The Balers have a chance to secure a playoff spot with a win at
Salinas Friday night. But it won’t be easy especially, against the
Cowboys in week nine.
San Benito (6-1-1, 3-O TCAL) will bring its six-game winning
streak into the game against Salinas (5-3, 2-1 TCAL). Salinas has
won five of its six games.
The Balers have a chance to secure a playoff spot with a win at Salinas Friday night. But it won’t be easy especially, against the Cowboys in week nine.
San Benito (6-1-1, 3-O TCAL) will bring its six-game winning streak into the game against Salinas (5-3, 2-1 TCAL). Salinas has won five of its six games.
Although the Balers probably have enough points to qualify for the playoffs, the team wants to put an exclamation point on its season and clinch the title outright.
“If we lose, we put Salinas in the driver’s seat,” said coach Chris Cameron. “A good position is not good enough for me right now. I want to go out and win this thing.”
Salinas is coming off of a 27-14 win at Live Oak, while San Benito is coming off a 24-21 win over North Salinas last week.
“They have a great offense and a tough defense,” said Salinas coach Mark Ironside, the TCAL Coach of the Year last year. “They are real aggressive. They have a good running game, and the quarterback throws the ball well. We just have to make the tackles and match up.”
The Balers have lost the last two matchups. Last year the Balers lost 17-0 to Salinas and the year before lost 7-6 in the Central Coast Section Finals at Gilroy High.
“We got a big rivalry going,” Ironside said. “This game might affect us more than them because they have one more win.”
Those who don’t want to brave the forecasted rain can listen to the game on Fox Sports 1380.
The game features two of the area’s best defenses. San Benito has allowed just 96 points this year, while Salinas has allowed 103 points
“Salinas is playing great defense right now,” Cameron said. “To have a championship caliber team, you have to have a solid defense. They always play good defense and put the offense in a position to score points. That is what has helped up so much this year.”
The Cowboys are missing their wide receiver and right tackle but are healthy otherwise. The Balers have a couple players coming back.
Defensive back Jake Buzzetta is returning this week after a concussion he suffered against Gilroy. Running back Gabe Gaitan also will be returning, and defensive lineman Oscar Correa returned last week. Tight end Adam Ruvalcaba is also returning to the lineup this week.
“Physically we are in pretty good shape for this point in the season,” Cameron said. “We have been dodging bullets and getting some guys back.”
