In past seasons, a meeting with Wilcox meant the Haybalers of
San Benito could just show up and win. Friday’s game in Santa Clara
surely must be considered a must win for the Balers. Merely showing
up won’t be good enough.
The Balers (0-1) and Chargers (0-0) square off at 7:30 p.m. in a
non-league contest.
In past seasons, a meeting with Wilcox meant the Haybalers of San Benito could just show up and win. Friday’s game in Santa Clara surely must be considered a must win for the Balers. Merely showing up won’t be good enough.
The Balers (0-1) and Chargers (0-0) square off at 7:30 p.m. in a non-league contest.
“This their opener. They’re going to come out with guns blazing,” said Haybaler head coach Chris Cameron, who last lost to the Chargers in the 1995 Central Coast Section playoffs (not counting a forfeit in 2000). “We have to come in with the attitude and the intensity we had against Valley Christian, only without the mental mistakes.”
The Chargers, who scrimmaged Palma last Saturday, have changed their defensive schemes, according to Cameron. However, the infamous option veer under head coach Woody Freitas is still there.
“We’ve practiced for their fake the dive and pop pass to the tight end,” said Cameron. “They still have the reverse to the tight end. We know what they’re going to do. As long as we take care of our responsibilities, we should be all right. The key for us is that we have to move the football.”
“We have to go out and score three or four touchdowns,” said Baler quarterback Karson Klauer. “And we have to convert some third downs.”
The Chargers, who won CCS Division II titles in 1995 and ’97, had a down year last season at 3-7. They do have some good players returning, including linebacker/running back Anthony Reyes and linebacker Tasi Utuga. Win or lose, the Chargers are perennially big in the interior and won’t back down from contact.
“We know they’re big,” said Baler running back Gabe Gaitan. “We need to step it up on offense. We made Valley Christian better than they were with our mistakes. This is a must win.”
This is a must win for the Balers for these are the type of the games they need to qualify for the CCS playoffs.
They’ll have to do it without linemen Jonathan Lopez and Oscar Correa, out with injuries. Special teams player – Guillermo Solis – who can also play in the line, is hurt, as well.
“We’re shuffling things up front,” said Cameron.
Two sophomores, Kevin Wilkinson and Vince Sardam, will fill in for Lopez at right guard.
Cameron praised his front seven on defense for exceptional play in the loss to Valley Christian, in particular, defensive tackle Tony Hernandez.
“Tony had the best performance of anyone,” said Cameron. “He had no mental mistakes and played physical football. We played well on defense and, most importantly, didn’t give up any big plays. We adjusted to what they were doing and they had some real good backs.”
Cameron gave kudos to offensive guard Ty Doty, as well, for his play last Friday. Doty is one of the four Baler captains.
“This is definitely a must win,” said Doty, echoing the team’s general sentiment.
