The stakes are high. So what else is new?
Gilroy – The stakes are high. So what else is new?
When aren’t the stakes high for the Prune Bowl? No matter if Gilroy and San Benito were both struggling. This will always be the biggest game of the season.
Some may argue that Palma-San Benito has become a bigger game for the Haybalers. No trophy or bragging rights are involved in that game.
Besides, as a private school Palma is able to do things a little differently. After all, four of the Chieftains players are from Gilroy.
One might argue that the Mustangs have more to gain from this game. After all, a win evens their record at 5-5 and puts them into the playoffs. And yet, there’s that trophy that has been in San Benito’s possession since 2002. Its seniors don’t know what it is like to lose against Gilroy, and don’t want to start now. Besides, a win likely wraps up a first-round home playoff game.
Add to that the game is now the regular-season finale following realignment that affected the Morgan Hill schools. That’s where the Prune Bowl belongs.
While the Haybalers have dominated the series during its 80-plus years, their big overall lead was built during the early part of it when they won every year until 1954.
Since the trophy was first awarded in 1956, San Benito has a 28-20-1 advantage. From 1980-1991, Gilroy ruled the series, losing only once in 1983 (the 1986 game was a tie).
The ‘Balers have won the last four meetings, with only the 2004 game close during that stretch. San Benito’s 7-6 win that season knocked the Mustangs from the unbeaten ranks after they had opened with five straight wins.
The ‘Balers, who opened 1-3 last year, defeated Gilroy 50-20 and continued a magical run that didn’t end until they were CCS Large School Division champions.
None of what happened in the past is going to amount to anything, as one can bet both coaches Chris Cameron at San Benito and Rich Hammond at Gilroy have told their players.
“We’ve been a funny team, a team of highs and lows,” Hammond said. “If we put four quarters together, we can be a good football team. That’s the difference between us and San Benito. They know how to play four quarters.
“They have been a really good second-half team and we haven’t been. That’s probably where the game is going to be won or lost – in the second half. There’s more on the line than just a rivalry.”
Hammond feels it even more, having played for Cameron at San Benito and now coaching against his mentor.
There will always be sidebars and subplots in this game. That’s what makes the Prune Bowl so special.
