'Baler defensive backs Conner Stevens and Devin Quintana try to break up the final play of the game in the end zone. Quintana succeeded, intercepting the pass to preserve a San Benito shutout Friday against Alvarez.
Backup quarterback Salvador Ornelas came in to the game after Kyle Vallejo went down in the second quarter Friday night. Ornelas helped the 'Balers beat Alvarez 10-0.
The San Benito Haybalers practiced safety first on Friday night in Hollister, and it led to their first victory in the Tri-County Athletic League over a visiting Everett Alvarez squad.
Hollister's defense forced two safeties - and nearly a third - and held Alvarez to just 99 yards of total offense en route to a 10-0 win at Andy Hardin Stadium.
"We did what we wanted to do, and they couldn't establish a running game," said 'Baler defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher, whose stout rush defense held Alvarez to just 14 yards on the ground on 22 attempts. "We got them in passing situations and we were able to apply a lot of pressure."
In a game where scoring was clearly at a premium, and where San Benito quarterback Kyle Vallejo left the game to an injury, the 'Balers found points in the rarest of scoring opportunities - the safety.
And they did it twice.
"I don't think, since I've been coaching, we've gotten two in one game," said Thatcher, referring to the two-point play. The 'Balers have forced three safeties on the year - the other coming in their 15-13 win over Wilcox.
The stellar defense, which held the Eagles to a single yard of rushing on 13 carries in the first half, was certainly needed as Vallejo left the game with an apparent ankle injury on just the second offensive series for San Benito. He was sacked in the backfield by Alvarez linebacker Michael Alvarado, and was seen after the game on crutches.
With quarterback Trevor Fabing out with an injury as well, head coach Chris Cameron called upon emergency quarterback Sal Ornelas, who usually plays defensive back for the 'Balers.
"We were playing good defense and the special teams were in our favor. We just had to make sure we managed the game and didn't turn the thing over," said Cameron, who noted that Ornelas' role as quarterback in practice is rather limited.
"But Sal did a great job," Cameron said.
Although San Benito's passing game was limited - they had just four attempts all game - Ornelas connected with receiver Evan McFadden on an impressive three-step drop play late in the contest, where McFadden was parallel with the ground but hauled in a 27-yard reception, nonetheless.
Alvarez, meanwhile, couldn't catch a break when it came to field position all night, and were backed up deep in their zone for the majority of the contest. Although their best starting position in the game was their own 47-yard line, the Eagles' average starting position was their own 20, and San Benito took advantage.
Backed up to their own 13, Alvarez was forced to punt on a fourth-and-29. But a bad snap went over the kicker's head and rolled through the back of the end zone and out of bounds, resulting in a 2-0 lead for San Benito at halftime.
Alvarez head coach Bob Rawles said his team was "very angry" at the break.
"We thought we should have been up," Rawles said. "We came into this thinking we were gonna beat these guys. We felt like we were playing decently on both sides of the ball, and to be down because of a snap, which ended up hurting us later, too.
"Young guys will make mistakes. And we just have to keep on striving to get better."
After Alvarez went three-and-out to open the second half, the Haybalers went 46 yards to the end zone on their first play when Jeff Bernaldez ran off the left guard for a touchdown.
Bernaldez appeared to be wrapped up by an Eagle linebacker on the play, but San Benito's workhorse running back on the night never stopped moving his feet and eventually peeled away from the would-be tackler.
Bernaldez finished with 101 yards on 17 carries, while Hollister had 176 yards of total offense.
"That was our plan coming in," Cameron said. "I wanted to run the football. And with zero passing game it makes it tougher because they're loading up."
San Benito turned the ball over in the red zone on just the second play of the fourth quarter, when a botched hand-off supplied the Eagles with the ball at their own 3-yard line.
But two plays later, on an attempted sweep to the right side, Eagle quarterback Justin Rocamora's pitch to the running back was off target and fumbled in the end zone. The ball was recovered by Alvarez in the end zone, but 'Baler Michael Murphy supplied the hit for the team's second safety.
Rocamora, who finished 7 of 17 for 85 yards, threw two picks late in the game to Cody Hendricks and Devin Quintana.
"This was a big win for us," Thatcher said. "But we're gonna see a whole lot better teams down the road ..."
San Benito (1-1 TCAL, 3-3 overall) will visit North Salinas next Friday.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
EA 0 0 0 0 0
SB 0 2 6 2 10
STATS
PASSING
Kyle Vallejo, SB - 1 of 1, 8 yards
Sal Ornelas, SB - 1 of 3, 27 yards, 1 INT
Justin Rocamora, EA - 7 of 17, 85 yards, 2 INT
RUSHING
Kyle Vallejo, SB - 2 carries, -18 yards
Sal Ornelas, SB - 3 carries, -27 yards
Nick Acosta, SB - 3 carries, 10 yards
Christian Maravilla, SB - 9 carries, 39 yards
Anthony Padilla, SB - 12 carries, 36 yards
Jeff Bernaldez, SB - 17 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD
John Pulido, SB - 3 carries, 0 yards
Lalo Melesio, EA - 11 carries, 0 yards
Justin Rocamora, EA - 6 carries, 12 yards
Manuel Vega, EA - 1 carry, 0 yards
Tony Rosa, EA - 3 carries, 6 yards
Oscar Romero, EA - 1 carry, -4 yards
RECEIVING
Daniel Maiello, SB - 1 catch, 8 yards
Evan McFadden, SB - 1 catch, 27 yards
Mike Skinner, EA - 1 catch, 36 yards
Eric Perez, EA - 2 catches, 26 yards
Oscar Romero, EA - 2 catches, 8 yards
Lalo Melesio, EA - 2 catches, 15 yards
JV Note:
The San Benito junior varsity team lost to visiting Everett Alvarez 35-14 Friday at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister.
The team is now 0-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 1-3-2 overall.
Quarterback James Flook connected with Ruben Alnas on a five-yard touchdown pass for San Benito's first points in the game. Later, Javier Bustillos had a 10-yard rushing touchdown for the 'Balers second score.
San Benito will visit North Salinas next Friday at 5 p.m.
Frosh Note:
The San Benito freshman team improved to 2-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League Thursday when they defeated visiting Everett Alvarez 20-7 at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister.
The Haybalers are now 5-1 overall.
"It was the most complete game we've played this season," head coach Herb Bocksnick said.
The 'Balers got on the scoreboard first when Anthony Cervantes rushed for a 20-yard touchdown to put San Benito up 7-0 at the break.
On the first play in the second half, Tyler Smith had a 65-yard run that found the end zone to push the 'Balers ahead 13-0. Later, Jonathan Huaracha ran it in from eight yards out to give San Benito a comfortable 20-0 lead.
Alvarez scored later in the game.
"We eliminated our mistakes and made the plays we needed to make," Bocksnick said.
San Benito will visit North Salinas next Thursday at 4 p.m.
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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