San Benito coach Bryan Smith talks to his team after defeating Palo Alto 42-14 | Ryan Silapan/Prep2Prep |
HOLLISTER, CA — Once the San Benito High football team actually got the ball on offense, things started to go their way. After going nearly 11 minutes of the first quarter without touching the ball on offense the Haybalers made sure that when they had it they were going to make the most of it, and they did.
San Benito rattled off 42-straight points en route to winning its second straight game of the season as the host Balers defeated visiting Palo Alto 42-14 Friday night in Hollister. The Balers, who forced a running clock in the fourth quarter, scored touchdowns in four different ways via the pass, rush, kickoff return and interception return.
“We practice really hard all week and it showed tonight,” San Benito senior running back Hunter Nye said. “Honestly we’re going to get better throughout the year and if we keep practicing hard we’ll keep getting better.”
Nye set the tone for Balers by giving them the lead with a one-yard rushing touchdown with 17 seconds left in the half.
San Benito led Palo Alto 14-7 going into halftime. Then the third quarter came and the floodgates opened up.
The second half couldn't have started any worse for the Vikings as Adam Mendoza returned the second half opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Things only got worse for Paly as they would fumble the ball away on its ensuing offensive drive and the Balers, specifically Nye, took great advantage. Nye took his first handoff of the second half to pay dirt, as the 5-foot-10 190 pound back went 27 yards.
“We just didn't do the little things we needed to do to win this game,” Palo Alto coach Danny Sullivan said. “They are a good football team, they are well coached but don't get me wrong that score doesn't show how close this game was.”
Palo Alto raced out to a 7-0 lead over San Benito courtesy of a 13-play 59-yard drive that was capped by a four-yard touchdown pass from running back Paul Jackson III to Jamie Cullen. The Vikings took advantage of a Balers muffed punt that gave them good field position.
“The first half was battling back and forth,” Sullivan said. “We let the third quarter get the most of us.”
Nye finished with a game-high 125 yards and three touchdowns on only 10 carries for San Benito. Nye only got two carries in the second half and he took great advantage racing 48 yards for a third touchdown on top of his 27-yarder the one prior. While Nye is the one who gets the yards and the touchdowns, he’s the first one to credit his offensive line for making his success possible.
“My offensive line was blocking great for me,” Nye said. “We are executing plays, they are executing their blocks and if it wasn't for them all the yards we are putting it wouldn't be happening.”
Balers quarterback Hunter Raquet threw for 102 yards and a touchdown on 7-of-10 passing. San Benito also scored on defense as defensive back Eric Hernandez had a 23-yard pick-six. Jackson Chryst connected with Josh Brigel for a 35-yard touchdown pass late in the game to end San Benito's 42-0 run.
“We didn't do a good enough job getting these guys ready and that falls on me,” Sullivan said. “The sun comes up tomorrow and we'll watch film and learn from our mistakes.”
Jackson III led the Vikings with 52 yards rushing on 18 carries. In all Palo Alto was held to 91 yards on the ground on 31 carries.
San Benito entered the game ranked No. 8 and Paly No. 11 in the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section top 25 rankings. The Balers and Vikings had met every year since 2010 with each team winning three times a piece. San Benito came into Friday winners of the previous two match-ups.
San Benito (2-0) will visit Los Gatos (1-1) next Friday Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. Los Gatos fell to SoCal power Corona del Mar 33-14 also on Friday.
First-year Balers coach Bryan Smith, who has yet to taste defeat as a head coach, is constantly preaching to his team not to get complacent.
“I tell the guys we are a good team but we need to find ways to get better,” Smith said. “There’s no doubt about it. Our next game against Los Gatos is going to be a great challenge for us.”
Palo Alto (1-1) will host Archbishop Mitty (1-1) also next Friday at 7 p.m. The Monarchs defeated Aptos 21-12 on Friday night.
St. Francis 8, Palma 7
Palma lost a heartbreaker to the No. 1 ranked team in the Prep2Prep CCS top 25 as visiting St. Francis defeated Palma 8-7.
The Chieftains led 7-2 at halftime, and by the same score after the third quarter.
The Lancers won on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Reed Vettle to Bennett Williams with 2:01 left in the game.
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