First Look at ‘Balers
Hollister – Yes, it’s only a scrimmage. But for the San Benito High varsity football team, tonight’s walk-through against the Gilroy Mustangs will be an important reality check.
The ‘Balers have but one precious week before they open their season at Aptos on Sep. 1. Between now and then, the team has plenty of items on its to-do list. For starters, who’ll be starting?
Three spots on the offensive line and two of the three slots on the defensive front remain there for the taking heading into the scrimmage. Tight end has yet to be firmed up. And both safety spots are open, as well as one linebacker position.
As the ‘Balers get their first look at someone wearing a different helmet, the San Benito coaching staff expects to soon be in a better position to pencil in its starters.
“When you play against competition, you see what guys are made of pretty quick,” defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher said. “Generally, from experience, one guy’s going to rise up and take the job.”
The evening begins with split-field drills. On one half, the ‘Balers and Mustangs will practice the inside running game with six- and seven-man fronts, while the players on the other half will work on the perimeter running and passing game without linemen. A full-field scrimmage will follow with each team’s offense running 15 plays against the other team’s defense. Special teams drills will complete the evening.
Even though it is only a scrimmage, ‘Balers head coach Chris Cameron said the night will go a long way to showing just how game-ready his team is. “We want to be able to go out and execute some of our plays on both sides of the ball,” he said.
The coaches said it goes without saying that San Benito won’t offer up anything too juicy with league rival Gilroy and new Mustangs head coach Rich Hammond in town.
“There’s no secrets,” Thatcher said. “We’re not game-planning. It’s just our base offense and our base defense.”
Hammond, a former San Benito player and assistant coach, is eager to see how his Mustangs respond to a known winner.
“Hollister’s a perennial power and we’re going to face somebody who brings it,” Hammond said. “I think it’s going to be a huge help for us.”
‘Baler players didn’t seem to care much that Gilroy is only coming to town for a scrimmage – they said the evening is significant for now and for later.
“It’s like how we come out is how our season is going to be,” wide receiver Ricky Sanchez said. “If we come out and start knocking heads and doing that, we’re going to see if we really want it this year.”
Returning All-TCAL linebacker Johnny Sanchez said the ‘Balers need to show Gilroy that they are set on playing deep into the playoffs and extending their Prune Bowl winning streak to three years.
“It means a whole lot for the 10th week we play ’em,” Sanchez said. “We gotta make ’em realize that we’re going to be the team we were last year, that the last two years weren’t flukes.”
