, but for the most part both teams are healthy.
The Balers only loss this year was in the 16-0 opener against Valley Christian, while the Mustangs suffered their first loss at Salinas last week by the score of 20-7.
“They do a lot of things well,” Cameron said. “They are aggressive, play good defense and run a good screen game. They got some speed in the back and are probably faster than our team. We just to make sure the 11 guys are doing their jobs.”
Cameron has won seven of the last nine matchups. The only times his team has lost to the Mustangs were in 1997 and 2001.
Both teams want the bragging rights and want their names to be inscribed on the trophy – forever etched in history.
But there is much more riding on the outcome of the game. The winner will have the upper hand in the race for the Tri-County Athletic League title.
Both Gilroy and Hollister are coming in to the game looking good as the season starts. Both teams are 4-1-1 this year.
“Overall Hollister has probably played the tougher preseason,” Yafai said. “Aside from the game against Valley Christian, who is one of the top teams in the area, the preseason has been pretty similar in nature. They may be a notch up on us.”
Last year, only a last-second touchdown reception kept the Balers from leaving with a shutout. San Benito won that game 41-6. It was the worse loss since 1969, when Hollister won 50-6.
In the game last year, San Benito piled on a whopping 290 yards rushing.
“Last year, it was one of those games Hollister dominated from start to finish,” Yafai said.
Gilroy and Hollister have been two of the area’s stingiest defensive teams. They lead not only the Tri-County Athletic League in the least amount of points allowed, but they also better all teams in the Mission Trail, Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz leagues as well.
Hollister has given up 1,046 yards, while Gilroy has given up 1,208 total yards.
Only Salinas and Gonzales have allowed fewer points than Hollister and Gilroy have this season. Hollister has allowed 68, and Gilroy has allowed 70.
And both teams are also close in the amount of points that they have put on the board. Hollister has a 134-130 advantage in that category.
“The strengths of each team complement the type of offense that is run,” Yafai said. “It is a real contrast in styles. I would give them the edge in size and strength, but we have the speed. We try to get the ball to the outside a lot. The strength of Hollister is the big offensive line that really moves people off the ball.”
San Benito comes into the game ranked No. 12 in the Central Coast Section.
“They played real physical against Salinas,” said Cameron of the Mustangs. “They were able to get their pops in. I expect it to be a very tough physical battle (tonight).
Both teams are young on paper, but that hasn’t stopped them from posting veteran numbers.
“I thought Hollister would make youthful mistakes,” Yafai said. “I was surprised how the young players have stepped up and played good disciplined football. That makes it scarier for us to see those young guys who have stepped up. Both teams will be that much better next year.”
