It’s a tough call to say who needs it more in tonight’s 52nd
installment of the Prune Bowl.
GILROY – It’s a tough call to say who needs it more in tonight’s 52nd installment of the Prune Bowl.
San Benito has struggled to a 3-6 record after a litany of injuries and close calls that went the other way. With no hope of advancing to the playoffs, there is nothing the Haybalers would like more than to win their annual meeting with Gilroy. It’s being viewed as a title game in Hollister.
“It makes or break their season,” said Gilroy coach Rich Hammond.
The Mustangs (8-1), on the other hand, were on top of the world a week ago, but a 30-point loss to North Salinas dropped them into a three-way tie for first in the Tri-County Athletic League at 4-1. The defeat has raised concerns about pass protection and decision making.
Gilroy’s players and coaches admit they need to get some momentum going into the Central Coast Section playoffs next week if they’re going to have any chance of making a second straight appearance in the championship game.
“Any time you lose or don’t play well, there’s a sense of urgency to come back (strong),” Hammond said.
If that’s the case, the Prune Bowl couldn’t have come at a better time.
Whether it had won or lost its last game, Gilroy was going to be a heavy favorite going into tonight’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Complacency could have easily settled in these last few days for a team that hadn’t been tested throughout much of the schedule. Instead, practices this week have been as good or better than they’ve been all season, according to GHS coaches.
A win in impressive fashion could have the Mustangs back on track.
Last year’s 57-27 victory was a confidence booster that propelled Gilroy past Valley Christian and Los Gatos, eventually facing Oak Grove in the title game. It’s possible tonight’s contest could have the same effect.
“We gotta get a win before playoffs, especially after that North Salinas game,” Gilroy quarterback Jamie Jensen said. If Jensen and company can repeat their performance against Hollister from a season ago – which would be no easy feat – Gilroy will undoubtedly regain its status as one of the CCS favorites. Last year, Jensen threw for 486 yards and eight touchdowns. The yardage mark was a new section record while the touchdown total tied the record.
His primary target will be the same one Hollister focuses on: Dante Fullard. The leading receiver in the TCAL, Fullard has 62 catches for 1,072 yards and 13 touchdowns.
By no means are Gilroy’s players the only ones motivated for the game, though.
“This is the game I was looking forward to all year,” said ‘Baler running back Mitchell Cook. “It’s the last game of the season. All the work you put into it, it all adds up to this.”
San Benito’s offense should be more effective than it has been in recent games now that junior quarterback Trevor Fabing has returned from injury. Despite having a reputation for running on almost every down, Hollister will likely need to pass the ball to keep pace with a Mustang squad averaging 42.5 points per game.
Gilroy’s run defense is giving up 152 yards per game, but held up well for the most part in last week’s game against North Salinas.
Even though all indications point toward the game going in Gilroy’s favor, Hammond, a San Benito grad, knows the Prune Bowl is rarely predictable.
“It’s always hard to gauge,” he said. “Crazy things happen in rivalry games.”
